The Teacup Beagle is a shrunken version of the intelligent and good-natured purebred Beagle but is not recognized by any of the major Kennel Clubs. Teacup Beagles stand at about 12 inches and weigh up to 18 pounds in general.
These dogs are also known as “Pocket Beagles,” “Toy Beagles,” or “Mini Beagles.”
Beagles have been around for centuries now, first being seen in the 11th century, however, the miniature version of this popular dog was first seen in the 15th century.
These dogs are full of life with friendly personalities and adorable eyes.
In this guide, we are going to discuss the thing that any doer should know before buying from appearance, personality, and even how to care for this dog.
Let us get right into it.
About the Teacup Beagle
Teacup Beagles are cute sweethearts that can sometimes have a stubborn streak that was mainly bred as companion dogs.
The first sighting of this pocket-sized Beagle was made in the 15th century.
Queen Elizabeth was one of the first owners of this miniature dog and she used to carry them in her saddle pocket thus the name “Queen Elizabeth Pocket Beagle.”
She often called them “the singing dogs” and she would even allow them to play on the table as guest entertainment.
This playful nature of the Pocket Beagle is one of the traits that has made this dog loveable.
Teacup Beagles are not only playful but are also super friendly leaving a smile on everyone they meet.
However, finding one of these dogs can be a difficult task as only a handful of breeders develop this dog.
So, how is Beagle Miniaturization achieved?
1. Crossbreeding
Crossing a Beagle with another dog breed of a similar structure is one of the ways breeders could use to make a pocket Beagle.
This is arguably one of the best methods of Beagle Miniaturization.
Puppies produced using this method of breeding are genetically diverse and less likely to suffer from health issues suffered by the parent purebreds.
However, when this is done the resulting offspring can look more like the other parent and less like the Beagle.
A breeder that has used this method to create a Teacup Beagle should always reveal it to you.
2. Breeding of runts
Runts are the smallest puppies in a litter.
Repeated breeding of these runts will progressively lead to the production of smaller puppies that are not always healthy.
However, the offsprings are not always necessarily less healthy than larger Beagles.
Some breeders also mate a larger Beagle mother with a smaller Beagle sire to reduce the risk of infections that are associated with runts.
3. Dwarfism
Dwarfism can occur completely naturally but can also be induced.
This is done by mating a Beagle with a dwarfismintroduceone that does not thus introducing the gene into a new line of the same dog.
Beagles are known to carry the dwarfiof gene and therefore this method if breeding is not uncommon.
However, selecting and breeding dwarf Beagles is highly discouraged because in severe cases the dog may suffer from several health problems.
Some of the signs of a dwarf teacup Beagles are;
- Spinal abnormalities
- Bowed Limbs
- Joint issues
- Slowed growth
- The Beagle will always retain a puppy coat
6 Pocket Beagle fun-facts
- The Teacup or mini Beagle is the rarest hound.
- This dog is also known as the Old English Pocket Beagle of the Queen Elizabeth Pocket Beagle.
- These dogs have a very strong sense of smell tha often leads them astray. They have about 220 million smell receptors which are 44 times more than those found in humans.
- Mini Beagles are vocal dogs tha make three types of noises namely: Barking, half-bayed howling, and the bayed howl.
- This dog always has a white tip tail that allows their owners to spot them even when they hunting in tall grass.
- They are descendants of the Glove Beagle which was developed in the 13th century but went extinct in the 19th century. Glove Beagles were approximately half the size of the Standard Beagles and could perfectly fit into their owner’s pockets.
Interesting read: The adorable Bluetick Beagle
Pros and cons
Pros
✓ Affectionate and friendly.
✔ Great and rendering physical looks.
✓ Low maintenance in terms of grooming.
✔ Gets along with other house pets.
✓ GreIt at for apartment dwellers.
Cons
✗ Barks a lot.
✘ Can nip during play.
✗ Expensive.
✘ Prone to several health conditions.
General characteristics and appearance of the Teacup Beagle
| Teacup Beagle summary table | |
|---|---|
| Height | 7-12 inchesto |
| eight | 7 – 18 pounds |
| Lifespan | 12 t0 15 years |
| Breed Type | Hound |
| Purpose | Hunting and companionship |
| Suitable For | Novice and active families |
| Grooming requirements | Low |
| Color Variations | White and tan, red, blue, cream, brown, blue ticked, lemon flecked, gray |
| Health concerns | Intervertebral Disc Disease, Congenital heart defects, Pulmonic Stenosis |
| Temperament | Sociable, Easygoing, Playful, Devoted, Eager To Please, Loyal, Active, Intelligent, Stubborn, and Curious |
Height & Weight
The Pocket Beagle is a small dog with a height of between 7 and 12 inches and weighs between 7 and 18 pounds.
Physical Appearance
As I mentioned earlier the teacup Beagle is a miniaturized version of the popular Beagle breed.
These dogs are known for their lean but muscular appearance with defined features.
They have square muzzles, large floppy ears, deep chests, and big beautiful dark brown or hazel eyes.
Coat appearance and shedding
The teacup Beagle has a water-resistant double coat with a dense and short overcoat made up of straight hairs and a softer undercoat.
This coat should have no curls or waves.
The Pocket Beagle’s undercoat develops as the colder months approach and in the process he sheds heavily. He also loses some of the undercoats in the warmer months.
Teacup Beagles will also shed moderately throughout the year.
Teacup Beagle Colors
The most common Pocket Beagle color is white and tan. This white color is found on the tip of the tail, belly, chest, and legs while the tan color is found on their necks and heads.
They also have saddles on the backs that can be either red, dark brown or black.
Other colors are;
| Gray | Brown | White |
| Tan | Red | Lemon flecked |
| Cream | Red tickled | Red tickled |
Beagle Vs Pocket Beagle
The appearance of Pocket beagles mainly depends on how they were bred.
