Questions to ask a Beagle breeder before getting a Beagle
So you’ve decided you’re going to get a puppy. Getting the right puppy for you and your family and your living situation is very important. If you’re getting a puppy from a breeder, what are the questions your should ask a Beagle breeder?
There are lots of articles on the internet about the right questions to ask when getting a puppy – but these are the Beagle-specific questions you should ask when you’re thinking of getting a Beagle. Beagles have a few particular beagley traits that make it really worth asking these questions, or face regretting not having asked them once you already have your adorable new family member, and are counting the cost – both emotional and financial (check out this article on Beagle-specific health problems).
Beagles are generally a healthy breed of dog. But for even the most diligent of breeders, it isn’t possible to completely eradicate certain health conditions. The questions below will help you to have an informed and useful conversation with a breeder before you decide whether or not to adopt a puppy. Keep scrolling and you’ll get the inside track on how to interpret answers from a breeder.
Checklist of questions
1. Beagle-specific health and family history
Can I see your health certificates for both the parents and the puppy?
Are the parents carriers of the recessive genes for MLS, NCCD or Lafora?
Is there a history of autoimmune thyroiditis in either parent’s family tree?
Is there a history of Cushing’s disease in either parent’s family tree?
Is there a history of IVDD (Invertebral Disk Disease) in either parent’s family tree?
What other health conditions have either of the parent dogs experienced?
2. Puppy vaccinations and vet visits
What vaccinations has the puppy received? What will it receive before I bring it home?
What vaccinations will be necessary and when once I bring the puppy home?
3. Terms of sale
Does the breeder guarantee the health of the puppy for a specific period of time?
Would they take the dog back if you’re no longer able to keep it?
Does the puppy have breeding rights or is it a pet-only sale?
Are there any other restrictions or caveats on the sale of the puppy?
4. General information
1. Beagle-specific health and family history
Ideally, you should be able to see a puppy interacting with both its mother and father. Sometimes the father may be on loan from another breeder and therefore may not be present – if that’s the case, confirm the reason for its absence, and see if you can visit the dog in person. Here are the health-related questions you should ask a Beagle breeder.
1. What health testing do you do?
This is a great opening question, because it provides the breeder with the opportunity to explain to you in full the kind of Beagle-specific health testing they have undertaken on both the parents and the puppy you’re looking into acquiring from them.
The following are essential to meet the USA National Beagle Club breed standard, and are well-known, easily accessible tests:
Hip dysplasia
Eye examination
MLS
Cardiac evaluation
Autoimmune throiditis
The following are optional:
Advanced cardiac evaluation
Patellar Luxation
Lafora Epilepsy
Factor VII deficiency
Neonatal Cerebella Cortical Degeneration
See below for more information on each of these.
2. Can I see health certificates for both parents and the puppy?
A health certificate is document issued by a veterinarian detailing the care that an animal has received. It includes full vaccination records and details of any health issues for which the animal has received treatment.
This document doesn’t need to look like a formal certificate, but it needs to come from an independent veterinarian and should be fully up-to-date. You should be able to call the veterinarian to verify the record too.
If the breeder does not make it easy for you to contact their veterinarian to verify the health of the parents or the puppy, your alarm bells should be ringing.
Sometimes, unscrupulous breeders will offer a ‘health certificate’ on headed paper from their kennel, which is basically just a list of care that they say the puppy has received whilst in their care.
3. Are the parents carriers of the recessive genes for MLS, NCCD or Lafora?
MLS, NCCD and Lafora are very serious health conditions that can severely impact the quality of life of a Beagle. These are conditions that are particularly prevalent in Beagles. (MLS only occurs in Beagles and was previously known as Chinese Beagle Syndrome.)
A responsible breeder will not breed puppies that have a high chance of being born with any of these hereditary conditions. Furthermore, a responsible breeder will be acutely aware of the importance of testing for these conditions and will have selected a breeding pair that does not produce puppies with any of these three conditions.
It’s very important to check for these three conditions, as it can take several weeks for the symptoms to manifest after a puppy is born. In the case of Lafora, symptoms manifest around the age of 8 years, although it is a hereditary condition.
You can test for all three of these conditions by a simple swab test. To learn more about these hereditary conditions, click here.
