What Is a Pocket Beagle – Breed Information
- adriana
- Jan 20
- 4 min read
As the name suggests, the pocket beagle is the pocket-size version of the beagle. This smaller variety of the well-known beagle breed is emerging as a popular companion, making many wonder about the breed's characteristics. If you're planning to adopt a pocket beagle and want to learn more about the breed, our article is here to guide you through everything you need to know.
Image by master1305 / Adobestock
Continue reading to the end to learn every detail about the pocket beagle, from the breed's size and temperament to health and training. We'll also give expert insights into determining whether the pocket beagle is the right dog breed for you.
Pocket Beagle Breed Characteristics
The pocket beagle breed isn't as popular as the standard beagle but the pocket-sized version is making a name for individuals and families looking for a small companion carrying similar characteristics as the standard beagle. Below, you'll discover everything there is to know about this small companion dog.
Size
The pocket beagle is much smaller than the regular beagle, both in terms of height and weight. According to Dog Academy’s guide, these dogs weigh between 7 and 15 pounds while standing up to 13 inches tall at the withers. They are fairly small dogs that adapt to apartment living easily. If you're a traveler, their small size also means that they comfortably fit in an airline-approved pet carrier to take them with you in the passenger cabin.
Temperament
Like the regular beagle, the pocket beagle is a friendly dog that's outgoing and playful. They enjoy interacting with anyone and everyone around them, making them highly sociable dogs. However, there's also a headstrong side to these dogs. These dogs, no matter the size, tend to follow their noses. While this makes them excellent at any kind of scent work, it requires the owner to invest heavily in obedience training to ensure their dogs don't wander away.
Coat Type
The pocket beagle has a short and smooth coat that doesn't require much upkeep. Brushing the coat every week is enough to maintain it. As for shedding, pocket beagles shed moderately and enter a heavy shedding phase twice a year during seasonal changes. Pocket beagle owners may need to brush their dogs a bit more frequently as their coat prepares for the next season.
Health and Exercise
Pocket beagles are generally healthy dogs. They are prone to developing very few health conditions, and these include dwarfism, intervertebral disc disease, and congenital heart defects. Also, the downsizing in this breed can lead to a wide range of health problems. It is critical for everyone who wants to adopt a pocket beagle to work with a responsible breeder who screens the health of their breeding stock.
On average, you can expect a pocket beagle to live between 12 and 15 years. As for how much exercise these dogs need, daily walks lasting 20 to 30 minutes are ideal to keep them in top shape.
Intelligence and Trainability
Pocket beagles are highly intelligent dogs with great social skills. They understand social cues well and can read their owner's emotions well. With these alone, it is safe to say that pocket beagles are one of the smartest dogs around.
However, this intelligence doesn't always carry over to trainability. While a pocket beagle will understand what you want them to accomplish, they may not always have the motivation to do it. Pocket beagles aren't inherently interested in pleasing their owners by doing things for them. They are usually more inclined to go where their noses lead them. Due to this, pocket beagles may require a bit more patience and time to train.
Image by Wosunan / Adobestock
Pocket Beagle vs. Regular Beagle
The biggest – and the most obvious – difference between the pocket beagle and the regular beagle is the size. The pocket beagle is considerably smaller than the standard beagle, making them a good choice for individuals and families that want a beagle but find the breed a bit too big.
Also, pocket beagles tend to suffer more health issues due to the amount of downsizing in the breed. It is essential for owners of this breed to take their dogs to regular vet check-ups. Besides these differences, you can expect the characteristics of the pocket beagle to be the same as the regular beagle.
Should You Adopt a Pocket Beagle?
Whether or not the pocket beagle is the right dog breed for you depends on several factors. If you have the time to invest in training and socialization during puppyhood and provide your dog with a loving, caring home as they grow older, you'll surely find the pocket beagle an excellent breed.
Pocket beagles are also fairly low-maintenance dogs that can thrive in different living arrangements and adapt to their owner's lifestyle easily. These make them suitable for a wide range of individuals and families, making them an ideal pet for many.