The blue tick beagle dog is a type of beagle that was originally bred to hunt rabbits and hares as part of a pack. The blue tick beagle has a credible reputation as a hunting companion.
More recently they can be seen working as detection dogs, and even suiting the lifestyle of a family pet.
The blue tick beagle has a slightly different appearance to the typical coloring of his beagle family in that he is covered in multiple blue ‘ticks’ all over his body.
This gives him a more blue or grey speckled appearance.
Interestingly, whilst bearing no relation to the blue tick coonhound, beagles are also accustomed to ‘baying’ when on the trail of a rabbit.
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What is a Blue Tick Beagle?
The beagle is classified as a small hound, and are well recognized for their incredible sense of smell and ability to track prey.
For this reason, they are often employed as detector dogs identifying prohibited substances at airports and other places.
Whether they are working, hunting or a companion dog, the blue tick beagle has a gentle disposition with a loveable nature.
They enjoy human company and as they are a pack animal, can be very devoted to their owner and family members, forming very strong bonds.
Breed Origin
Beagles originated in England in the 1830s where they were first bred to accompany hunters on horseback, hunting hare (a type of large rabbit) in a sport known as beagling.
A reverend named Phillip Honeywood established the first pack of beagles in Essex, England.
It is thought that this original pack included a mix of Southern hounds and North Country beagles, of which all modern-day beagles have descended from.
Beagles were imported into America around the 1940s.
More serious breeding of blue tick beagles in America began in the 1870s where they were finally accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1885.
Kennel Club Recognition and Pedigree
The American Kennel Club recognizes two different types of Beagle:
- Those which are less than 13 inches
- Those which are between 13-15 inches
The Canadian Kennel Club and the Kennel Club (UK) both recognize just one type of beagle.
UK Kennel Club permits beagles between 13-16 inches, whereas the Canadian Kennel Club does not allow the height to exceed 15 inches.
There are some mentions of American and English varieties of beagle, though neither have been recognized as a distinct breed by any kennel club.
All of the clubs recognize the blue tick beagle as a purebred beagle color variation.
Official Beagle breed clubs include:
- The National Beagle Club of America
- The Beagle Club
Blue Tick Beagle Rescue
There are many pre-loved beagles looking for a new home and also some which have not had a chance to experience a typical dog’s life due to being used in scientific research.
As a result, many end up in rehoming shelters seeking a forever home.
Below is a small list of the many organizations all over the US rescuing and rehoming Beagles:
- American Beagle Relief Fund
- Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue
- Arizona Beagle Rescue
- Beagle Freedom Project
- SOS Beagles
| Size | Between 12″ to 15″ |
| Weight | Males 22 to 30 pounds and Females 20 to 23 pounds |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Breed Type | Hound Group |
| Purpose | Companion, Hunting, Detection Dog |
| Suitable For | Active Families |
| Color Variations | Black & Tan Markings On Back, Head And Legs With Blue Ticking On Sides, Chest And Belly |
| Temperament | Intelligent, Focused, Devoted, Stubborn, Active |
Blue Tick Beagle Puppy
Blue tick beagle puppies are very intelligent and training them to hunt rabbits can start as early as 12 weeks old.
These clever companions usually produce around 6 puppies per litter, though it can be anywhere within the range of 1-10 puppies.
Generally, if a dam produces a larger litter, her next litter will also be on the larger side too.
A blue tick beagle will cost around $400-$600 USD although AKC registered pups may go for closer to $1,000.
These puppies will be ready to go to their forever homes at around eight weeks. At this stage, they would be weighing between 6-9lb. They won’t reach their full size until they are fully matured at around 18 months of age:
| 3 | 9 | 12 |
| 6 | 12 | 14 |
| 9 | 16 | 19 |
| 12 | 18 | 23 |
Blue Tick Beagle Temperament
The blue tick beagle is generally very friendly.
Although most beagles are generally friendly, there are of course exceptions and some dogs who have formed very strong attachments to their owners, and who may not have been properly socialized as a puppy.
These beagles may be more protective of their owners.
This can sometimes result in a wariness of strangers, but most should calm down once they understand the stranger is not a threat.
Beagles are very intelligent and so have a good grasp at perceiving threatening or non-threatening situations.
They can sometimes be quite vocal when excited or when reacting to a new presence which means some are well-suited as watchdogs.
The beagle is also one of the few hounds to produce the ‘baying’ sound which will be familiar to a lot of hunters.
This is a mixture between a bark and a howl which alerts their human hunting companion that they have successfully located the target prey.
The strength of prey drives will vary depending on the history of the lineage your Blue Tick Beagle comes from.
Some litters may have a stronger history of being family pets with a dampened prey drive whereas other litters will be born into packs and raised to be hunting dogs who are more likely to have a much stronger prey drive.
Compatibility with Families
Blue tick beagles, which have a personality more accustomed to being a family dog, can be trained from an early age to not chase or react to other small family pets such as cats and birds.
Hunting beagles on the other hand will more likely be required to be kept separate from other small animals.
Beagles are generally very friendly towards children and strangers if appropriately socialized and exposed to unfamiliar people and children of different ages as a puppy.
Evidently, beagles bred in packs are very accustomed to the company of other dogs who are familiar to them and will experience significant stress if separated from their pack.
Those beagles living in packs will unlikely be able to be introduced to other unfamiliar dogs, strangers or children without supervision due their protectiveness of each other and their owners.
Personality
Generally, the blue tick beagle enjoys the company of other companions, both canine and human.
They benefit from a lifestyle where they either have constant canine contact or where they are able to spend a majority of their time with their owner.
Beagles are generally very friendly with both humans and other dogs.
Usually forming strong bonds with their owners, they can sometimes be slightly protective and quite wary of strangers.
