Charlie Brown said, “Happiness is a warm puppy.”
The information we’ve compiled about beagles is home-grown. Kevin and Kim have raised, shown, and sold pups “underfoot” for over 20 years.
On this page, we invite you to share our experience about puppies in families, contrast the pros and cons of puppy parenthood, and if you like, find out about the puppies we raise, about becoming a puppy parent, and discover why we have waiting lists for yet-unborn Jackpot puppies.
Jackpot Puppies
Jackpot Kennels breeds puppies to show. We occasionally sell them, but it is not our principle interest. As someone looking for a puppy, we think you’ll appreciate the difference.
- The puppy you purchase will have been lovingly “brought up underfoot,” the rare and precious product of a carefully planned breeding between two healthy, stable individuals (who win the colored ribbons we cherish!)
- We have access to many beagles, both our own and those of other top breeders we’ve personally shown with (and against), worked with, and whose kennels we have visited.
- When we choose a special two to parent puppies, our goal is to fulfill breed, our own, and AKC standards by raising happy, sturdy puppies who will be healthy throughout a long life.
- Show kennels like ours are built on a reputation for consistent, quality bloodlines. Our puppies are winners, founded by happy, healthy dogs.
This is not true of all breeders. In your search for a puppy, look for a breeder with the means (access to lineage and clean, well-kept facilities) and interest in the psychological and long-term health of the puppy to be selective about genetics and environment (nature and nurture).
Steer clear of puppies who are bred only to be free of problems glaringly obvious at the point-of-sale or for the first few years of hunting. Instead, ask to meet one or both parents, and spend some time with them and with your puppy’s relatives and siblings.
Pure Bred
When you hear the term, “pure bred,” it usually brings to mind images of a spoiled, pampered puppy, but now you know it just means you’ve examined his or her heredity to determine health and behavioral issues that may otherwise cripple your puppy – your new best friend.
Your Lifestyle
When looking for a puppy, consider your lifestyle. Puppies change your perspective and add responsibilities- it should be a fun experience, so it’s worth considering whether it’s the right choice for you.
- Are you usually home, or do you often travel, shop, or work late? No puppy should grow up inside a crate, waiting for mom and/or dad to come home. Don’t be discouraged- just be patient and wait until your lifestyle changes.
- Do you like to walk and play, or watch TV? Not everyone has a great deal of energy- that’s true of dogs, too. If you’re looking for a couch companion, you may want to consider finding a mature dog, perhaps a retired show dog, rather than a puppy.
Are your small children old enough to play without hurting a dog? Again, if your children are young yet (under three years old and too young to really understand “No!”), don’t be discouraged- just be patient and wait for them to grow. There’s another benefit: you can introduce your kids to a dog at an age when you can expect them to be responsible.- Do you have a fenced yard? Remember, beagles are on-leash only! They will follow their noses and can never be left free to run outside a friendly yard. Puppies especially need a yard – it’s a safe place to explore without “house manners”, and the place to go when “nature calls.” Please think twice about a beagle if you don’t have a securely-fenced yard. Pups need somewhere to do their business every 2 hours or so for the first few months, and as romantic as it seems now, trying for 20 minutes on a rainy midnight to convince a fretful puppy on a leash to “pee” only happens once before you resent the puppy.
Pros and Cons
There are a lot of dogs out there and beagles are not for everyone.
Beagles are accustomed to packs, resulting in a strong need for companionship from another dog or from you. They consider everyone a friend.
Happiest in a group, beagles love to party and won’t be unsettled by new visitors, friends, and family.
They’ll be delighted to meet every friend and relative you and your family bring or meet on the walking path, and are an excellent member of today’s busy families- so long as everyone understands that the dog NEVER leaves the door to an unfenced yard without a leash.
- Beagles generally get along well with other dogs and cats and adore children, especially if they are socialized properly with them (test the waters carefully- a small cat looks a LOT like a bunny the beagle was bred to hunt!)
- Beagles should not be aggressive towards other dogs, however, they will protect their seniority by growling and other posturing. Beagles should *never ever* be aggressive towards humans. That said, small children and dogs should never be left unsupervised.
- Beagles are not very territorial, so they rarely bark except when bored or to announce visitors. (ed. note: You’ll find show-bred beagles quieter than “field beagles”- some puppy owners have never heard their dog bark!)
- Their intelligence and independence will lead them to try to dominate the family, setting their own rules for “on limits” and “off limits” areas, behaviors, and activities. You should not allow this and if you have problems, see a good dog trainer to learn how to correct them.
Beagles are fun family members, full of playful energy, they make friends easily and rarely “favor” anyone over everyone else. They’re ideal for families who frequently have dog-friendly friends and family over (but make sure there’s a fence in the front yard, too. Someone will open the door and the dog MUST NOT be off-lead).
- Short-haired (low maintenance), they require only weekly brushing or grooming with a rubber mitt, ear checks, and monthly heartworm protection.
- Compact and clean, many beagles lick their paws (and themselves) clean, like cats.
- Beagles travel easily in their crates, which fit easily into most cars.
- Joyful and playful, stable and trustworthy.
Reality check!
- Beagles are not for you if you want an off-leash dog. They’re scent hounds, and will follow their noses – one squirrel means you may never see your best friend again! (…the most common cause of death is being run over by cars.)
- Beagles need frequent play and attention. This decreases with age, but as a breed both are inquisitive and smart; that means that if you repeatedly say, “I don’t want to play now,” they’ll amuse themselves- and that can be costly. Consider carefully- do you really want the equivalent of an active 2-3 year old child tugging to play for a few hours a day?
- You must have a secure, PHYSICAL fence in your back yard.
Beagles will ignore “invisible” electric fences. Your fence should be “privacy” butted end-to-end, although chain link, wire horse fencing, tight slats and wrought iron are good alternatives.
“If a baseball can fit through a fence – so can a hound.” - Beagles are not good protection or guard dogs. Generally, they’re friendly to everyone they meet.
Overall, beagles are fun-loving, happy dogs. One owner was heard to say that,
“Beagles belong in Disneyland – they are the happiest dogs on Earth.”