Grooming is an essential part of caring for any breed of dog. Though it can be time-consuming, grooming your Beagle can also be very rewarding for both you and your pooch. Establishing a regular grooming routine will keep your Beagle healthy and looking its best and will also help you form an even closer bond.
In this guide, we’ve laid out all the information and tips you need to make sure that you’re properly grooming your adorable Beagle.
Because of their short coats, Beagles do not need to have haircuts. If your dog competes in shows, however, you can have them lightly trimmed to ensure their coat stays neat.
How often do Beagles need a haircut?
As the Beagle’s coat is short, it doesn’t need to be clipped as it will most likely never grow long enough to need this. However, giving the coat an occasional trim with scissors at home may be necessary if your Beagle’s coat is growing out unevenly and has patches of longer and shorter hair.
Grooming your Beagle at home is a completely viable option. It does require a lot more effort, but it’s cheaper than taking them to a professional groomer. Here are some things you’ll need to do to groom your Beeagle at home.
Beagles require regular grooming and need to be brushed at least once a week to minimise shedding and keep their coats healthy.
You should use either a quality bristle brush or a grooming mitt as they will both help to remove dead hairs and during shedding seasons, you’ll need to brush them several times a week.
Before you bathe your Beagle, you’ll need to prepare the supplies that you’ll need. This will include dog shampoo, a bath brush, a soft washcloth, dog conditioner, cotton balls and a towel. If your Beagle is still a puppy, you can use a sink to bathe them, but an adult Beagle will need to be bathed in the tub.
Get your beagle ready. Before you put your Beagle into the water, you should brush its coat to remove all of the dead hair, and you should place a cotton ball in each ear to prevent any shampoo from getting into the ear canal.
Get the water ready. Beagles have sensitive skin, so it’s important that the water temperature is lukewarm to avoid making them uncomfortable.
Apply the water. You should now start to pour water onto your Beagle using a container. As they have a dense coat, it may take quite a lot of water before the coat is properly soaked through.
Start shampooing. Take the shampoo and apply it liberally over every part of your Beagle’s body, and then gently scrub the coat using the bath brush. Make sure that you brush its paws, armpits and all over its back.
Now, take the washcloth and use some shampoo to clean its neck, head and forehead. Once you’ve done that, use the washcloth to clean its genitals and underbelly.
Rinse your Beagle. Make sure you thoroughly rinse away all of the shampoo, as leaving any in the coat can make your Beagle’s skin dry and itchy.
Condition your dog. Conditioning is not essential when bathing your Beagle, but it is a good way to help maintain healthy skin as it can help to keep it moisturised. If you choose to condition, you should rub conditioner into your Beagle’s fur for around 3 minutes.
Rinse again. Give your Beagle one last rinse and make sure that all of the conditioner has been removed from its coat.
Dry your Beagle. After you’re finished bathing your Beagle, allow it to have a good shake and then use a soft towel to dry its entire body.
While your Beagle doesn’t need a regular haircut, there are other grooming requirements to keep them in the best condition.
Nail trimming is essential for preventing issues like reduced traction, a splayed foot, injured tendons and arthritis in your Beagle.
A more pressing reason to trim your Beagle’s nails regularly is to ensure they don’t accidentally knick the quick – the nerves at the core of the nail – as trimming will cause it to recede.
When trimming your Beagle’s nails, you need to be careful not to cut the skin underneath the nails, known as the quick, as this will be painful and cause bleeding. Once you’ve identified where the quick is, take a canine nail clipper and gently trim the nail whilst keeping the clipper at a 45-degree angle.
If you’re worried about accidentally cutting the quick, start off by trimming the tip of the nail first and gradually work your way down.
The best way to tell if your Beagle’s nails need trimming is if you can hear them clicking on the floor when they’re walking around the house. Generally, they will need to be trimmed around every two weeks.
Cleaning your Beagle’s ears regularly will help prevent infections, and you’ll be able to pick up if anything is wrong with your dog.
As Beagles have long and floppy ears, they are prone to ear infections and will require regular cleaning. To do this, put a few drops of ear-cleaning solution onto a cotton ball and gently clean away any wax and dirt from inside the ear.
If you notice any signs of infection, such as black or red granules, take your Beagle to the vet. Other things to be aware of when inspecting their ears are:
To avoid infections, you should clean your Beagle’s ears once a week.
Brushing your dog’s teeth is just as important as it is for humans to prevent periodontal disease. It’s not just about keeping their breath fresh, but if your dog’s oral hygiene is poor, this can cause other life-threatening issues.
To get your Beagle used to having its teeth brushed, you should first allow it to taste some toothpaste on your finger for a couple of days and then repeat this process using a toothbrush.
Once they’re used to this, you can start to gently brush your Beagle’s teeth using a soft toothbrush, making sure to brush both the front and back of the teeth.
If possible, you should brush your dog’s teeth every day, but if not, then you should look to brush them at least three times a week.
One aspect of dog grooming that is often overlooked by dog owners is looking after paws.
You should regularly inspect your Beagle’s paws for any scratches, injuries or swelling. To keep its paws healthy, you should also moisturise its paws with paw wax.
During the winter months, your Beagle’s paws will need more attention, and you can use paw wax every day. During the rest of the year, you should look to use it twice a week.
Your Beagle’s nose skin needs to be kept moist at all times to avoid it from becoming dry and cracked.
You can moisturise your Beagle’s nose by using a dog nose balm whenever you notice that the skin is becoming dry.
You should moisten your dog’s nose whenever it gets dry, which is most common after they’ve been out for a walk.
You should begin grooming your Beagle as soon as you’ve brought them home. This will not only help to keep your dog healthy but will also be a good way for you to bond with your puppy.
Beagles have a dense coat that is quite resilient to getting dirty, but you should still aim to bathe them once every three weeks or if they are particularly dirty or smelly.
Beagles’ short coats are fairly easy to care for, and you should be able to manage the grooming yourself. However, if you’re strapped for time, there is no harm in taking them to a professional groomer.
Beagles do not need to be clipped or shaved, and they will shed their coat in preparation for the summer months to keep themselves cool. During summer, make sure that your Beagle has access to shade when outside and a constant supply of fresh drinking water.
Although grooming your Beagle may at times seem like a bit of a chore, it’s an essential part of your role as an owner and is a great way for you to bond with your pooch. Compared to other breeds, Beagles are pretty low maintenance, so keeping on top of their grooming shouldn’t be too difficult.
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