Beagles are a popular dog breed, we know them, we love them. But, have you heard of the Blue Tick Beagle or Bluetick Beagle?
When you hear its name you’d think it’s a designer dog or a mixed breed. But the Blue Tick is a purebred Beagle. It’s just that they have grey and black spots on a white and black base coat color. So, they are not a new breed, but just a variant. The United Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club, and American Kennel Club recognize the Blue Tick Beagle as a Beagle color variety.
Blue Ticks are great hunters. But more than anything, they make amazing pets. They are also recognized by the AKC and can enter dog shows in the US. With this being said, blue tick Beagles are free to join any dog shows and events as long as they pass other qualifications.
In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the Blue Tick. How they are, what they like and don’t like. Besides this, we will talk about their health.
Blue Tick Beagle – What there is to know
The Blue Tick Beagle is an American Kennel Club recognized hound dog, this is a small hunting dog. There are two types of hound dogs, the scent hound, and the sighthound. The Beagle is a scent hound, which means they have a great sense of smell. If you’ve wondered do Blue Tick Beagles hunt well, the answer is yes.
They are especially great at rabbit hunting. Obviously, because of their impeccable sense of smell, they are great at hunting and make one of the best companions for hunters in catching prey. But, that is not the only reason why they are good dogs.
While we’re talking about hound dogs and types of hound dogs, we should also mention other types of Beagles. Indeed, there are several types of Beagles, even though we call all of them simply beagles.
Three different types Beagles
According to the American Kennel Club, there are only two recognized types of Beagles.
- Beagle sizes between 13 to 15 inches
- Beagle sizes under 13 inches
But, besides these two, there is also a third type of Beagle, which is not recognized by the AKC, and that’s the Pocket Beagle. The thing with the Pocket Beagles is that they are smaller than 13 inches.
Fun fact: According to some sources, Queen Elizabeth Ist loved the small size of Pocket Beagles so much, that she had one Beagle small enough to fit in her saddlebags or pockets during hunts.
How they look – Physical traits
The Blue Tick is a detection dog that is between 13 and 15 inches tall. They weigh between 20 and 30 pounds. Of course, females are smaller than males. Their body is lean, thin with muscular legs. Blue Tick Beagle Puppies have large blue eyes and long ears. They have a short coat, which is smooth but at the same time hard to the touch. Besides, that is breed has a black nose and floppy ears.
Now on to their coat appearance, their coat can have three colors black, white and brown. The most common appearance in Beagles is a black back and white underbelly.
Besides that, their coat can be white with tan, lemon, red, brown, or black. Every Blue Tick Beagle will of course have dark spots or flecks of color on their body, like black or blue flecks as well as red ticking.
You should know that flecks of color and any other unusual coat coloration are completely normal in this breed. You will never see a Blue Beagle dog or Beagles in general with one-colored coats!
The Blue Tick has a double coat. Because they are double-coated dogs they will shed all year. The shedding could increase in spring and autumn.
Blue Tick nature and character traits
You will fall in love with the Blue Tick especially because they make the perfect family dog for everyone. They have such a great nature and are known for their good behavior that you won’t be able to resist them.
All Beagles are friendy. But the Blue Tick Beagle is even friendlier. They are looking for new friends all the time. It doesn’t matter if it’s a human friend or an animal friend.
The Bluetick Beagle is very loyal. They love being around their family. It is not a good idea to leave them alone for long. If they are left alone they might become destructive. It’s not unusual that they have a fear of being alone, also known as separation anxiety.
Blue Ticks are very protective of their family also, so there’s a good reason why we said they make the perfect family dog. If they smell or hear anything unusual they will bark. This makes them great watchdogs. But, it also means they might not suit all types of living accommodation especially if you have neighbors who dislike loud dog barking.
Full of energy
Blue Tick Beagles have a lot of energy! They could run, dig and explore the whole day. They need an hour of exercise a day and incorporate long walks into your routine too.
Because these dogs are very smart they need owners that will challenge them! This means they need owners who won’t only give them physical exercise and long walks but will provide them with the needed mental stimulation well. Many people neglect this aspect of stimulating their dog, but that’s very wrong, especially with such smart dogs.