4. Is there a history of hip dysplasia on either side of the parents’ family tree? If so, how severe and what was the treatment?
Beagles can be prone to hip dysplasia. This is a painful condition where the hip joints are not properly formed, and degenerate over time.
However, there are some things that breeders can do to reduce the chance of breeding puppies with severe hip dysplasia. They can ask a veterinarian to x-ray their breeding dogs at 1 year of age, and provide a score on the ‘quality’ of their hips. If both parents have a low hip score, the chances of them developing severe hip dysplasia is low. If a dog has a high hip score, it means the chances of them developing severe hip dysplasia is higher. While no test is 100% guarantee of a puppy not being born with this condition, it’s as close a safeguard as you can hope for.
Don’t panic if this information isn’t available. Not everyone practices hip scoring, and not even all good breeders have this information. In the absence of this information, you should request as much information as possible. For example, how many cases are there in your puppy’s family tree? How severe are they? That way, you can build up a picture of the likelihood a puppy’s potential for the condition. And you get to understand the potential impact on your life and your dog’s life.
5. Is there a history of autoimmune thyroiditis in either parent’s family tree?
Autoimmune thyroiditis is another hereditary condition that some Beagles experience. The Beagle’s immune system attacks the thyroid, making it less effective, and in some cases, destroying it altogether. This can have serious consequences for your Beagle’s health, as they will suffer from hypothyroidism as a result. This means they will feel the cold more easily, become more tired and lethargic, and lose some of their zest for life. It can also trigger heart conditions, and other more serious conditions.
Responsible breeders will carefully select breeding pairs to avoid autoimmune thyroiditis being passed on.
6. Is there a history of Cushing’s disease in either parent’s family tree?
Beagles have a predisposition for Cushing’s disease. There are a lot of cases within the breed.
Cushing’s disease is very recognizable. Beagles with this condition often appear unusually fluffy. Cushing’s is caused by a decrease in cortisol production, due to damage to the adrenal gland or pituitary gland. This damage is most often caused by a tumor, but can also be caused by an autoimmune condition.
Cushing’s is a serious condition that can significantly shorten the life of a Beagle. However, it can be managed with early intervention and effective treatment. It often doesn’t manifest until later in life, which is why it’s important to understand family history.
7. Is there a history of IVDD (Invertebral Disk Disease) in either parent’s family tree?
IVDD is a degeneration of the spine. It can affect several breeds of dog, including Beagles. It can be a painful and debilitating condition for some dogs, and can require expensive surgery to fix. Whilst it can’t always be prevented, it’s wise to know if there is a history of it in your Beagle’s family.
8. Do either of the parents suffer from allergies?
Some veterinarians estimate that 25% of dogs they see experience allergies of some kind. Like humans, Beagles often experience allergies for a range of reasons.
9. How often do each of the parents experience ear infections?
Ear infections are a very common occurrence for a lot of Beagles, due to the size of their ears. All Beagles will get an ear infection at some point in their life. However, for some Beagles, ear infections are a fact of life. You will need to manage this for the rest of your dog’s life.
Ear infections aren’t hereditary, but asking the breeder for information about prevalence will help you prepare for your own Beagle. If the breeder is in the same area of the country that you and your Beagle will live, the environmental conditions will be similar. This might give a reasonable indication of how much of an issue this is for Beagles living in the area.
10. What other health conditions have either of the parent dogs experienced?
You should ask for a full medical history of both parent dogs in order to unearth any other conditions. This is a catch-all to ensure you have as full a picture as possible of the health of both parent dogs.
If either parent dog has a significant medical history of serious disease, they should not be used for breeding. Be sure that you listen carefully to the breeder’s answers to your questions, and review the records from their veterinarians.
The ideal situation you are looking for is two healthy parent dogs, with no significant medical history. This helps to ensure that the pups they produce are strong and healthy, and free from the genes which can cause the most serious and dangerous conditions.
11. How many litters has the mother dog had? How old is she?
According to the American Kennel Club, a female dog should not be used for breeding before she is 8 months, but this is really very young. A lot of breeders and veterinarians will not endorse this. A dog should be fully grown before having a litter of puppies. For Beagles, this is around 18 months of age, at an absolute minimum.
