Beagle Characteristics
Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Adult weight: 15 – 20 lbs.
Adult height: 15 – 18 in.
Origin – United Kingdom
Almost looking like a Foxhound, a Beagle is a small scent-hound dog breed from the land of the British. Developed sometime around the 1830s, these dogs have a very strong sense of smell and are usually used for tracking and hunting purposes. It is short in size with large expressive eyes, long-floppy ears, and tri-coloured coats.
With high affection, friendliness, playfulness, energy, intelligence, and courage, Beagles are one of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. for a reason. They can form wonderful pets, who can do well with children as well as other pets like cats.
There are stories of them being developed in the 16th century for rabbit and other small prey hunting and flushing purposes, and also as gundogs. Eventually, these dogs came to be used as family companions. They have become so popular that on the AKC rankings, they rank 7th.
What is the price of a Beagle?
We will help you break down the cost of a Beagle by categorizing it by initial buying/adoption costs, vaccinations, diets, healthcare, and other miscellaneous.
Buying: $1000 – $1500
Their appearance, moderate size, and soulful eyes are just reasons for their popularity; buying a Beagle from a reputable breeder could cost you around $1000-$1500. Costs can be higher depending on some factors, like the breeder’s location, the beagle’s age, and coat color.
If you are looking for a lower-cost alternative, a good option could be to adopt one. You can find multiple trusted platforms online which are reputed and shelter rescued puppies. Some might even specialize only in Beagles. The cost can be significantly less here in the range of $100-$300, and this initial cost usually covers the care given to the dog before adoption. Even the American Kennel Club (AKC) can help you with this. ‘Adopt a pet’ is another reputed and trusted organization you can check to adopt a Beagle pup.
Long-Term Cost of Beagle
Diets: $50-$100
One cup of food per day divided into 2 servings is an ideal meal for Beagles, which should comprise of high-quality, vet-recommended kibble. Per month, the cost of food can be about $100, but if your pet requires a specific prescription diet, the cost can vary.
Medical Costs: $1000-$1200
On average, a Beagle pup could cost around $600 per year in the early years due to recommended vet visits and check-ups. As the pup grows into an adult dog, the recurring expenses may reduce a bit due to the recommendation of an annual wellness check-up. This cost could include wellness tests and examinations, flea and tick prevention, and heartworm, among other procedures, which could cost around $150-$200 annually.
Like all breeds, Beagles are at risk of developing some health conditions during their lifetimes. Some common conditions this breed may experience can include Hip dysplasia, central progressive retinal atrophy, luxating patella, and cataracts. The cost of treatment may be:
Hip Dysplasia - $2000-$2500
Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy - $1000-$1500
Luxating Patella- $800-$1000
Cataracts - $3000-$3500
Vaccinations: $280-$350
Just like we humans get some vaccines administered at young age, dogs need vaccinations to help protect them from potential diseases at a later time. These vaccines include distemper, parvovirus, Adenovirus, type 1, Adenovirus, type 2, and rabies. These could cost you around $150-$200 annually.
Apart from these vaccinations, there are other vaccinations your vet may recommend for your Beagle. These include parainfluenza, Lyme disease, and leptospirosis. The cost of these can be around $130-$150.
Microchipping: $50-$70
Pets getting lost is a common phenomenon in the U.S, and over 90% of the lost pets are not found. Microchipping can help increase the chances of finding a lost fact. In fact, over 70% of pets that are microchipped are found. The cost can vary from state to state but an average cost could be around $50. Along with a dog license, it may cost an additional 10-20 bucks.
Grooming: $100-$150
Bathing, brushing, cleaning the long floppy ears, and brushing their teeth should suffice the grooming needs of these small dogs. This maintenance is recommended about once a week. The items needed could include dog shampoo, brushes, and nail clippers to name a few. These items could cost you around $60-$70.
Initial Costs: $200-$300
To welcome your dog home, you’ll need to prepare by buying some initial supplies. This could include a leash and collar, a dog bed, a crate, food, and water bowl, and a gate if you want to restrict your pet’s access to certain parts of the home. These initial expenses could cost around $200-$300.
Miscellaneous: $150-$170
There are some expenses that a pet parent has to take care of, irrespective of the breed. Some of these costs could include toys, poop scoops, poop bags, urine cleaner, treats, dental chews, pet sitter/walker costs at times, and professional training if needed. These miscellaneous costs can add to your monthly expenses, so a good tip is to keep $150-$170 handy for when these expenses come up.
Lifetime Beagle Cost
If we calculate the total monthly cost of a Beagle, it could land at around $500-$700. Adding an initial cost of buying (adopting would be less) at about $1500-$2000, and taking into consideration an average lifespan of 15 years, we estimate that the lifetime cost could be around $12,000-$14,000. This excludes the cost of medically necessary treatment of any illness or condition that might occur in the pet’s lifetime.
How can Spot Pet Insurance help?
Spot accident & illness pet insurance plans offer a wide variety of coverages from microchip implantation to surgeries and prescription food and supplements prescribed to treat your pet’s unexpected accidents and illnesses. (Prescription food and supplements used for general health or weight maintenance are not covered). For an extra cost, Spot Pet Insurance plans offer preventive care coverage add-ons to help cover the costs of certain routine vaccinations, annual wellness exams and other preventive care treatments. You can view the add-on preventive care coverage options. Get in touch with us to know more!
Conclusion
You may think that the costs are on the higher side to own a Beagle, but with their lovely personality of calm, affectionate, playful, and energetic, it may be worth it. Plus, we’ve discussed the different ways you can save on costs, like opting to adopt and grooming or train your dog at home. Anyway, you can worry less, knowing Spot plans can cover up to 90% of your eligible vet bills for covered conditions. So go ahead and get your Beagle!
Happy Parenting to you, and Lots of Love to your Pup!