While we’re talking about their intelligence, we need to mention that training your dog, no matter which breed, is a must. We’ve said in so many of our previous articles that training is so important, and it’s best if it’s done through positive reinforcement. Through positive reinforcement your dog will see learning new things and tricks as something good, they will look forward to it. The good news is that training a Beagle of any coat color won’t be hard. These dogs are so trainable that they can learn any voice commands!
Care and most known health problems
We’ve already said that Blue Ticks have a double coat. They do shed, but not that much. So grooming will be easy.
You will have to brush them two or three times a week. Don’t bathe them too often. Only if they are really dirty or smell. It’s best to bathe them every three months.
The Blue Tick Beagle has long ears so the wax can get stuck in them. Check your dog’s ears every week and clean them to reduce the risk of infections.
Don’t forget about brushing your dog’s teeth either! You should brush your dog’s teeth four times a week to keep them healthy and strong.
Generally speaking, the Blue Tick Beagle is healthy. But they can have some health issues and conditions, especially many genetic health problems. The most known health problems of Beagles are:
Most common health issues:
- Epilepsy – The most common neurological disorder in dogs is epilepsy, which affects roughly 0.75 percent of the population3. Epilepsy is a catch-all term for a group of disorders characterized by recurrent, spontaneous seizures brought on by a brain defect.
- Dwarfism – Is also known as pituitary dwarfism in dogs, is an endocrine condition characterized by a lack of growth hormone, which can occur in conjunction with other hypothalamic hormone abnormalities such as TSH and prolactin.
- Hypothyroidism – A thyroid disease that is a very frequent endocrine problem in dogs. Other species have a lower prevalence. The slowing of biological functioning is caused by hypothyroidism. Lethargy, weight gain, and changes in the hair coat and skin are all symptoms of the disease.
- Eye problems – Glaucoma, corneal ulcers, cherry eye, troubles with the third eyelid, and eye scratching are all typical ailments for our canine companions. Well, explain some of them in more detail.
- Retinal atrophy – Progressive Retinal Atrophy (also known as generalized progressive retinal atrophy or GPRA) is a genetic condition that causes dogs to gradually lose their vision over months or years.
- Glaucoma – Secondary glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure rises as a result of eye disease or damage. In dogs, this is the most common cause of glaucoma. Uveitis (inflammation of the inside of the eyes) or severe intra-ocular infections can cause debris and scar tissue to obstruct the drainage angle.
- “Cherry eye” – A prolapsed nictitans gland, sometimes known as “cherry eye,” is a frequent term for a prolapsed nictitans gland. It happens when a tear gland in the third eyelid of a dog becomes irritated. While it is rarely painful, a dog will occasionally rub at it as if it were itching.
Food and diet
The blue tick is a small dog, but their appetite is huge and they are prone to serious weight gain.
But just because they have a big appetite, doesn’t mean they should eat as much as they can. You need to be careful how much you feed them to avoid weight gain and other illnesses that come with weight gain. But how much food to give them?
Well, you can give them 25 calories for every pound they weigh. An overall number is around 900 calories a day. The more active our dog is, the more food they need. Of course, feed your dog good food. Something high-quality.
But, we can´t tell you which dog food to get, but we can tell you what you can pay attention to when buying dog food. Generally speaking, good dog food should contain protein, carbohydrates, and fats. In that exact order.
Protein
Proteins are essential for a healthy dog of any breed. Protein is so important because it gets broken down into amino acids which are then used in the formation or maintenance of blood cells, hormones, immune responses, muscle repairs, etc. The exact amount of protein your dog needs depends on its activity level.
We recommend the following sources of protein for dogs
- Poultry – fairly lean meat
- Muscle meat – high-quality proteins but more expensive
- Intestines – packed with micronutrients and inexpensive
- Eggs – complete amino acid profile and inexpensive
- Fish – complete proteins together with high-quality fats
Carbohydrates
Next on the list, we have carbohydrates. We can’t lie, carbs are important for dogs, but the problem is that many cheap kinds of dog food usually have too many bad carbs like wheat, corn, grains, and the like. You can recognize cheap dog foods by the fact that the first ingredient.