They were originally bred to be a part of a pack, and their strong bonds with their owners, means they can sometimes suffer from separation anxiety if they are isolated for long periods of time.
The beagle’s love of play means the beagle owner bond is always strengthened by some good interactive play in the backyard.
Blue Tick Beagle Size and Appearance
Size
Male blue tick beagle can weigh anywhere in the range of 22-30lb whereas females are slightly smaller, usually weighing between 20-23lb.
Beagles are a medium sized dog, but their height can be variable.
Females are usually slightly smaller than the males, however it mostly depends on which type of Beagle they are classified as by the AKC.
Appearance
The Blue Tick Beagle is sturdy and strong.
They are very muscular and athletic in order to sustain the stamina needed to stalk their prey during hunting. They have a short, dense coat and a long thin tail.
The beagle breed standard insists on a straight muzzle which is square-cut at the top and medium-length.
They have a mesocephalic shaped skull with floppy ears and hazel eyes.
This breed can be identified by their classic black and tan markings on the upper part of its body and occasionally on the legs.
The blue tick beagle in particular has less of white under belly, and more a speckled appearance of black/grey flecks – hence the blue tick name.
Color
The blue tick beagle’s coat is short, dense and smooth.
It is also a double coat which is resistant to rain, but this also means that it sheds.
Moderate shedding will occur all year round, though there is likely to be an increase in the springtime as we head into the warmer months.
During this period an increase in brushing frequency will be required to encourage turnover of hair and removal of loose undercoat.
Grooming Requirements
A good weekly brush with a rubber mitt or hound glove will ensure the removal of excess undercoat and encourage the growth of new hair.
As previously mentioned, this brushing frequency will need to increase to match the shed frequency in the warmer months and ensure loose undercoat is removed.
Like with any breed of dog, nails will need to be trimmed periodically to prevent them growing too long and becoming painful.
Teeth cleaning should be done daily as a preventative measure to reduce risk of gum disease and prevent build up of tartar.
If they have not been socialized to this process from puppyhood, it will probably be quite a challenge introducing this in later years. Though this isn’t impossible, other methods can be used such as dental sticks to combat tartar build up.
A Complete Care Guide
Aside from their exercise requirements, blue tick beagle are quite a straightforward dog breed to care for.
As long as the majority of their time is spent with a human, or canine companion, and as long as they are getting their required exercise to tire them out, Beagles can be suited to active families, novice owners or employed as working dogs.
Food and Dietary Requirements
| Daily Food Consumption | |
|---|---|
| Guide | 900 calories |
| Cups of Kibble |  |
Dry kibble is the perfect food for this breed, with a higher quality kibble being better suited if affordable.
They aren’t known for being a picky eater, so when it comes to finding a type of food which they eat; this won’t be too difficult.
Feeding should occur once in the morning and once in the evening, with working dogs (or more active dogs) requiring more calories and protein to ensure they have the energy they require.
Exercise Requirements
| Daily Exercise Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 60 minutes |
| Activity Level |  |
Blue tick beagles require at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.
Like most scent hounds with a strong sense of smell, walking on a leash may be the best option unless their recall is tip top.
This is because they may have a tendency to wander off and pursue more interesting smells rather than listening to their owner.
Daily exercise should be combined with a few off-leash run arounds within an enclosed space to allow them to burn off energy and race around with play mates.
Their preferred form of exercise is most likely a nice long walk somewhere they are able to explore all the different scents.
Generally, Beagles aren’t big fans of water and swimming, though this may change if they are exposed to swimming as a puppy.
Training
Their intelligent disposition means they often need to be kept occupied with play, exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom which could lead to destructiveness.
Blue tick beagles have a tendency to be a little stubborn, and their strong sense of smell can sometimes lead to them being a bit single-minded and focused on other things.
This can however be combatted with consistent training using positive reinforcement.
Food-based rewards often work well in recapturing the beagles attention and like many training situations – persistence and consistency is key.
Due to the beagles intelligence, they require good mental simulation to prevent boredom which can come in the form of brain games and puzzle feeders to living with a canine companion or interactive play with their human companion.
Known Health Problems
On average, the blue tick beagle’s lifespan is between 12-15 years of age.
Unfortunately, there are some health issues which are known to affect the breed in particular, a couple of which are listed below:
- Epilepsy – a neurological disorder which causes the dog to have uncontrolled and recurring seizures.
- Cherry Eye – This occurs when the gland in the third eyelid of the dog prolapses, leading to a red, oval shaped mass appearing on their eye. Steroid ointment can be administered to encourage the gland to return to its normal place, but failing that, surgery is required.
Summary
As long as the blue tick beagle has appropriate companionship, and is thoroughly exercised, they are an easy-to-care-for dog that is well suited to novice owners as well as experienced ones.
Beagles can be family pets, working dogs or hunting dogs as part of a pack.
One last fun fact, they are often selected as detection dogs in airports because, alongside their incredible sense of smell, they appear and are perceived as much friendlier than some larger and potentially intimidating police dogs.
This loveable breed is intelligent and active, so as long as they have plenty of mental stimulation, good company and thorough exercise, this beautiful breed can make the perfect addition to the family, pack or workforce.
Do you think you could be suited to a blue tick beagle? Give us a comment below.
I just am not sure what breed my dog is I just got her she is like a little over a year old…if someone can help me identify I can send a picture.
Hi Heather, hopefully our article on What Breed is My Dog will help!
This article is 200% accurate! My beagle blue tick is amazing, we love her and she is a wonderful family dog.
Our new blue tick beagle, Bella arrives Friday! We’re super excited. Was it hard to leash train your puppy? Does a collar or harness work best? What are your beagle’s favorite toys?