Beagador: everything about this mixed breed

According to the American Kennel Club, Labrador Retrievers are the most popular dog breed in America. They're sweet-natured, highly intelligent, and incredibly loving.

Beagles come in at number 7 and also make wonderful family dogs. So you can see why the Beagle Lab mix is such a sought-after designer dog – you get the best of both worlds without having to choose between these popular pups!

If you're thinking about adopting a Beagador, you'll want to know as much info as possible about this pooch. Here's everything about this hybrid breed!

Origin and History of the Beagador

Designer dog breeds are gaining more and more popularity and we're constantly seeing new ones popping up. Generally speaking, though, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when a new hybrid breed first appears – a litter may be the result of a designed breeding program or of natural breeding, which makes it hard!

It's thought (although they're not sure) that the Beagador was first bred around 30 years ago in America. To get a better understanding of this pup, it's helpful to look at the history of both parent breeds.

History of the Labrador Retriever

Labs originally come from the island of Newfoundland in Canada. They're descendants of St. John's Dogs which were used to help fishermen at work and catch fish that had escaped the nets. These dogs were specifically bred to be hard-working, intelligent, and great with large families.

It's thought that over time, St. John's dogs were bred with Newfoundlands and other local water dogs to create what we know nowadays as the loveable Labrador.

Newfoundland was colonized by many different countries throughout history but in the early 1800s, English travelers took the first dogs back home – a move which actually saved this breed from extinction! Because of new laws and taxes, the breed disappeared in Newfoundland but survived in England.

The English Kennel Club first recognized the Labrador Retriever in 1903 and the American in 1917. In 1991 Labs were named as America's most loved pup and they've held onto that title ever since!

History of the Beagle

Beagles first originated in 16th-century England and were usually kept in packs by wealthy hunters. They're a great scent hound (one of the very best!) and were used to hunt rabbits, foxes, and other small prey. They were also used to chase and flush out game on hunts.

Although still commonly used for hunting today, Beagles were further bred over time and nowadays are loved family members. Because of their amazing sense of smell, Beagles are also used as police dogs and therapy dogs. These floppy-eared canines were first recognized by the AKC in 1885.

Temperament and personality of a Beagador

When it comes to the Beagador temperament, most describe them as loving and devoted. This mixed breed loves to spend time with family members and is known for creating strong attachments to its owner. In fact, if you adopt a Labrador Beagle mix you'll probably find them following you around most of the day!

Because they create such bonds with their humans, these energetic dogs don't do well being left alone for long periods of time. They can easily develop separation anxiety and put their intelligence to bad use. As with both the Beagle and the Labrador, it's a good idea to not let the Beagador get bored.

They're prone to digging (like their Labrador parent) and howling (like their Beagle parent) and can get up to all kinds of mischief to keep themselves entertained.

The Beagle and Lab mix is an adoring dog that will demand quite a lot of your time. Depending on which parent breed your dog takes after more, you may have a very energetic dog that needs a lot of exercise and playtime with you.

They're normally confident dogs and are naturally curious. Their inquisitive nature combined with their heightened sense of smell means they're prone to wandering off as they track something that smells particularly interesting! You'll need to keep an eye on them when out and about!

Beagles are known for being happy to please their owners – but when they want to. They can be a little stubborn which may be a trait your Beagle Lab mix has too. Training from an early age can help to reduce this and plenty of positive reinforcement from you (and the odd treat) will make them happy!

Does a Beagle Lab mix puppy make a good family pet?

Absolutely! You just have to look at the parent breeds to know that!

They're caring and loving designer dogs that get on well with children and other pets (when well trained). Beagadors need to be part of an active family, preferably with space to roam. They're not ideal dogs for apartment living as they're energetic and need space to burn off their excitement.

How much exercise does a Beagador need?

This Beagle Labrador mix needs roughly an hour of exercise a day. That can include a good walk, run, or play in the dog park.

Don't forget that both parent breeds are working dogs, so they'll be happy being outside in the backyard entertaining themselves. It's also important to keep their brains active with toys and puzzles.

Appearance of a Beagador

Beagadors are medium-sized dogs that can be a real mixture of both Labrador and a Beagle when it comes to appearance. It's common for them to look more Beagle-like but with a longer torso (although that isn't always the case). They can weigh anywhere between 30 and 80 pounds and some pups are even 24 inches tall!

