Beagles are fantastic family dogs, and because of their loving disposition, they can be great companions for people who live by themselves as well. However, beagles also require a lot of energy, and love the great outdoors.

Because of this, a lot of people ask me if beagles are fit to be apartment dogs. Personally, I think there are ways that you can help your beagle thrive in an apartment, but it will take some work. In this article, I’ll lay out all of the necessary steps and precautions you should take when bringing a beagle into your compact home.

Can Beagles Live Well in Apartments?

As a small to medium sized breed, with a warm temperament and easy-going nature, beagles can easily live well in apartments and small houses.

Beagles were bred for hunting, using their strong sense of smell to track prey. Because of this, they are a high energy breed that can easily lose focus once they are on a scent’s trail. Despite their genetics though, beagles still can live peacefully in apartments with the right training and support.

Their energy level is the first thing to consider when having a beagle in an apartment. It is key to be able to get out and make sure that your beagle has a chance to exercise regularly. One way to do so is going for walks daily. Beagles tend to prefer routine walks so that they can get used to the surrounding area, but they also love to get out in nature on more adventurous types of hikes or runs. Beagles do well when some form of cardio workout is implemented at least once per day. As a breed, beagles also require a slightly above average type of exercise such as playing fetch or going to the beach or lake, because of how much natural energy that they have. (Swimming is one of my favorite ways to get both of my beagles’ energy out)

Another consideration with having a beagle in an apartment is the amount of noise that they will make.  As a hunting dog, beagles were bred to alert their owners when they hear any unfamiliar noises. They are also prone to separation anxiety, and can bark, bay, growl, and howl more often while the owner is gone. 

Some ways to help curb their indoor noises is to introduce the dog to the surrounding neighbors. This will give the beagle a chance to familiarize with the scents and sounds around the apartment complex, so that they don’t assume every passerby is a threat that needs to be barked at. Ensuring that they are properly exercised as well will help with this issue. 

Finally, you’ll need to spend some time preparing your beagle for apartment life. Having proper training that starts at a young age can make a big difference in how well they adapt to a smaller than conventional space. Some good techniques for this include having the beagle respond to commands without barking. If the dog can learn to not verbally respond to every sound or command, they will be more adaptable to the quiet apartment lifestyle. 

Additionally, having your dog housebroken will make this adjustment easier. Apartment owners don’t have the luxury of having big backyards for their dogs to use when potty training, so you’ll need to train your dog to let you know when it’s time to go outside. 

If you have to leave your beagle home alone for lots of hours on end, you may want to look into dog walkers so that they can get some exercise and go to the bathroom outside during the day.

How to Help Your Beagle Live in an Apartment

How can a beagle owner make sure that their dog is comfortable with apartment life? As mentioned before, exercise is a key component.

Beagles should have toys to entertain themselves while indoors. They are a highly intelligent and curious breed, so toys that are interesting and challenging to them will be important for both physical and mental stimulation. Some toys to consider are ones that squeak or make noise. Beagles also prefer realistic looking stuffed toys or ones that have bright colors. They are known to be destructive and love to chew when they are teething, so having some bully sticks or dog safe bones to chew on while you are away will keep them busy.

Toys that make them work for treats can be entertaining as well. Beagles like to hunt out of instinct, and having toys spread out and hidden rather than in the same place can make play time a lot more fun, and makes for great scent training! Every dog is different, so taking your beagle with you to choose toys can sometimes keep them from becoming bored.

The set up of the apartment will also contribute to your beagle’s lifestyle. If the apartment is not kept clean, the dog may find items to chew that they are not supposed to. If your beagle has access to the trash, they may find something that smells of interest and get it out. Your beagle also needs to have some room to move around. Too much clutter can make it hard to maneuver around and can cause more stress on your dog. 

Personal space is recommended for your dog, and you should make an effort to establish space for them even in a small apartment. Beagles need certain areas that are for them. Crate training can be a great method for this, as they’ll comfortably take to the crate as their own personal den.

Routine is also a big factor that helps with behavior in beagles. Food and water should be offered in the same area every day. If children are in the apartment as well, it is important to keep their toys separate from your beagle’s toys. Your dog doesn’t need their own room by any means, just a place where they can feel comfortable going and that they know is their spot.

How to Make Sure Your Beagle Gets Enough Exercise in an Apartment

Exercise outdoors is important to the livelihood of any dog, especially beagles. Going for daily walks is a good start, and having your dog on a schedule will help as well. While Beagles prefer routine, it can be beneficial to change where they get to walk every now and then. Changing walking routes up will give your beagle a chance to experience new smells and sights, which can keep them entertained and help them to use more energy. One walk a day is a general requirement for beagles, but two walks may prove to be more satisfying.

Another type of important exercise is higher intensity cardio. Just like humans, beagles needs time to get their heart rate up. Beagles are known for their love of fetch. Having somewhere you can take your dog to play for a while off leash will help satisfy their high energy levels. Items like frisbees, tennis balls, and even just sticks are all great options for your beagle to fetch. When choosing the area that they can run around, consider somewhere that is fenced in. A dog park or a family/friend’s backyard is a good option so that your dog can be off leash. 

