The Best Toys for Beagles and Their Super Sense of Smell

You love your beagle. Not only is he cute, but he’s also an energetic and fun dog. Whether you have a senior, adult, or beagle puppy, you want to ensure to he has the right toys to play with at every stage in his life. What are the best toys for beagles?

By learning more about this breed, you can determine the best types of toys for beagles that will be sure to make your pup happy and excited.

All About Beagles

While every dog is different, in general, beagles are known for being friendly and gentle dogs. 

Beagle owners may notice that their pups have medium energy, and they aren’t too aggressive or shy. This dog breed is affectionate and likes to cuddle with either their owners or other dogs because they were bred to work in packs.

Dogs on the whole have an amazing sense of smell, but beagles in particular are known for having one of the best senses of smell out of all the dog breeds. 

They do very well when it comes to ground scenting, but not air scenting. This is because beagles were bred to be able to do long-endurance hunts.

Beagles get along with other dogs well since they were bred in packs, and they love having dogs and people as companions. 

They are determined dogs since they have hunting instincts, but that means they may also be stubborn and hard to train. It could be difficult for dog owners to get their beagles’ attention if they’re fixated on something, like an especially attractive squeaker toy or if they smell an animal in the yard. They love exploring and have the tendency to get bored if they aren’t stimulated. 

One of the disadvantages of this dog breed is that beagles are prone to separation anxiety since they like being part of a pack. They may destroy things around the home if they are not occupied.

Keeping all of this in mind, here are some of the best dog toys for beagles.

Chew Toys

No dog toy collection for beagles would be complete without a chew toy. A chew toy can be used for aggressive chewers and a beagle puppy especially. 

Teething puppies can learn healthy chewing habits instead of chewing on things like your shoes and furniture. Since beagles are not large dogs, make sure you get them an appropriate-sized teething toy for playtime. 

One of the top picks and best chew toys include the Cutie Chewies Hedgehog dog chew toy. Chewers will love this chewy toy, which has spiky textures that will massage their gums and clean off the soft plaque to promote dental health.

Tennis Balls

What dog doesn’t love a good tennis ball? Throw tennis balls around your yard to help your beagle get his energy out. Since dogs are colorblind and can only discern blue and yellow, you may want to get your beagle pup only blue and yellow tennis balls.

Tug of War 

Beagles are typically not aggressive in nature, which means that you and your family should be able to play a nice game of tug of war with them. Check out Outward Hound’s 2-pack Ropiez rope toy. The cotton rope is good for your dog’s teeth as it helps to remove soft tartar while they chew and play.

Natural Rubber Toys

Natural rubber toys are safe for dogs in general. If your beagle is allergic to plants, then he likely won’t be able to play with natural rubber toys like the Kong toy. However, if he’s fine with natural rubber, then stuff one with peanut butter and watch your beagle go wild trying to get the delicious treat out.

Treat-Dispensing Toy

All dogs love treat-dispensing toys. Get your beagle an interactive puzzle toy that dispenses his favorite treats or dog food. He’ll use his hunting instincts to find the treat that’s waiting for him. 

This toy can come in handy if your dog has separation anxiety. When you need to keep him busy, give him a treat-dispensing toy. Try Nina Ottosson’s MultiPuzzle to give your beagle the mental stimulation it needs. Get this new toy for your smart beagle pup and watch him complete a series of steps in the right order to discover more treats. You can adjust the level of difficulty as your beagle learns what to do.

Fetch Toys for Beagles

Since beagles are an active breed, get your dog a fetch toy he can play with within the house or in the yard. This could include a plush dog toy or a ball launcher (for outdoor play). 

With some positive reinforcement training, you can get your hunting dog to bring the toy back to you so that you can play fetch with him all day long.

How Much Playtime and Exercise Do Beagles Need?

Since beagles are a medium-energy dog breed, you should make sure your adult beagle gets 60 to 90 minutes of exercise per day. 

If you have a beagle puppy, walk him for five minutes for every month of his puppy life up to twice a day. If you have a senior beagle, give him 30 to 60 minutes of exercise, split into two or more sessions every day. 

Playtime, like a game of fetch or tug of a walk, can be included in the exercise routine as well. It’s also a good idea to take him on runs, as long as he is healthy enough.

You could take him to the dog park as well. While beagles are not known for being aggressive with other dogs, there are always exceptions. If you bring a toy to the dog park, just make sure that your beagle isn’t getting aggressive with other dogs over the toy. 

Should you notice that your dog isn’t behaving around other dogs or people, then you can do positive reinforcement training by rewarding him with treats for good behavior. If you can’t do it on your own, then find a dog trainer who can help you.

Playing With Your Beagle Pup

Beagles are always up for a good time. If you get yours the right toy, you’ll be sure to make him happy and keep him occupied all day long.

You can find these toys and more at the Outward Hound website or Amazon, and other retailers.