Pocket Beagles – The Ultimate Guide (2021)

Simply YES! Pocket Beagles are very real. They’re not a popular breed due to the fact there are only a few miniature Beagle breeders in the country, which makes them rarer than the standard Beagle.

However, there’s no doubt that miniature Beagles are one of the cutest breeds around.

These pocket dogs are also known as Teacup Beagles, Queen Elizabeth Pocket Beagles, Old English Pocket Beagles, and Mini Beagles, and even Toy Beagle are like Beagles who never grew up!

Popular during the reign of Edward ll in the early thirteen hundreds the Glove Beagle as it was known, due to the fact it could fit in a large man’s glove, became the Pocket Beagle or Olde English Pocket Beagle during the time of Elizabeth l in the mid 16th century.

In later years the this beagle mini dog has become fashionable again, and there is more interest in the breed.

This miniature version of a full grown Beagle will give you the love and joy, much like the standard sized Beagle.

Although small standing at 13 inches or less and at around 18 pounds, they still have the same energy and cheekiness of a full sized Beagle, in and outside the home.

Ranked 6th the Beagle breed of dog is one of the most popular dogs in the US, by the American Kennel Club.

Technically the American Kennel Club does not recognise Pocket Beagles as a true breed. They are classed as a Beagle that stands 13 inches or less.

Pros

Ideal dog for small homes or apartments

Friendly with people and other dogs
Grooming is minimal
Playful

Cute
Great with Kids
Minimal shedding

Easy to groom

Cons

Expensive to buy

Likes to bark and howl
Can have health issues due to breeding
Very Stubborn

Do not like to be left alone
Difficult to train
Likes to wander

What Do Pocket Beagles Look Like ?

To describe a Pocket Beagle puppy to someone who’s not a dog person can be difficult.

These small dogs are the miniature version of a fully grown Beagle dog.

They have the same floppy ears, and short tail.

Pocket Beagles are generally tan and white in color with some black, red or dark brown.

The tip of the tail is white, and their head and neck is white.

Their back can be black, dark brown or red and is known as the saddle.

Other colors that can be found in the breed are red, gray, brown, blue, cream, white, tricolor, pied, black or a flecked lemon fur.

The fur is straight, silky and smooth to the touch, just like standard Beagles, and this makes grooming minimal as their fur is water resistant.

Apart from being half the size of a full sized beagle, they are pretty much the same in every other aspect.

Their small stature can make your heart melt when you first see them.

They make great family dogs, or if you live alone or in a couple, due to their size they are reasonably inexpensive to take care of.

Pocket Beagle vs Beagle?

When comparing a Pocket Beagle to a Standard Beagle there is little difference, apart from their size.

A Pocket Beagle is 25% smaller than a standard Beagle.

Shorter legs and smaller features are the only way you can tell them apart.

This short legged Beagle stands no more than 13 inches, standard Beagles range between 13 and 15 inches.

How this small size dog got its name, dates back to when Queen Elizabeth l would carry them in her saddle bag when she went horse riding, and so the term Pocket Beagles was christened.

Are Pocket Beagles Good Pets?

Pocket Beagles make great family dogs, they are great with kids and adults.

They are a bundle of energy, and will happily play all day without getting tired.

Beagles are known for their intelligence, curiosity, friendliness and loyalty, this small beagle is no different.

They love to grab things with their mouth in a playful way, and look for you to join in the fun.

Kids will love picking them up and playing, but just a word of caution.

Pocket Beagles are small and delicate, so remind your children that it’s best to play with them on the floor, to avoid them being dropped and injured.

A normal size dog will jump up onto sofas and beds to play, a small dog like a Pocket Beagle will need some help to join in the family fun, so look out for a doggie step to aid them.

If you’re looking for a guard dog, then look somewhere else. Beagles are super friendly and are more likely to make friends with strangers coming to your home.

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With Pocket Beagles being such a small dog they are ideal if you’re living in an apartment or small house.

Ideally you would have a yard where they can exercise if just take them on longer walks to burn off that excessive energy.

These intelligent dogs If left too long, can get easily bored and that’s when the problems start.

They will bark and howl from time to time, but that’s just because they want some attention, and being a very small breed they don’t make as much noise as larger dogs.

That being said they do like to bark and howl (baying) at all hours of the day and night, and it’s known that Beagle owners have found this too much, and handed them into rescue centres.

With 220 million scent receptors compared to 5 million in humans, Beagles are instinctively hounds and will hunt naturally.

They will want to investigate every nook and cranny, and their mischievous temperament can get them into trouble if left by themselves.

Give them plenty of toys to play with and they will be fine, just try and keep them occupied, a bored Beagle will no doubt be a naughty Beagle.