However, there are two major differences between a Standard Beagle and a shrunken version of the Beagle.
Beagles stand at 13 inches at least while Teacup Beagles could be as small as 7 inches.
Pocket Beagles have pointier and narrower muzzles.
Miniaturization does not affect the temperament and personality of a Beagle unless he has been bred through cross-breeding with another smaller breed.
Temperament and personality traits of the Teacup Beagle
Generally, this dog is outgoing, bubbly, and can sometimes be stubborn. You can use these three words, to sum up, what you can expect from your Mini Beagle.
Being around this dog you will always be happy and joyous due to his friendliness and endearing personality.
He loves nothing more than being next to his owner curling up in your lap the whole day and playing fetch with you.
They form such tight bonds with the ones they love that leaving them alone for extended periods cannot be an option for any owner. Teacup Beagles are prone to suffering from separation when left alone.
Leaving these dogs alone can also make them destructive and could cause them to bark a lot.
These pocket dogs are also intelligent and very trainable but can often be mischievous when bored.
Hunting instincts
The Pocket Beagle is a hunting dog with a strong sense of smell.
This sense of smell can often lead them astray and in worst cases, they could even get lost chasing a scent or exploring.
You should be careful with this dog, especially when he is around other smaller pets such as rabbits.
Their strong hunting instincts also make them very vocal dogs.
Teacup Beagles are known to make 3 types of noises;
- The typical bark
- Half-baying howl
- Baying howl
They are fond of barking mostly when they are bored and so, you should never let them get bored.
Destructive behaviors such as digging and tearing up things are also common with the Mini Beagle.
Keeping all these things in mind, always make sure that your Pocket Beagle always has a leash on when you are outdoors.
You can also check out our high prey drive management guide and learn some ways you can prevent you canine friend from chasing other smaller pets in the house.
Recall training will also come in very handy when you are dealing with the miniature Beagle.
Is the Teacup Beagle a Good family dog
The Teacup Beagle is an excellent family dog, especially for apartment dwellers.
He is great with children and also gets along well with other dogs and cats alike.
However, you should supervise this dog’s play with young children as he can also tend to be mouthy, especially during rough play.
Puppies
Litter size:
2 to 8 puppies.
These puppies take around 12 months to reach their full size.
How much does a Pocket Beagle cost?
The Pocket Beagle is an expensive dog that will cost you between $800 and upwards of $1800 depending on the breeder.
How to groom a Mini Beagle
The Miniature Beagle has low grooming needs.
You will need to brush his coat at least once a week and increase the brushing frequency when he is shedding heavily.
A bristle brush or grooming glove can be great for handling this dog’s coat keeping shedding under control and ensuring that there is an even distribution of coat oils.
You will only need to bathe the pocket Beagle when it is necessary.
Dirt and wax also tend to accumulate in this dog’s ears and they can cause infections. You will, therefore, need to clean the ears weekly.
Clipping the nails and dental care should also be on top of the dog’s grooming care needs.
Teacup Beagle exercise needs
Teacup Beagles may be small but they are very energetic and active dogs that will need daily mental and physical stimulation.
2 daily walks, a play session, a hike, or jogging are some of the ways you can meet this canine’s exercise needs.
However, when walking this dog, remember to put a leash on him. Using a harness instead of a dog collar is recommended to avoid tracheal collapse.
These walks should be short, at least 20 minutes at most, and avoid over-exercising this pocket Beagle.
| Daily Exercise Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 45 minutes |
| Number of walks | 2 (20 minutes each) |
Dietary and feeding requirements
Hounds are known to overeat when they get the chance and because the Teacup Beagle is a hound this is also very common in them. This habit often leads to the dog becoming overweight which can cause canine diabetes.
Limiting the amount of food that you give to your Mini Beagle is as important as making sure that he gets a balanced diet.
You should also be on the lookout for any family members that may try to sneak in some extra treats for this dog.
With that said, a general rule of thumb is to feed this dog 30 calories for every pound that he weighs.
| Teacup Beagle Daily Food Consumption | |
|---|---|
| Guide | 500 calories |
| Cups of Kibble | ~1 |
This diet should be formulated for small but energetic dogs.
It should be high on proteins and low on carbs and should not have any fillers.
Vegetables and fruits can also be a great addition to the Miniature Beagle’s diet but you should ensure that they are safe for the dog’s consumption.
How to train a Teacup Beagle
The Teacup Beagle is an intelligent dog that is very trainable but can also have a stubborn streak.
To deal with this stubbornness and independent nature you will need to be very consistent and patient with your training.
Tasty but healthy treats will come in very handy when training a Pocket Beagle.
Never use any aversive training methods such as shouting at the dog or punishing him. These are very counterproductive and often do more harm than good.
Training should also start when the dog is still young encouraging and praising him every time he does something positive.
Known health concerns
Unfortunately, Teacup Beagle is susceptible to some health problems.
Intervertebral Disc Disease is one of the biggest health concerns with the Pocket Beagle. This condition results from spinal cord degeneration and the dog experiences pain when he is in motion.
Heart defects are also common in Mini Beagles.
How long does a Pocket Beagle live?
A Pocket Beagle has a lifespan of between 12 and 15 years.
Is the teacup beagle the right dog for me?
This will depend on your lifestyle and breed preference.
However, if you are contemplating getting this dog you should keep in mind that he will need special care from you as he is a fragile pooch that is prone to injuries.
Families with older children will be better suited to have this dog as a pet.
You should also protect your teacup Beagle from cold as he can get cold extremely fast.
They will also need some kind of daily exercise that does not put much strain on their small bodies.
Let us know what you think and any questions you may be having by leaving us your feedback in the comment section below.
There you go, WOOF!
