Originally kept to hunt hares and rabbits, the blue tick beagle is widely known as a hunting companion. However, you can now see them as protection dogs in malls and airports or even as a family pet.
Read this article and find out everything you need to know about the blue tick beagle before deciding to bring one home.
What is a Blue Tick Beagle?
A blue tick beagle is a purebred dog breed from the beagle family that has a bluish coat color that’s different from the tri-color coat of the regular beagle. These dogs are known for their hunting abilities and their friendly dispositions.
Aside from the coat color, the blue tick beagle looks like any other beagle with a squarish muzzle, broad nose, and slightly domed skull. They also have the long floppy ears and the signature long tail that’s always carried high.
Beagles are generally classified as part of the hound group. You’ll notice that the beagle has a gentle disposition whether they’re hunting, working, or acting as a companion dog.
One characteristic that makes beagles stand out is their excellent sense of smell, especially when it comes to tracking prey such as small animals and birds. Beagles have about 225 million olfactory receptors (while humans only have 5 million) which makes them a popular choice for use in hunting competitions due to their natural instincts and special skillset.
How to Select Blue Tick Beagle Puppy
When you’re looking for a beagle puppy, it’s important to find one that is healthy and has a good temperament.
Here are some tips on how to select the best beagle puppy for your family:
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Choose a reputable breeder
This is the most important step in finding a healthy, well-tempered puppy. A reputable breeder will screen their dogs for genetic health issues and temperament problems, and they will be knowledgeable about the traits of different breeds.
Once you’ve found a few potential breeders, you’ll want to ask them some questions.
Find out how long they’ve been breeding blue tick beagles, and ask to see the parents of the puppies. This will give you an idea of what your puppy will be like when he or she grows up. You’ll also want to ask about the breeder’s health testing policies. This is important because you’ll want to make sure your puppy is as healthy as possible.
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Look at a variety of puppies
Just because one puppy is cute doesn’t mean that it’s the right choice for you. Take your time when selecting a puppy, and make sure to consider the different physical and behavioral traits of different puppies.
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Spend time with the puppy in a familiar environment
It’s important to observe how your potential puppy behaves when it is relaxed and comfortable, such as when you’re at home with family or friends.
By spending time with the puppy in a familiar setting, you’ll get a better sense of what it’s like to live with the puppy and whether it will be a good fit for your family.
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Consider temperament tests
Some breeders will test puppies for different temperaments and behaviors, such as their ease of training or their reaction to loud noises or unfamiliar people.
If possible, consider choosing a puppy that has been temperament tested and has shown favorable results.
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Ask about health screenings
All reputable breeders will screen their puppies for common genetic health problems, such as hip dysplasia or eye diseases. Be sure to ask about any health screenings that have been performed on your potential puppy, and get copies of the results if possible.
Where Did Beagles Come From?
Beagles are known to have originated in England and can be traced back as early as the 15th century. They were then brought over to the United States in the 1870s as hunting dogs. As the beagles became more refined, they also became widely recognized in North America.
Today, the blue tick beagle is primarily used as a detector dog at airports or malls and as a companion animal.
Beyond their usefulness as working dogs, blue tick beagles also make great family pets. They are friendly and affectionate with people, although some might have strong prey drives so it’s important to carefully monitor any interactions between small children and the dog if you are thinking about adopting one.
Overall, the blue tick beagle is a versatile and adaptable breed that makes a great addition to any household. Whether you want a companion dog or a working dog, with training, this breed is sure to please the entire family.
How Big Does a Blue Tick Beagle Get?
Color is not a distinction when it comes to beagles. What is recognized for breed standardization is the size of the dog.
A male blue tick beagle can grow from 13 to 15 inches and weigh up to 25 pounds. On the other hand, females can grow up to 13 inches long and weigh up to 23 pounds.
Blue Tick Beagle and Regular Beagle: Differences
Unlike the regular beagle that has distinctive markings (with a combination of solid white, black, and/or tan patches) the blue tick beagle’s coat has a blue hue with a camouflage-like pattern.
A blue tick beagle has hazel or brown eyes. As for their coat, they have a short, dense, smooth, and glossy double coat. Their coats aren’t hypoallergenic so if you or a family member has asthma, it’s not a good idea to adopt this breed.
How to Train a Blue Tick Beagle
If you’re hoping to train your blue tick beagle to be a well-behaved, obedient dog, you’ll need to put in some time and effort.
Beagles rank in the 131st place among the smartest dog breeds in the world. This doesn’t mean they’re dumb dogs. It’s just that they don’t fit with the standard method of measuring dog intelligence and they have different motivators.
For example, German Shepherds or Border Collies tend to work for the sake of working and will obey and guard as you need them. However, Beagles are more independent.
Beagles are a curious breed and they can be stubborn. However, they are friendly and trainable.
Like all dogs, blue tick beagles require consistent training and positive reinforcement in order to learn desired behaviors. However, with patience and consistency, your blue tick beagle can learn basic obedience commands and good manners.
To start training your blue tick beagle, begin with basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and down.
Once your dog has mastered these commands, you can move on to more advanced tricks or behaviors.
Be sure to praise and reward your dog for every accomplishment, no matter how small.
With time, patience, and a little bit of effort, you can train your blue tick beagle to be the obedient dog you’ve always wanted.
Train them while they’re still young.
Whether your beagle is going to be a hunting dog or a family dog, you have to train them early. Begin as early as 3 months old.
If they’re going to be a family dog, then you have to teach them not to chase people or react to other family pets.
Is the Blue Tick Beagle the Right Choice For You?
Blue-tick beagles are friendly, low-maintenance and sociable. They’re an excellent family companion as adult blue-tick beagles can be amazing with children.
However, do avoid getting any kind of puppy if you have very small kids. Taking care of a puppy is a lot of work and it can be overwhelming when coupled with the demands of young kids.
Also, avoid getting a blue-tick beagle if you’ll be away from home most of the time (8-10 hours a day) as they are hound dogs and they thrive in an active environment.
However, if you or a family member can take care and train your blue-tick beagle, then it might be the right breed for you.
If you’re a first-time pet owner, make it a point to consult with the breeder and a trainer if you can. If you’re looking for a dog that is known for its hunting skills, then a beagle or blue tick beagle is the one for you.