They can also be incredibly stubborn, so it can sometimes be a battle of wits, and you’ll find that when they look at you with their big brown eyes, there can only be one winner.

Pocket Beagle Weight Chart

Age (months)	Weight (lb)
3	3.5 – 6
6	10 – 13
9	13 – 18
12	15 – 18

Compare the weight of a standard Beagle with our Standard Beagle Weight Chart.

What do I feed a Pocket Beagle?

They may have tiny stomachs but they could win the Olympics if there was a competition for which dog had the biggest appetite!

To keep them healthy and the correct weight feed them 2 meals a day and between 1- 1.5 cups of food.

If on days they’ve been extra active you could also give them a treat or slightly larger amounts at meal times, but don’t overfeed them.

Choose dog food that is high in protein and low in calories. You should aim for 400 calories a day to keep your puppy healthy.

You can also feed your puppy with fruits which will help keep them at a healthy weight

They may be small, but they can easily find their way into your kitchen cupboards, and start munching on your own food.

Letting them eat human food can cause health problems, and they will eat it if it’s not locked away, so avoid this by attaching child locks to your kitchen doors.

Beagles like many dogs don’t like to be disturbed when eating, dogs take meal time seriously, so if you don’t want a nip from your pup, it’s best to give them space.

Are Pocket Beagles healthy?

Like any breed Pocket Beagles can have health problems. These can be associated with poor breeding practices or poor health.

Some of the health issues associated with Pocket Beagles include:

Cataract
Central progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA)
Chondrodysplasia

Deafness
Demodicosis
Distichiasis

Dwarfism
Dysplasia (Canine Hip)
Epilepsy

Glaucoma
Hemophilia A
Hypothyroidism

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IDD)
Patellar luxation
Umbilical hernia

Be sure when you choose a regulated breeder a good place to start for breed information is the American Kennel Club.

One thing to bear in mind is that just like the larger Beagle, Pocket Beagles have a larger than normal appetite, and can eat you out of house and home.

Keep an eye on their weight, and monitor what they eat, even thought they are small they can easily add a few pounds and become obese.

Do Pocket Beagles Need Exercise?

With bundles of energy Pocket Beagles can be quite a handful, and you need to be aware they can keep going long after you start to tire.

You’ll need to take them for walks every day. 1 or 2 times should be plenty, give them around 30 minutes to an hour of exercise a day, a local park is ideal or around the block a few times should be ok.

Be cautious not over exercise these miniature dogs, they are small and if you push the puppy too hard, you could cause them heart problems, walk at a steady place and take your lead from them.

Beagles can suffer from heart defects, and failure at an early age, if diagnosed early enough this can be corrected.

Pocket Beagles can also suffer from Pulmonic Stenosis which is a narrowing of the right heart chamber found in smaller breeds.

These little detectives like to investigate their surroundings, so be sure to let them smell around, it’s their instinct to use their noses.

They don’t like to run but rather walk at speed with their nose to the ground.

Beagles are known for their smelling skills, and they love nothing more than being on the lead with their noses to the ground.

Something to bear in mind that unlike other breeds, letting a Beagle run free off the leash will cause you major headaches.

If left to their own devices they will take off and forget they are with you.

Beagles can be trained to come back, but it doesn’t come natural to them. They are hunting dogs, and it was trained into them to hunt.

If you don’t want to risk losing your Pocket Beagle in the woods or another neighborhood, it’s best advised to get them micro-chipped, or take them for some obedience training.

How to Train A Pocket Beagle?

Beagles, and Pocket Beagles are independent dogs, they don’t like being told what to do, and they will probably ignore you.

Stubborn doesn’t come close to how difficult this breed can be. You’re going to need lots of patience and treats!

To get them on your side you’ll need to be a little sneaky. Before you start any training session, be sure to have some treats to hand. A little bribery can make training your Beagle a little easier.

No matter how difficult you find training your Pocket Beagle, don’t get angry. They may have big hearts, but they are small in stature.

Raising your voice will only cause them to be upset, and ignore you. It can be difficult at times, but persevere and you will get results. Just be patient, and give them positive reinforcement.

Try and be peaceful and calm around your Pocket Beagle, if possible. A chaotic household will easily make your beagle puppy nervous, especially in the early days.

Crate training is important, and most Beagles will be ok with this.

Something you will also need to deal with is the dreaded potty training. Without this you’ll find your home smelling of some horrible odours and damp carpets.

Again! Patience and consistency in training your puppy will give you results, so best to start as soon as possible.

Do Pocket Beagles Shed?

Pocket/Teacup Beagles are extremely low maintenance when it goes to grooming.

With very short hair there is little in the way of shedding. You may find in the spring they do shed a little, but not excessively.

