Blue Heeler Beagle Mix Blue Tick Heeler Beagle Mix

The Blue Tick Beagle is a quick and alert, small hunting dog with a great sense of smell. It has an unusual coat coloration for a Beagle dog; it's a blue color!

Sometimes referred to as a:

Blue Tick Beagle Hound,
Blue Tick Hound dog,
Blue Tick Hound,
Blue Tick Coonhound,
Blue Beagle dog,
Blue Scent Hound,
Pocket Beagle,
Blue Foxhound.

The Blue Tick Beagle is part of the purebred Beagle dog breed. 'Blue-tick' is one color within the breed; it is not a separate dog breed!

Its coat is covered in Blue ticks or flecks of color over its base color of black or white, giving a blue or gray speckled appearance to its smooth, short coat.

This small dog is friendly with a gentle nature, and it has a compact, muscular and lean body with a long tail, that's held high. It has a really cute face, big expressive brown eyes, and long soft floppy ears and would make a great family pet.

A Blue Tick Beagle puppy attracts attention with its blue coat coloration and is considered an adorable and happy little dog.

A brief history of the Blue-tick Beagle

The Beagle is a purebred dog breed recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as part of the hound group.

Fact: The Blue Tick Beagle is often confused with the Blue Tick Coonhound, but they are not related in any way. They are totally separate dog breeds.

The Beagle breed was established in England, United Kingdom, in the 1830s. They were bred as hunting dogs and used for 'Beagling' where they would accompany country hunters on horseback to hunt hares (large wild rabbits)

The first pack of hunting Beagles is believed to have been established by the Reverend Philip Honeywood in County Essex, England. The original pack is believed to have been a mix of two types of beagles – the Southern Hound and the North County Beagle.

Beagles were imported into the United States in the 1840s, strictly for hunting not breeding purposes. Beagle hound dogs had a great scent nose and were very skilled at rabbit hunting. The Beagle has a distinctive howl or a bay of a bark that it uses while hunting to alert the hunters that they have located the prey.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) the Beagle is currently the 7th most popular dog breed in the United States.

The Beagle breed is also recognized by the various other official dog breed associations, in the United States, Canada and the UK, such as:

The National Beagle Club of America established in 1884.
The Beagle Club.

The different types Beagles

The only recognized difference for breed standardization is size. Color is not a distinction; the Blue Tick Beagle is recognized as a purebred Beagle color variation.

Officially recognized sizes:

The American Kennel Club only recognizes beagles in two sizes:

1) Beagles less than 13 inches tall

2) Beagles between 13"-15" tall

The Canadian Kennel Club only recognizes Beagles up to 15 inches tall

The UK Kennel Club only recognizes Beagles between 13-15 inches tall

Pocket Beagles

There is evidence of the existence of a pocket-sized Beagle that was bred to be small enough to fit inside the saddlebag of a hunter on horseback, to be of use while Beagling (hunting).

They were tiny in comparison to the typical Beagle size hunting dog and stood around 8 inches tall (around 20 cm). Their small legs made it impossible for them to run and keep up with the rest of the beagle hunting pack but their skill was in their size, and they were used to flush out prey, such as rabbits and hares, from down in the earth and undergrowth.

Their small pocket size and gentle nature made the Pocket Beagle an easy to carry companion and they were a favorite of English Kings and Queens, such as Queen Elizabeth I, King Henry VII and King Edward II who allowed them to travel around with them.

Fun Fact: It is believed that Queen Elizabeth I, loved her little pooch so much that she let it run around on top of the dining table at functions!

(It is also said she even would encourage it to make its hunting 'baying sound' bark upon command to entertain her guests).

The Pocket Beagle is a now-extinct part of the purebred Beagle breed.

This may have been an early example of a small-size designer dog, bred to a specific set of specifications, such as size, for a particular purpose.

Today's designer dogs are mixed-breed dogs, generally crossbred to meet wants rather than needs, such as size or low shedding. There is a wide range of designer dogs produced using a Beagle as half of the mix.

Some popular hybrid Beagle dogs:

Retriever & Beagle = a Beago
Poodle & Beagle =a Poogle
Cocker Spaniel & Beagle = a Bocker
Yorkshire Terrier & Beagle =a Borkie
Dachshund & Beagle = a Beaschund

As the Beagle designer dogs are cross-bred, not purebred types of Beagle, and therefore they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Officially recognized coat colors:

Beagles are typically tricolor with a combination of Black, Tan and white, not a single block color.

The Blue ticking color and pattern, which is different from the typical Beagle tricolor coloring, is seen on top of the lighter base color of the Beagle coat giving it a speckled appearance with a blue-ish hue. Its coat looks like a camouflage pattern.

It is also possible for the Beagle to have red ticking or markings on its coat, known as the Red Tick Beagle.

Any mix of black, tan, white, or Blue-tick is an officially accepted coat coloration for Beagle purebred recognition by the AKC, and any color is permitted in dog shows.

They have a brown eye color and a loving expression on their face.