Even if there is no ideal place to exercise your beagle, as long as they get to go for walks they will still be getting the exercise that they need.

If you plan on exercising your dog in an area that is not enclosed, you will want to keep them on a leash at all times. 

Beagles are scent hounds and can get hooked on the trail of an interesting smell very quickly. You may be playing fetch one moment and your dog can stop and take off running in a different direction with little to no warning, so you should always be prepared for the worst. Even in backyards, beagles are known for being escape artists, so you’ll still want to keep an eye on them when off leash.

Downsides of Living in an Apartment with Beagles

Although they can live in apartments, there are downsides to owning a beagle in one. They are known to have levels of strong separation anxiety, and can be destructive when they are too stressed or anxious. Beagles are loyal and develop strong relationships with their families. While this is largely a benefit, it also causes them to miss their owner more so than most other dog breeds. 

Beagles require a lot of attention and training to get over this issue. It is not recommended to leave your beagle alone at home for more than four to eight hours at a time unless they have been trained. This can be challenging for dog owners that work full time. A Beagle left alone too long will become bored, which can lead to chewing, barking, and other bad behaviors.

The required level of exercise for beagles can be an issue for owners as well. As mentioned above, beagles need a lot of activity to remain happy and docile. If you cannot commit to this amount of physical activity, then a beagle might not be the right breed for you. A beagle that is not properly exercised can also become overweight, as they are extremely food motivated, and are considered to be overeaters by nature..

All in all, the amount of time needed for a beagle’s lifestyle can be too much for a lot of dog owners, so it’s important you do your research before considering buying one. Dedicating time to go for walks twice a day, allowing time for play, and the focus needed on training are a lot to take on. They will also need to be taken outside to go to the bathroom, and frequently as puppies. 

However if you can provide space, attention, exercise and enough time outside, your beagle can fully adapt to apartment life, and even learn to enjoy their little domain.

Signs That Your Beagle Is Struggling With Apartment Life 

• Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is one of the telltale signs that beagles are having trouble coping with being indoors for long periods of time by themselves. As I mentioned above, this anxiety can present itself in a variety of ways, including baying or howling for hours on end, getting worried or anxious any time you grab your keys or walk up to the front door, and acting out to express their dismay for you leaving.  

Separation anxiety can be curbed with crate training and entertainment, but you’ll want to always avoid leaving beagles by themselves for over 8 hours at a time, as it’s simply unnatural for dogs to have to face that kind of solitude for that long. Dogs tend to have poor short term memory, so they often won’t remember how long it usually takes for you to get home, which can cause them to worry even more than a human would.

• Attempts to Escape

Beagles are natural escape artists. They have been bred for generations to follow scents, and if they get hooked on an appealing scent, they might stop at nothing to follow it. Additionally, beagles will use these escape skills to get out of the house if they get sick of being cooped up for too long.

They can escape by digging under fences, chewing through barriers, and even climbing over obstacles. If you leave your beagle alone for long periods of time, you’ll want to make sure your apartment, balcony, or yard are escape proof. Invisible fences are one way a lot of owners attempt to keep their beagles reigned in.

• Depression

Beagles are prone to bouts of both acute and chronic depression, and this depression can be exacerbated if they are left on their own for long periods of time. 

PetMD is a credible resource on dog health, and states that the following are the most common signs of depression in dogs:

• • Becoming inactive
  • Changes in sleeping schedules
  • Changes in eating patterns
  • Fatigue
  • Trouble getting excited
  • Mood swings

Depression can be difficult for anyone to overcome, let alone dogs. Most vets suggest making diet and exercise priorities, but you’ll want to consult with a doctor if the behavior becomes chronic.

• Aggressive behavior

Aggressive behavior can manifest itself with actions like growling, barking, and even biting in some instances. Beagles can get aggressive over territory like certain parts of the house, and especially with objects like favorite toys, food, or household objects. 

It’s important to curb aggressive behavior early on when it first starts to present itself, as this can be a tough habit to break as your dog gets older in age. 

• Destructive habits

Lastly, beagles can get quite destructive as a way of acting out to show their dissatisfaction with staying inside for too long. 

This can be seen in chewing up furniture like couch and chair legs, chewing or scratching on walls, and even relieving themselves inside your house out of defiance. Destructive behavior can be extremely taxing, and will require dedicated obedience training to reverse fully. 

Tips to Help Your Beagle Enjoy Being Inside

• Indoor games

Indoor games can be a great way to help your beagles get out all that pent up energy from not being able to go outside all day. 

Whether it’s bad weather conditions like it being too hot or too cold outside, or if you yourself just aren’t able to go out for a walk, there are ways to stimulate your beagle’s mind and muscles all from the comfort of your home.

