Do Beagles Like To Cuddle?

Beagles make excellent companions due to their intelligence, curiosity, energy, and docile temperaments. However, just because beagles are a friendly dog breed, does this automatically translate into a breed that likes to cuddle?

While it depends on each beagle’s characteristics and whether they have other animal company, most beagles are friendly dogs that enjoy cuddle time. However, while endearing, owners must teach overly affectionate beagles the importance of boundaries.  

To understand why beagles enjoy cuddling, let’s explore the temperament of beagles in greater detail. And discuss why teaching overly affectionate beagles boundaries are important.

Why Do Beagles Enjoy Cuddling? 

There are two primary characteristics that make beagles affectionate dogs that like to cuddle:

  1. Beagles are friendly and curious, and
  2. Beagles are pack dogs.

Beagles Are Friendly And Curious

Beagles love to be included in everything their families do. Whether curling up next to their owners on the couch or exploring nature, they simply want to be part of every minute of your day. Because they thrive on love and attention, beagles generally get along great with other dogs and do very well in households with multiple dogs.

A beagle’s need for companionship stems from their initial breeding purpose. They were used in packs to hunt rabbits and other small game. While hunting remains an instinct to beagles, they’ll be just as happy with a day in the park among humans and other dogs.

Therefore, beagles seldom attack or act aggressively toward others. Instead, beagles enjoy meeting people and animals and often express their appreciation for others through cuddling.

Can Overly Affectionate Beagles Develop Separation Anxiety?

While it may be endearing to have a beagle that enjoys cuddles from owners, strangers, and other pets, beagles are more likely to develop separation anxiety than other dog breeds.

Therefore, overly affectionate beagles may risk developing separation anxiety/abandonment issues if they are not given constant affection.

Consequently, beagle owners should be proactive about the number of cuddles a beagle gets and develop healthy boundaries, so beagles become independent and confident in the absence of someone to cuddle.

Why You Should Worry About Separation Anxiety In Beagles

Apart from the damage beagles can cause to your home due to separation anxiety, this anxiety can further develop into physiological and psychological harm for your beagle.

While separation anxiety usually results in symptoms of stress and anxiety for your dog, this stress and anxiety can create overprotective/aggressive tendencies in a breed known for being docile and gentle.

Consequently, overprotective beagles can display aggressive behavior toward other people and animals (whereby they may pose a particular threat/danger around young children!)

Is My Affection Toward My Beagle Causing Separation Anxiety?

Because beagles like to show affection and loyalty and enjoy cuddling, it is harmful not to be reciprocal with their affection (as this can cause anxiety in itself!)

Namely, that separation anxiety among beagles is not simply a result of feeling down or lonely but rather a diagnosable psychological condition that requires a multi-faceted approach to help your beagle cope with this disorder:

1. Separation Training

While it may be appealing to have your beagle constantly follow you around the home and want to play or curl up next to you all the time, it becomes a problem later on if they don’t learn to have a little independence.

Overly affectionate owners that refuse to give their dog independence, especially around other pets/during meal times, can result in a codependent relationship.

The dangers of a codependent relationship are that your beagle will struggle to adjust to life without you and have difficulties performing daily tasks independently/without constant positive reinforcement.

Consequently, separation training requires that owners leave their beagles for short periods as they’re developing while also performing actions like “mock leaves.”

A mock leave is when an owner pretends to leave home for work or go to the shops but is instead just standing outside the front door for a short period before returning.

The purpose of mock leaves is to normalize leaving the house so that your beagle understands that you leaving is a regular occurrence and not something to be concerned about.

2. Improved Mental Stimulation 

Owners should invest in a dog door that allows their beagle to explore their yards independently and at their leisure; this is crucial, given the intelligence and inquisitive nature of beagles.

Furthermore, owners should give their beagles plenty of exercises and varied exercise routines that promote and feed their curiosity.

Simply giving beagles cuddles instead of activities/mental stimulation can cause them to become frustrated and/or anxious.

3. Anti-Anxiety Medication

Finally, some beagles may need professional help with social anxiety, especially if the underlying cause is deep psychological trauma (sadly, this is a common occurrence among shelter dogs that their former owners previously abandoned.)

Take your beagle to the vet if there is an underlying medical cause for their social anxiety/overly affectionate behavior, which may require medical treatment like anti-anxiety medication.

Are Overly Affectionate Beagles Bad For Allergies?

Although beagles are low-maintenance dogs with short/medium-length hair that doesn’t shed much, there is no such thing as a hypo-allergic dog breed. Therefore, while beagles are a decent breed for people with allergies, beagles that like to cuddle may be uncomfortable for people/visitors with allergies.

Therefore, it is essential to regularly brush your beagles, to reduce the amount of shed hair and dander around the house. Regular vacuuming is also necessary for keeping your home free of dander and loose hair.

Furthermore, it is advisable to train beagles correctly so that they do not try and cuddle visitors/strangers that may have an allergic reaction to your beagles. Proper training requires positive reinforcement, as beagles react negatively to negative reinforcement.

One of the best positive reinforcement methods is to reward your beagle from a young age when they perform tasks and listen to your commands, such as learning to receive cuddles from their owners in their own time and not demand cuddles from their owners/strangers.

Similar positive reinforcement should extend to beagles being allowed on furniture, as many affectionate beagles enjoy climbing on couches or beds to receive cuddles, which may be uncomfortable to some people while spreading dander and loose hair.

Conclusion

In conclusion, beagles are amiable and loveable dogs that enjoy showering people and pets with cuddles.

While this is true to their nature as pack animals which should be encouraged, owners should promote boundaries for their well-being, visitors to your home, and improve their beagle’s confidence and independence.

References

https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Why-You-Should-Get-A-Beagle

https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/dog-breeds/beagle#:~:text=Beagles%20are%20widely%20considered%20to,may%20howl%20and%20be%20destructive.

https://wagwalking.com/behavior/why-does-my-beagle-follow-me-everywhere

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/dog-breeds/a36117320/beagles/

https://www.hepper.com/are-beagles-hypoallergenic/

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