Any color Beagle is a cute and happy little pooch that will be friendly and a loyal companion for any level of a dog owner.

Famous Beagle characters

Possibly the most famous animated Beagle character is 'Snoopy' the much loved best friend of Charlie Brown in the Peanuts comic strip.

Another popular and famous Beagle dog is from the movie animation 'Wallace and Gromit,' where Gromit is the trusty beagle dog and companion to the eccentric inventor Wallace.

What are the main characteristics of a Blue Tick Beagle?

The Blue-tick Beagle has expressive brown eyes, a black nose, and its coat has a blue or gray speckled appearance, making it an attractive little hound dog.

Loyalty and companionship:

This compact pooch is friendly, gentle, and loves attention. It makes a totally devoted and loyal companion and prefers company than being left alone; enjoying human or canine company.

Reputation:

Beagles have a reputation for being a loyal and agile hunting dog and hunting companion. They may be small but they are a confident scent hound and are very agile which makes them perfect for tracking down and retrieving prey; known as Beagling. They also make good scent detection and search dogs.

They are known to be used in packs of hunting hounds for tracking rabbits and perhaps the more controversial fox hunting. Fox hunting is now outlawed in certain areas as it is deemed to be a cruel blood sport.

Beagle dogs are very energetic and active and can travel over long distances with a strong focus on the task at hand. They make a great family pet too as they are friendly, have a very gentle nature, and will love to play and enjoy going for long walks. This breed of dog is very good-natured around children, strangers once introduced, and other dogs.

Blue Tick Beagle Popularity:

This is a very popular small dog, due to its gentle and loving nature and ability to form a very strong bond with its owner. The Beagle purebred dog (including the Blue Tick Beagle) is ranked the 7th most popular dog in the US, by the AKC.

Blue Tick Beagle Trainability:

The Blue Tick Beagle is a type of hound dog that was bred to be used for hunting, tracking, and detecting scents. They are disciplined and easy to train. They will easily learn to follow orders and love to please their owner and satisfy their commands.

They have lots of energy and stamina. The Blue Tick Beagle needs to be trained and socialized early as they are determined little dogs that are confident, curious, and protective. They need to learn early how to control their prey instincts and their energy levels.

These scent hounds with their incredible and acute sense of smell can easily be trained to detect a range of substances and different odors. This makes them useful in security and detection roles.

They like their food so training should use be fairly easy if positive reinforcement and small food-based treats are used. Early leash training is strongly recommended in the Puppy years for the intelligent and curious Beagle.

Power and intelligence:

The Blue Tick Beagle is smart, with a high energy level, great stamina, and a prey-drive instinct!

They will be determined and relentless in tracking and tracing their prey, whatever it is, so control must be introduced early with this loveable pooch. They are easily taught new things and their curious nature and an acute sense of smell will make them a great detection dog for substances, clothing, or other missing artifacts.

Purpose:

The Beagle size is small and compact. Beagle dogs have a smooth and glossy, short-haired coat. They are gentle-natured and trusting and their small size and passive nature have made them attractive for a number of working purposes.

One controversial role for the Blue Tick Beagle dog breed is its use in scientific research that specifically uses animals in a variety of testing and experiments. Some are bred and live in cages all or most of their lives. This can lead to some ending up in rescue centers looking for good homes.

Socialization:

As with any breed of dog, especially those with a prey or hunting instinct, early socialization and discipline are recommended. This breed will be protective of their owners and can be wary of strangers so they need to know how to be calm and exercise control in new situations and around new people or other animals.

Beagles are not known to be aggressive but they are curious and have a high energy level so they will need to learn boundaries and would, therefore, benefit from early leash training. This will help keep this busy little dog safe in crowded public places, dog parks, and around traffic.

Behavior:

The Blue Tick Beagle is happy and astute in a variety of situations and environments. They are a good judge of character and will have a good grasp of what could potentially be a threatening situation, or not.

They will love to please and will behave well in their home environment, providing they are properly socialized and obedience trained early. They are good around all ages but they like to bark. They need company and will bark if bored or become destructive if they don't get enough stimulation. They might not suit all types of living accommodation especially if neighbors dislike loud dog barking.

The Beagle is one of the few hunting hounds that make a 'baying' sound which is a mix between a bark and a howl. This is a familiar sound to hunters. However, you describe it is loud enough to draw attention and for this reason, a Beagle would make a good watchdog.

Physical Characteristics of the Blue Tick Beagle dog

The Blue-tick Beagle a small-medium sized, compact purebred dog. It resembles a miniature foxhound except it has a shorter muzzle and a broader head.

	Male	Female
Size	Medium-Sized	Medium-Sized
Height	13-15" (33-38cm)	11-13" (28-33cm)
Weight	Up to 22-25lb (10-11kg)	Up to 20-23lb (9-10kg)
Lifespan	12-15 years	12-15 years
Litter Size		6 puppies/litter

Coat: Short, smooth, dense, and glossy double coat. All double coats are known to shed and are not hypoallergenic.