A truly passionate breeder will often wait until a dog is 2-4 years of age before breeding from her. There are differing opinions however. There is some research to suggest that younger dogs (18-24 months) give birth to their first litter more easily, with fewer complications.
A lot has been written about when to retire a dam from breeding. Generally speaking, dogs older than 7 should not be used for breeding, as health risks increase significantly after this time.
Generally speaking, it is a good sign when a breeder tells you they will only use their female dog for one or two litters, as this means they are prioritising the health of the mother dog over volume of puppy production.
There is no hard and fast rule about when how many litters a female dog should or shouldn’t have had. The point here is: listen to the breeder’s own personal philosophy on when to breed this particular dog, and decide whether you think their approach is reasonable and humane.
12. How big are the mother and father? What do they weigh?
Knowing the weight of the mother and father dogs can give a good indication as to the future adult weight of the puppy you will be taking home.
It’s also important to breed from dogs that are a healthy weight and not overweight (a common problem in Beagles), which is another really important reason for you to see the puppies with both parents.
2. Puppy vaccinations and veterinary visits
1. Have both parents received vaccinations for key diseases?
Essential vaccinations
You should request proof that both parents received vaccinations for the following diseases.
DHPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
Leptospirosis
The diseases included in the DHPP vaccine are serious and potentially fatal diseases, especially for very young puppies. When puppies are born, they don’t have immunity to these diseases, so it’s important for them not to come into contact with any dogs or places that they could contract an infection. This is one of the reasons puppies should remain indoors and not go out into public areas until they are 10-12 weeks of age. As such, it’s very important that the parents and any other dogs in the breeder’s household all have this vaccination.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that thrives in wet areas, most often in the fall. While it is unpleasant, it is rarely fatal for older dogs. It can be fatal for puppies, and can also be transmitted to humans. When this happens, it can badly affect children in particular. All dogs should be vaccinated against this infection throughout their lives.
Optional vaccinations
You may also wish to ask if they have been vaccinated against these additional three conditions.
Bordatella (Kennel Cough)
Rabies
Lyme disease
Bordatella is often required by doggy daycare centres, boarding kennels, and places where there are lots of dogs. It is a highly transmissable condition, a bit like the flu in humans, which can be serious, especially in very young or old dogs, or dogs with compromised immunity.
Rabies vaccination is essential for international travel and for some doggy daycare centers.
Lyme vaccination is only necessary if you live in or are getting a puppy from an area where lyme disease is prevalent.
2. Are both parents on flea, worm and tick medication? Which ones?
All breeding dogs should receive flea and tick medication. It’s helpful to know which medications your puppy’s relatives receive, and any reactions they have had to different types of flea and tick medication. This can help you decide if a particular brand is more suited to your dog as they grow up and are old enough to start taking flea, tick and worming medication.
Your dog will only need to take tick prevention medication if you and your puppy live in an area where there are ticks. Not all Beagles will need to take this medication.
3. What vaccinations has the puppy received? What will it receive before I bring it home?
All puppies should receive vaccinations for parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus and hepatitis, according to the following schedule:
8 weeks: 1st shot
10 weeks: 2nd shot
12 weeks: 3rd shot
Most puppies are weaned between 8 and 10 weeks, so in most cases, you should find that your puppy has received at least one round of vaccinations.
The breeder should be able to work with you to ensure that your puppy is as up-to-date on its shots as it should be before it is handed over to you.
As with the health certificates for the parents, you should request proof of vaccination from a veterinarian for your puppy for any care it has received while in the ownership of the breeder. This will serve as an important record for your own veterinarian once the puppy is yours.
4. Has the puppy received flea and worming treatment?
You should start puppies on a deworming treatment from the age of three weeks. Until they are six months old, they will need to take this every two weeks. From six months old, they can take it monthly.
5. Has the puppy been weaned? What age do you wean them?
In most cases, puppies are fully weaned by the age of around 8 weeks. If a breeder tells you they will be ready sooner than this, your alarm bells should be ringing. Puppies should generally not be weaned any sooner than this, except in exceptional circumstances such as the mother being ill, or passing away. Weaning dogs prematurely can lead to a weak immune system or health problems, as well as socialisation issues.