Ingredients on the list are indeed carbs. This is because carbohydrates are much cheaper than protein or fats. But, as responsible owners, we need to make sure to avoid dog foods that are high in carbohydrates. Besides that, foods that are rich in carbs are richer in calories but offer few health benefits.
As we’ve already said, don’t get us wrong, all dogs need to have some carbohydrates in their diet, we humans do too! But, be careful how many carbs your dog is eating. We call for a net goal of 20 percent for the majority of dogs. But, cheap dog food can be made out of more than 40 percent of carbs. That is simply too much. Our dogs need to have good carbohydrates from healthy sources like quinoa, sweet potatoes, whole grains, green, leafy vegetables, vegetables, and fruits.
Healthy fats
Lastly, we have healthy fats. Good quality dog food provides healthy fats as dogs use it as an important source of energy. In addition, fatty acids support all dogs with skin and coat health and, above all, with brain and cognitive functions. Recommended sources of healthy fats for dogs include:
- Omega-3 fatty acids – fish and fish oils (herring, salmon), flaxseed oil, rapeseed oil
- Omega-6 fatty acids – poultry fat, vegetable oils
Finding a reputable breeder for getting a Beagle
Let´s start this section off with an interesting fact. In the United States, there are around 2,000 federally licensed dog breeders! Yes, more than 2,000 reputable breeders! But, sadly, there are that many or maybe even many more cruel breeders who manage to elude government monitoring. There are many ways in how they do that. Some operate under the radar of the USDA or simply are not subject to USDA oversight under federal laws and regulations.
But why are we telling you this? Reputable breeders tend to charge more money for puppies. the same goes for Blue Tick Beagle puppies, and Beagle puppies in general. If you want a healthy puppy, that has been bred in good conditions and is from good parents, you will have to pay a lot more money.
Generally speaking a beagle puppy costs between $500 and $2,000 on average. The current median price for all Beagles sold, according to NextDayPets, is $1,154. Expect to pay $2,000 or more for a dog with a superior pedigree for example, if the puppy has show-quality parents.
So, what is the price of a Blue Tick Beagle puppy? A. From a respectable breeder, it can range from $400 to $600, or up to $1000, depending on pedigree, coloration, and pattern.
Keep these prices in mind when you´re choosing a breeder. If someone is asking for less money than the lowest average price, you can be sure that something isn´t right. The rule “If it sounds too good, it probably is” definitely applies here.
If you don’t know from whom to buy your puppy, you can always ask your vet for advice. If you don’t want to buy a Beagle, you can always adopt one. Check your rescue centers and your local shelter for dogs that were abandoned.
FAQ and interesting facts about Beagles
Now we´ve learned a lot about Beagles, but there is so much more to say. That´s why we´ll now focus on fun facts about Beagles.
Where do they come from?
In the 1830s, the purebred dog breed Beagle was created in England, United Kingdom. They were bred as hunting Beagles and employed for ‘Beagling,’ or accompanying country hunters on horseback in the hunt for hares (large wild rabbits)
The Reverend Philip Honeywood is thought to have started the first hunting Beagle pack in Essex County, England. The original pack was said to be a cross between two beagle breeds: the Southern Hound and the North County Beagle. Interesting history, right?
Is the Blue Tick Beagle the same as a Blue Tick Coonhound?
Even though both dog breeds are hunting dogs or hounds, the Blue Tick Beagle and the Blue Tick Coonhound are two completely separate breeds.
The Bluetick Coonhound is a coonhound breed or hunting dog that originated in the United States. Just like the Beagle, the Bluetick Coonhound has a pleasant demeanor, a cold nose, and a deep bawl mouth. It is most usually employed to hunt raccoons, although it can also be kept as a pet.
So, what is the difference between Coonhounds and Beagles? Although the Coonhound is easier to train than the Beagle, both breeds are adventurers who can get themselves into trouble if left unattended. Coonhounds have a working dog temperament and have been dubbed “driven,” whereas Beagles are typically described as curious dogs.
Are there any famous Beagle characters?
Many people think that Odie from Garfield is a purebred Beagle, but that´s not true. In reality, the majority of people agree that Odie is a mixed breed. He is not a purebred Beagle, nor a Dachshund, but a wire-haired Dachshund/Terrier mix! But, one famous dog is indeed a Beagle – Snoopy the much loved best friend of Charlie Brown in the Peanuts comic strip. Well, Snoopy might not be a Bluetick Beagle, but he is nevertheless a Beagle!