Color: Typically tricolor, Black, White, and Tan or even a Blue or Gray ticking or mottling pattern over the lighter color of the coat.

Eyes: Hazel/Brown.

Temperament:

The Blue Tick Beagle is a hardy little hound. It is determined and wary of strangers but it is generally friendly and sociable with children and other animals. It is a pack dog and therefore like the company of other Beagles when possible.

It makes a good companion dog and is protective of its loved ones so it is known to bark a lot when faced with a threatening or unfamiliar situation or person.

How should you train a Blue Tick Beagle puppy?

Blue Tick Beagle puppies should be trained early. If they were being trained as hunting dogs their training would begin as early as 12 weeks of age.

If they are going to be a family dog then they will need to be trained not to chase or react to other family pets, such as birds, cats, or small dogs, and learn to live alongside them calmly.

They will form a strong bond with their owner and may suffer separation anxiety if left alone so they should practice being away from their owner but knowing they are still close, to ease the feeling of isolation.

They can be sturdy and strong with lots of energy so they need to burn any excess energy off positively through interactive play, long walks, or mentally stimulating games.

This puppy will need ongoing positive reinforcement during training. Praise for good behavior and gentle reprimands for not behaving will work with this intelligent dog. This active dog will want to be able to go out in public and needs to know how to follow orders – for its safety and socialization.

As for all intelligent and prey instinct puppies, there are various types of recommended training: obedience, discipline, agility, and socialization.

So, if you are not going to use a professional dog trainer:

1) Develop your basic command words: Find keywords such as Stop, Sit, Wait etc. and be consistent each time you use them. Use small food based-treats as a reward for good behavior in early training.

2) Crate – Buy a crate and get the puppy used to going into it. This will eventually become its nest and it will sleep there. You will have to lock the cage in the early days so it knows it has to sleep there and useful experience for bladder control and when transporting your pet.

3) Potty training – May be hit and miss for a new puppy who gets easily excited and lacks control, however products are available, such as mats and odor sprays to attract puppy go to the same spot each time

4) Walking on a leash –Voice commands and road awareness is important for a Beagle puppy's safety, as they can get lively when excited and tug on the leash when walking.

Health problems and health issues

Any purebred dog breed can inherit certain genetic health problems and although Beagles are generally a healthy breed then have certain possible health issues.

Eye problems

Cherry eye – this is a red, oval-shaped mass that appears on the eye due to a tear gland in the dog's third eyelid prolapsing. The eye can become swollen and painful and it is unable to produce tears. It can be treated with medication, failing that surgery is needed.

Glaucoma – where pressure builds up in the inner eye and if not treated can lead to blindness.

Epilepsy

A neurological condition that causes uncontrolled and recurring seizures and required medical support.

Hypothyroidism

An auto-immune disorder, symptoms include weight gain, lethargy, and hair loss.

Other health issues include Diabetes, Hip dysplasia, and back problems causing difficulty walking and moving around comfortably.

Caring for your Blue Tick Beagle – what's needed?

Exercise needs

Beagles are energetic with lots of stamina so they will benefit from 1-2 hours of daily exercise, playtime, and other activities to keep them occupied. They will love to go on long walks regularly. a day is enough, possibly split onto several small walks.

Feeding

Beagles love their food but should be fed as a small-sized dog. Care must be taken not to overfeed them, and let them get overweight, as this breed is prone to developing diabetes. Depending on the level of daily activity, they should be fed 3-4 cups of dry formulated Kibble per day. A slow feed bowl is recommended.

Grooming

A smooth, short-haired, double-coated dog, that will shed on a regular basis. It should be brushed every few days and possibly a daily wipe over with a soft glove. This breed is not hypoallergenic.

Bathing

Bathe when needed, but not too often as their coats contain natural oil, which can be stripped with over-bathing. Certain dog formulated shampoos have a double effect of cleaning the dog coat and protecting it against fleas and insect bites.

Cleaning teeth, nails, and ears

Check teeth to prevent a build-up of plaque and avoid gum disease. Nails need to be trimmed regularly and its floppy ears checked for dirt build-up that can lead to infection.

Positives and Negatives of ownership

Positives

Cute appealing appearance
An unusual blue color coat
A Happy and very loyal companion
Friendly and gentle-natured
Likes to be close to its owner and bond
Good with children and other pets when trained properly

Negatives

A loud barker that makes a good watchdog but not neighborly!
Mischievous and destructive if bored or left alone
Very active and overly curious
Stubborn and strong-willed,
Can gain weight easily, be careful not to become obese

Commonly Asked Questions:

Q. How much does a Blue Tick Beagle puppy cost?

A. It can be $400- $600, from a reputable breeder, (or up to $1000, depending on pedigree, coloring, and pattern).

Q. What are the other costs of owning a Blue Tick Beagle?

A. A good quality protein-based dry food will cost around $40 per month, plus Vet's fees, vaccinations, medications and accessories and toys, collar, leash, grooming equipment.

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Source: https://animalcorner.org/dog-breeds/blue-tick-beagle/