6. What vaccinations will be necessary once I bring the puppy home? When will the vaccinations be due?
See point 3. above.
Once you bring the puppy home, ensuring it receives its initial course of vaccinations will be your responsibility, as will the boosters it needs throughout its life. As soon as you get your puppy home, you should arrange an appointment at your local veterinarian and schedule next vaccinations.
7. Does the puppy have a microchip?
A microchip is a device about the size of a grain of rice that is placed under the skin of companion animals. The owner’s details are kept in a database, so that if the pet ever goes missing, or is stolen, the owner can be contacted.
It’s highly advisable to get a microchip for your dog, so that you can find them if they ever get lost or go missing. A microchip can also serve as a record of of ownership in case of a dispute.
Some breeders will microchip puppies as part of their initial vet visits. Ask your breeder whether they are planning to do this for your puppy.
8. Has the puppy experienced any health issues? Have any other puppies in the litter experienced any health problems?
It goes without saying that this is essential information to ask the breeder. You should also be able to verify all health records with the puppy’s veterinarian.
Sometimes, puppies do get sick, even when they have received excellent care from the moment they were born. That doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t quickly recover and live a full and unaffected life. However, puppies can be fragile little things and their health can deteriorate very quickly.
If the puppy has any health issues, make sure that you and the breeder are in agreement as to how you will handle any early health issues. There may be language about this in a contract of sale that the breeder shares with you.
3. Terms of sale
1. Does the breeder have a sales contract?
A responsible breeder will have a standard contract with terms of sale. They may require you to sign this before they will agree to sell the puppy to you. This is a very standard practice.
In most cases, the contract is intended to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the puppy, as well as the reputation of the breeder, rather than to be restrictive to the new owner.
There may be restrictions on your breeding from the puppy, or a requirement to neuter the puppy within a certain timeframe.
It is common to include a clause in the contract that requires you to return the puppy to the breeder, if you have to rehome the dog. This is to make sure that dogs are rehomed appropriately, and that they do not end up in a shelter.
2. Does the breeder guarantee the health of the puppy for a specific period of time?
It is unusual for a breeder to guarantee the health of a puppy for any more than 30 days after rehoming. Breeders may be prepared to guarantee against certain health conditions, especially the ones we have mentioned earlier in this article.
3. What support does the breeder offer once you have the puppy at home?
In the early days of having a puppy, you may want to check out certain behaviors with a Beagle expert. There is nobody better placed to help you than the breeder who produced your puppy. Therefore, it’s a good idea to ask what level of support you should realistically expect from them before you take the puppy home.
A thoughtful breeder won’t hesitate to help with queries in the first few days. Many may be grateful for updates on the progress of the puppy in its new home, as they grow attached to the puppies.
4. Is the puppy registered with the National Beagle Club of America or The American Kennel Club? (Or the comparable nationally-recognized Beagle club within your country?)
A breeder that has registered your puppy with one of these organization is often organized and credible.
5. Would they take the dog back if you’re no longer able to keep it?
There may be a clause in the contract of sale you sign for your puppy that requires you to return the dog to the breeder at any stage of its life, if you are unable to care for it. Breeders do this to ensure the health and wellbeing of the dog. It also to safeguard the reputation of the breeder.
If there is no clause that requires you to return the puppy if you no longer want it or can care for it, the breeder’s motives may be questionable. If there is a clause that states they will not take a puppy back, steer well clear of this breeder. Someone who is selling puppies solely for profit is not a responsible and caring breeder. You should avoid them at all costs.
6. How much will the breeder charge for the puppy?
You should agree a fixed sum for the puppy before you arrive to collect it, and the figure should be included in the contract of sale.
7. Does the puppy have breeding rights or is it a pet-only sale?
Some breeders attach conditions to a sale of a puppy. This is to protect the wellbeing of the puppy, as well as to ensure the quality of the bloodline, and to avoid irresponsible or careless breeding practices. It also ensures to protect the reputation of the breeder and their dogs.
If you don’t have plans to breed from your dog in future, this shouldn’t be an issue. If you have plans to breed from your dog in future, you would need permission from the breeder to do so, and you would need to be prepared to respond to their requests or recommendations for matches.