Snoopy has been a part of our lives since 1950 when his creator Charles M. Schulz introduced him in his comic strip Peanuts, where he pretended to be a great World War I flyer! Snoopy’s impact even extends to NASA, where the Silver Snoopy Award is given to staff who, among other things, “improved the probability of mission success or made design enhancements.” Snoopy, you’ve done a fantastic job representing the Beagle breed!
There is another very famous Beagle – Elvis the Beagle!
No, this Beagle isn’t able to sing. Elvis the Beagle’s talent is more unique and lucrative in the animal-related industry. Elvis the Beagle lives in the Denver Zoo, and his sole purpose is to determine whether or not the zoo’s resident polar bear is pregnant. How does Elvis manage to do this?
Well, Elvis is given a sample of the polar bear’s feces by the zookeepers, and Elvis simply sniffs out the truth—whether the polar bear is genuinely pregnant or is merely demonstrating pseudopregnancy. This is a huge benefit for zookeepers who can’t tell if polar bears are pregnant just by looking at them. When it comes to detecting polar bear pregnancy, Elvis has a 97 percent accuracy rate. That is just remarkable.
For how long do they live?
A Beagle can live for 15 to 20 years if properly cared for. Because of their sturdiness and size, as well as their disposition and temperament, beagles make wonderful family dogs.
If you don’t like howling dogs, though, this may not be the breed for you. They have a lot of energy, but they can also be stubborn and difficult to train. If you can endure the wailing and vocalization tendencies, these dogs can make a wonderful addition to your family.
Just bear in mind that if they don’t receive enough exercise, they may become obese, which can hurt their health.
Their Tail is white-tipped for a reason!
Beagles are small dogs with a coat that resembles that of the smaller Foxhound or even its larger cousin, the Coonhound, with patches of black, brown, or white. A real Beagle, however, must have one little physical characteristic: a white-tipped tail.
Beagle breeders recognize that a true Beagle must have this characteristic, even if it is only a few hairs at the tip. This white tip has a purpose other than physical attractiveness; it makes it simpler to follow the Beagle through the woods, thick weeds, or brush because it is easier to see than the rest of the dog’s body.
They have such big ears for a reason!
Everyone knows that the ears and nose are part of the same body system. But, in Beagles, they work together more unusually. When drawn out, a Beagle’s ears should reach the tip of its nose, according to breed standards. Because Beagle ears are normally big and broad, it’s easy to imagine.
This talent is meant to aid them with their smelling abilities. What do you mean by that? According to experts, a Beagle’s long ears capture scent particles and hold them as close to the dog’s nose as possible. The Beagle will be able to take in as much scent information as possible this way. Only a few other dogs utilize their ears and noses in this manner. Fun, right?
They should get paid!
Many Beagles would be wealthy right now if they could be compensated for their labor. Beagles are frequently hired as working dogs due to their inherent abilities in hunting and smelling. They are also excellent at it. For one thing, bedbug detectors are frequently used with Beagles.
If you’ve ever dealt with bedbugs, you know how difficult they are to see and eradicate. Bedbugs are easily detected by beagles, and many hotels utilize them to locate the pests before they become an infestation. The Department of Homeland Security utilizes Beagles in airports to search luggage for various foods, which is an even more serious task.
One method that which foreign diseases and parasites are disseminated is through illegally imported foods. The Beagle Brigade is made up of beagles who work for Homeland Security.
Conclusion – Blue Tick Beagle
In conclusion, the Blue Tick Beagle is a fun, loving dog and makes a great family dog. They are perfect for families because they get along great with children. Thanks to their friendly nature they will be your child’s perfect friend.
But, also remember that the Bluetick Beagle has very high energy levels. So, exercise is very important for this breed. Also, remember that the Blue Tick is very smart too. So they will need mental stimulation.
The Beagle popularity might have decreased a bit in the last couple of years, but if you decide to get a Blue Tick you won’t regret it. We promise. These hunting dogs will make your days so much better and will win you over with their loving nature and speckled appearance.