A weekly brush will keep their coat clean and silky.

Cleaning their ears every week will stop any build up of wax, and stop any infections. Taking care of their teeth and nails will keep your beagle in tip top condition.

Do Pocket Beagles Smell?

Most Dogs can have an odour, but Pocket Beagles are less smelly than most. Beagles have a smooth coat that doesn’t collect as much dirt and debris than other dogs.

To keep them clean, wash and bathe them weekly, using the right type of shampoo ideally with an eco friendly shampoo, and your dog will be smelling sweetly all the time.

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How Long Do Pocket Beagles live?

A healthy Pocket Beagle will live anywhere between 12 – 15 years. This is dependent on them being free from any diseases and other health problems.

Keep up regular visits to the vet, or if you have any concerns, and your Pocket Beagle should live a long and happy life.

When Are Pocket Beagles Full Grown?

Fully grown Pocket Beagles reach a height of around 13 inches or less. They’ll reach this size in around 18 months, their skeletal system will be completely developed by this time.

What Is A Lemon Pocket Beagle?

Pocket beagles are a rare breed lemon pocket beagles are even rarer. This relates to their coloring.

Lemon Beagles and Pocket Lemon Beagles are born almost completely white. However, over time their tan color becomes darker.

In all other ways Lemon beagles and Lemon pocket Beagles are the same. Their temperament size and weight are no different to a standard Beagle. Lemon just refers to their coloring.

How much does a Pocket Beagle cost?

If you’re keen to own a Pocket Beagle, you will need to pay anything between $500 to $1500.

Buying from a well known breeder will be more costly. Most reputable breeders will be happy to talk to you and talk about how the Beagle was bred and show you certificates regarding health and the puppies parents.

Being assured that you are getting all the correct paperwork and proof that they are a reputable breeder will save you money over time.

Buying from an unregistered breeder is risky, the dog could have health issues, and have been poorly treated, and you could find yourself with vet bills to put right any health problems.

Where To Buy Pocket Beagle Puppies

Often people take on Pocket Beagle puppies without any real knowledge of what’s involved in owning one. This often leads to them being abandoned and in need of rescue.

So, firstly it’s a good idea to contact one of several Pocket Beagle rescue groups around the country who can help you find Pocket Beagles for adoption.

Finding a Pocket Beagle for sale at one a rescue centre can be difficult as they are snapped up as soon as they are available.

Another source is to try the American Kennel Club, which can also help with dog breed information.

Your next step should be to contact a responsible Pocket Beagle breeder. A great resource to get you started is the English Pocket Beagle Registry.

Pocket Beagles USA in Texas is a well-established licensed kennel. Situated on a 40-acre farm, each puppy is handled daily by the breeder.

They have a personal relationship with every puppy. They have many excellent testimonials, so you can be assured you are dealing with professionals.

Located in New York Scarlett’s Old English Pocket Beagles breed Pocket Beagle that have been raised in a home and potty trained then this breeder is for you.

All puppies are vaccinated, dewormed, vet checked, with a puppy health guarantee.

9 Facts About Pocket Beagles

Pocket Beagles are also known as Teacup Beagles, Queen Elizabeth Pocket Beagles, Old English Pocket Beagles, Olde English Pocket Beagles and Mini Beagles.
Beagles have 220 million scent receptors compared to 5 million in humans.

A full grown Pocket Beagle is typically 25% smaller than their standard sized cousins.
Pocket Beagles are not recognised by the AKC as its own breed type, they are registered as a smaller standard Beagle. Less than 13 inches.
Although the Beagle is a popular breed the Pocket Beagle is the rarest of hounds.

Bred to be hunting dogs, it was necessary for them to be visible to hunters in the long grass. Their white tip tail made this possible.
The Beagle is rated the 6th most popular dog in the United States by the American Kennel Club
A litter will consist of between two and fourteen puppies, with an average litter of seven.

Pocket Beagles were first bred in the 14th century.

Summary

If you’re looking for a cute small dog who will give you lots of love and fun, I would highly recommend a Pocket Beagle.

They’re ideal for families, couples or if you live alone. This low maintenance breed always puts a smile on your face, even when they’re being naughty.

If you’re a first time owner, these intelligent and low maintenance dogs will be easier to train and house break than other breeds. Just don’t let them become bored or they will be destructive.

What you need to know when Bringing Home A Beagle Puppy

Kids will love them too, they make a great companion, and only need a little exercise.

If you decide on making a Pocket Beagle part of your family, be aware of any health issues they may develop, and always buy from a responsible breeder.

These gorgeous puppies will bring you to your life everyday.

Sarah is the Senior Editor at Beagle Owner. An avid reader of crime novels, fashion lover, and walking her Beagle Woody.