Some indoor games I like to play with my beagle include:

• • Tug of war
  • Hide and seek
  • Scent work with hidden treats
  • Obstacle courses for agility training
  • Puzzle challenges

If you’d like to learn more about entertaining beagles indoors, you can check out my latest guide here.

• Allowing them to view the outside world

Sometimes a solution to help keep your beagle entertained can be as simple as cracking open a window or opening up your blinds so that they have things to look at.

Beagles are naturally curious and can spend hours on end looking out the window and guarding their home. 

However if you have neighbors that live within close proximity, you may want to be careful with this strategy, as beagles are also prone to excessive barking and howling if something outside catches their attention. 

• Keeping them stimulated

Another way to keep beagles entertained while in the house is to give them the right kind of stimulation. I find that my beagle loves listening to and watching TV, or listening to my radio throughout the day while I’m at work.

Research has shown that giving dogs background noise throughout the day will make them feel a lot less alone, which can drastically lower their rates of developing separation anxiety. If you don’t want to use a TV, I like to use podcasts or radio stations on my Google Home. Any device like an Amazon Echo should be able to work just the same!

• Giving them duties or tasks

Giving your dog important tasks can be a great way to help them stay focused, motivated, and avoid separation anxiety.

Because of the way that they were bred for hunting, beagles love having important jobs to do. That’s why they make great police dogs, therapy dogs, and in some cases even guard dogs.

With the proper training, beagles can easily be taught simple tasks like shutting doors, tidying up their toys, and even sorting laundry. If you’re able to factor in any sort of scent-based retrieval tasks, they’ll be even more up to the challenge.

• Giving them company

Ultimately, one of the best ways to help stop your beagle from feeling loneliness is to get them a buddy! As pack dogs, beagles were bred to be used to large groups, and aren’t naturally cut out for a life of isolation.

If you can handle it, getting another dog to be with your beagle can be great for both your dog’s mental health, and a great addition to your family. If you can’t handle multiple dogs, beagles can still get along with other animals like cats, rabbits, and even birds (with the right precautions taken and training in place).

Despite being pack dogs, beagles are known to get along with all types of dog breeds. Because they’re cunning and independent, you may want to go for a less dominant breed like a retriever, as there will definitely be a fight for dominance between two independent types of dogs, at least at the start.

How to Spend More Time Outside With Your Beagle

• Extra walks in the morning or night

While it can be difficult for a lot of people, I’ve gotten a lot of value out of simply getting out of bed a little earlier and taking my beagle for a walk before work.

Beagles naturally require a lot of exercise, and if you’re able to take them on two 30 minute walks per day, it can be enriching for them, a great bonding experience for the two of you, and can help improve your health as well!

Living in California, I’ve also found that it simply gets way too hot during the middle of the day most times of the year. That’s why I like walking in the morning, before the sun’s completely risen. The temperature’s just cool enough so that I don’t have to worry about my beagle’s paw pads overheating on the ground.

• Paying a dog walker for midday attention

If you’re not able to take the extra time to go on multiple walks per day, there’s nothing wrong with hiring an extra dog walker to help you in this department.

Most cities have local independent dog walkers, and I’m particularly fond of using the app Wag to help manage my beagle’s experiences with dog walkers. They’ve been a great help with keeping my beagle in good shape and it’s definitely helped cut down on her bad behavior.

• Outdoor adventures on weekends

If you can’t manage some extra walks during the week, I’m a huge advocate of taking your beagle on outdoor adventures during the weekends.

Beagles love to hike, run, swim, and play in pretty much any outdoor environment, so your imagination is really the only limit. Personally I’m a huge fan of hiking with my beagles, and while one is not all that into swimming, we have a ton of fun on our beach days every once in a while.

• Check out local dog parks

If you don’t have enough hiking trails or bodies of water around where you live, you should look into your town’s local dog parks. 

Dog parks can be a great way to get your beagle outdoors, and it can be a great method to socialize them from an early age. At dog parks there are tons of things to smell and tons of dogs to meet, your beagle will definitely enjoy their time spent here and will be ecstatic to come back every time.

I find that dog parks are a great way to get myself out of the house on weekends too, and I’ve even made some friends with fellow dog owners that go to the same one on the weekends.

• Schedule puppy play dates

Lastly, one on one puppy play dates can be a great way to get your beagle to wipe out all of their pent up energy. If you know anyone with a dog (and preferably a big backyard), setting up puppy play dates can be a great way for you to relax and for your beagle to get the exercise and socialization that they as pack dogs constantly crave.

Puppy play dates don’t just have to happen at your house though, and can take place pretty much anywhere outside that dogs are allowed off leash.

Final Thoughts

To sum up, beagles can happily live in apartments with the right accommodations in place. 

Exercise is the key component to a beagle’s happiness. Going for walks twice a day and getting a sufficient amount of playtime outdoors will be a necessity for your dog’s well-being. 

Having toys indoors for entertainment while you are away can help to ease your dog’s potential separation anxiety as well. 

Proper training to prevent unnecessary barking will keep your apartment neighbors from complaining, and providing enough space will help your beagle feel safe.