Some breeders may require you to spay or neuter your puppy within a certain timeframe in order to ensure that accidental breeding doesn’t happen.
8. What other paperwork is required?
Find out from the breeder what additional paperwork (if any) they would provide.
9. Are there any other restrictions or caveats on the sale of the puppy?
Is there anything else in the contract of sale that hasn’t been covered during the course of your discussions with the breeder? Make sure you discuss each aspect of the contract with them to ensure you have a full understanding of what it entails.
4. General information
1. Are you a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC)-registered Beagle club?
Find out if the breeder is a member of any Beagle Clubs or Associations. It’s usually a good sign if they are, as they are likely to be well-read on breed standards and will likely have adhered to the Club guidelines as to what conditions to test their breeding pairs with.
If a breeder isn’t a member of a Beagle Club, you should be even more thorough with your questions, as they won’t have the support of other breeders around your country.
2. Can I meet the puppy with its parents?
No breeder should have an issue with a potential buyer or adopter wanting to meet a puppy with the parents. If they do have an issue with it, this is about the biggest red flag there is. If a breeder won’t allow you to meet a puppy with its mother and father, you have to ask yourself what it is that they are afraid of you seeing. Are the conditions where the puppies have been raised inappropriate? Do they keep their Beagles in cages? Do their dogs live outdoors? Are they clean, healthy, and well cared for? Are the mother dogs well cared for?
The good news is, responsible breeders will positively encourage you to see the puppy with its parents, and no matter how far you have to travel to see them together, you should take the time to do this. Getting a Beagle puppy is a 12-15 year commitment, and there is a lot that can be learned from seeing Beagle puppies in their home surroundings.
3. What characteristics do you breed for?
Different breeders will breed for different purposes, which can lead to very different types of Beagle, both in appearance and personality. In particular, there are huge differences in temperament and appearance of ‘hunting’ Beagles and ‘show’ Beagles. Some professional breeders consider the two strands to be practically different breeds at this point (see this excellent article which explains more).
To show just how different the same breed of dog can turn out, take a look at these examples:
Honey pot hounds These are gorgeous show Beagles, bred for conformation and beauty.
Woodpont Beagles Perfect examples of hunting Beagles, bred with care and attention to optimize for hunting traits.
Depending on your lifestyle, and the home environment you can offer a Beagle, you should look to optimize your choice of Beagle for characteristics that will fit well into your life.
If a breeder isn’t able to answer this question satisfactorily and thoroughly, you should look elsewhere to get your puppy, as it may be an indication of inappropriate care or breeding practices.
4. Do you have any questions for me, the potential owner?
A responsible and diligent breeder will probably have as many questions for you as you will have for them – sometimes more! When I got my first Beagle from a breeder, the first interview took 5 hours and the second one 5 more. I got my puppy from a knowledgeable, caring and loving home, and they wanted to make sure I was fully prepared for Beagle puppy ownership. This is a clear sign of a responsible breeder that cares greatly for the Beagles that they produce.
5. Which puppy would you recommend for me?
Beagle personalities can vary even within the same litter. The breeder will have chance to get to know the puppies during the first 8 weeks of their lives, and will recognize certain characteristics that may or may not suit a particular family. Breeders may not always have a strong opinion about which puppy should go to which home, but if they do, their opinion is worth listening to: they are the experts.
6. Have you ever refused to sell a puppy to someone?
It can be a very good sign that a breeder has turned away prospective owners, as this means they have a rigorous vetting process for the families that own their pets, and their standards of care are high.
7. Can you provide references?
It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for references for the breeder and the dogs they produce. In a lot of cases, you should be able to see heritage from the documentation the breeder provides, but it’s also always adviseable to contact people who have adopted Beagles from their previous litters. That way, you can ask about their experience with the health and behavior of the puppy they purchased, as well as their post-purchase relationship with the breeder.
In summary
This is a mighty long list of questions to ask, but ask them you should! Getting a Beagle is a big, life-changing decision, and for the sake of your future pet and your own sanity, you should be as prepared as possible when making such a significant life choice.
If you enjoyed this article and found it useful, you might also like this article:
🐶 10 things to know before getting a beagle.
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