The Lab Beagle mix has floppy ears (similar to both parent breeds) and a medium-sized snout. They're very attractive dogs that often have happy and curious expressions. It's possible that some pups will look more like either parent breed or be a real mix of the two.

Beagador color

Both Beagles and Labradors come in many different colors, so you can expect a Beagador to have a number of different colored coats too. These include brown, tan, lemon, blue, red, redtick, bluetick, chocolate, black and yellow. They'll probably have large, adoring, brown eyes.

Grooming a Beagle Lab Mix

Type of coat – do they shed?

Since both purebred dogs have short, double coats, you can be pretty sure that your Beagador will have too.

If your hybrid pooch inherits the water-resistant Labrador coat, they may have quite a distinctive doggy odor when wet – but don't worry! As long as they haven't rolled in anything, that should leave when they dry again.

Just like other dogs with a double coat, you can expect your Beagador to shed moderately all year round and more in spring and fall when they blow their coat.

Beagle Lab mixes require fairly little grooming. Brushing your dog twice a week should be enough to gather up most of the loose hair and dander.

Are Beagadors hypoallergenic?

No! If you or anyone in your family suffers from dog allergies, this isn't the right breed for you. Although they shed moderately, they still shed so they're not considered to be hypoallergenic.

What other grooming is needed?

You should bathe these pups as and when required with a high-quality shampoo that won't dry out their skin too much. Make sure you thoroughly dry them afterward to avoid skin irritation.

Because these pups have big floppy ears, you need to make sure you regularly clean them to avoid infection. It's also worth regularly brushing their teeth and making sure their nails don't get too long.

Labrador Beagle Mix health problems

Mixed breed dogs are normally healthier than their purebred parents and tend not to suffer from as many conditions. That being said, it's important you get your Beagador puppy from a reputable breeder that cares about the welfare and the future of the breed.

Some possible conditions which your Beagle Lab mix may suffer from are:

• Elbow and hip dysplasia
• Epilepsy
• Patella luxation
• Eye problems
• Heart problems

Life expectancy of Beagador

Unfortunately, we can never know exactly how long our four-legged friends will live.

Adopting your dog from a responsible and ethical breeder can help to ensure they're healthier. Lifestyle also plays a big role and it's important to feed your dog the right amount of nutritious food and make sure they get enough exercise. Regularly taking them to the vet can also help to catch any conditions early on.

Generally, a Beagle Lab mix can live between 12 and 15 years – some live even longer!

How much does a Beagador cost?

For such a loving, intelligent, funny, and medium-sized dog, Beagadors are actually fairly cheap. They can cost anywhere between $300 and $600. Cheaper Beagador puppies may not come with proof of all tests having been done.

It's important you do your research to find a good quality breeder – with both Labrador Retrievers and beagles being so popular, this shouldn't be difficult.

It's also worth looking in rescue shelters to adopt a pooch. Although a sought-after designer dog breed, you may find a Beagador in need of adopting!

Facts about Beagadors

Do Beagadors like swimming?

This question really depends on which parent breed your Beagador takes after more. Labradors absolutely love to swim (after all, they were originally bred for it) so if your pup is more Lab they'll likely be in and out of water all the time! Beagles, on the other hand, aren't such water lovers and prefer to have their paws on dry land.

Are Beagadors good apartment dogs?

Beagadors are medium-sized dogs with a fair amount of energy. Ideally, they'd be in a home with space to roam so they can burn some of that energy up! They can live in apartments if you're willing to take them outside more often and let them stretch their legs, but it's not preferred.

How hard are they to train?

This designer breed can be a little tricky to train, especially if they inherit the Beagle's stubborn streak. They'll need an experienced owner that won't allow them to get bored and mischievous!

Final thoughts

If you adopt a Beagador you'll be getting an amazing pup. They're sociable, funny, energetic, and will love being part of your family.

They don't like being left alone so are not a good fit if you travel often or work longer hours. They love to bond and will always be by your side!

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Would you consider getting a Beagador? Or would you rather stick to their beloved parent breeds?

And thanks @themissourimutts and @boopmonsieur for these beautiful pictures! Go follow them!