A Breed Apart Beagle & Labrador Retriever Mix

By Stacy Mantle

Temperament:  The Beagledor, a cross between a Labrador and a Beagle, is a unique kind of dog that will be faithful to the day it dies.  Low maintenance, but with a nose that can sniff out well, just about anything – he or she will be with you forever. 

Remember that when your looking at the best dogs in the world, the mutt, you need to look at characteristics of both breeds.  The Beagle is known for its baying call, its nose for smell during tracking and it’s devotion to family. The Labrador, on the other hand, is known for it’s skill for retrieving and hunting, it’s sense of smell and also it’s devotion to family.  It’s also known for it’s “mouthiness”.  Combine these traits and you never have to worry about losing a toy, a kid or any other member of your family.  The Beagledor will always find it for you! 

Playful, but with a hint of seriousness, the Beagledor knows when it’s time to work and when it’s time to play.  The Beagledor also knows when it is time to dig, sleep, bay and harass it’s owners!  It will chase the cat in your home around playfully, and not know what to do when it catches it, (generally being paid back for its insistence with a scratch across the nose!) and it will sleep peacefully with the same cat on its favorite bed each night as if it were atoning for it’s naughtiness earlier in the day.

The Best Families For Them:  The best families for these dogs are people with families.  If you live alone, that’s just fine by them as well!  But, these dogs love attention, and they are not fond of being alone.  Consider them “people dogs”.  They love toys, people, other animals, and anything that lets them combine their favorite things into one activity.  They will require a lot of long walks, a large yard to play fetch in, and a lot of love.  These dogs are bundles of energy and will tire out even the most hyperactive four-year-old.

Coloring:  Their colors vary, but generally the Beagle's unique color scheme will take over!  Just be prepared to own a 70-lb beagle if that's the case!  They are just as adorable, you shouldn't have much of an objection. The dog pictured above weighs in at 65-lbs and his worst trait is that he can't make up his mind. 

Size:  They can resemble either a Beagle or a Labrador, depending on where the higher percentage lies, so size will vary according to their mix. Most range from 45 – 70 lbs.  The size of their paws in “puppy-hood” is always a good indicator of the size that they will become.

In all – this is a great dog for families!  They are a unique breed that requires a lot of time, attention and love, but don’t all dogs?  Really, if you can’t provide that, you shouldn’t have a dog anyway!  These dogs will reward your commitment though, and pay you back with years of entertaining antics, tons of video footage (if you pay attention, you can even send it in to America’s Funniest Home Videos and make some money back!), and years of affection!  

Read about other mixed breeds and why they make the best pets:  The Tonkinese/Domestic Shorthair Cat, the Labrador/Australian Shepherd , the Wolf/Coyote Hybrid, the Beagledor