With all of the love, laughs, and smiles that a beagle will provide you, comes another important factor: What is the price of a beagle and their associated costs?

Let’s discuss this.

Factors That Can Affect Their Initial Purchase Price

Rescues, Shelters, and Breeders — Oh My

Typically, the price to adopt a beagle from a shelter is between $50 and $250. Whereas, the price to purchase a beagle from a breeder is between $800 and $1,500.

If you’re like me, you tend to prefer to adopt a beagle from a shelter or a rescue. I wholeheartedly encourage it. There are so many beagles (and other breeds) of dogs out there that need a good home. Not that beagles from breeders don’t need good homes, but there is always a baseline demand for purebred dogs.

Here’s a little secret: Nearly 1/3 of all dogs in shelters are purebred dogs. Yes, it is true that some may have behavioral issues — but be open-minded enough to realize that the behavior is likely a reaction to a previous cause — likely human. Just as how their behavior can change for the sake of self-preservation, is the same way if there is any negative behavior — it can be unlearned.

Age Is Nothing But A Number

Yes, we all see the puppies on the Internet and on TV — and fawn over them like nobody’s business. Just like a brand new car, a beagle can be sold by a reputable breeder before it’s even born. However, once the puppy reaches the age of 8-weeks-old, the price usually takes a nosedive. Ultimately, if you’re looking for a young beagle from a breeder, it may benefit you if you (and the breeder) can wait until after that 8-week-old mark. It could potentially save you hundreds.

Another option regarding age is considering adopting a retired beagle. Retired, you say. Yes, retired. I mean, the female beagles that were part of a breeding program. They are usually retired around age 7, or even younger. If you’re willing to have an older dog, pricing can be significantly cheaper; even to the point of half off. Here’s a side benefit: They’re likely already very well trained. It sounds like a win-win to me.

License & Registration, Please

Here, in my great state of New York, just like how every dog has to be licensed if they’re over the age of 4 months of age [I hope I won’t be seeing any driving anytime soon]  — they may also be registered. Ever heard of the AKC? The American Kennel Club (AKC) is responsible for setting the standards recognized for purebred dogs. These standards set the parameters for a beagle’s height, weight, body structure, size, ear set, coloring and more. If you’ve ever wanted a purebred AKC-registered beagle, be prepared to pay through the nose, when presented with the price. When they meet and exceed these requisite parameters, you’re definitely going to see their price skyrocket.

A beagle can have “faults”, that are only merely aesthetic. With that being said, if you discover one with these aesthetic faults, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars.

Can a purebred beagle not be registered? Yes, it can. As I just mentioned beforehand, the AKC acts like the proverbial certified stamp of approval. There are other kennel clubs that exist too, like the Continental Kennel Club (CKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). Without going into too much detail:

AKC: Allows a beagle to be registered only if both parents are also registered.

The issue with this is it doesn’t allow in new blood if a lineage hadn’t been documented accordingly. It can also potentially cause issues such as inbreeding, due to a restricted pool of viable candidates.

CKC: Allows your beagle to be registered without their parents being registered. However, 3 photographs from different angles must be taken to show adherence to conformation, along with two witness testimonials verifying the validity of the beagle.

The issue with this is that it could potentially allow a mixed breed dog in unexpectedly.

UKC: Allows a beagle to be registered without their parents being registered, with the additional requirement of DNA testing done to prove a beagle’s parentage.

The issue with this is that the standards can change.

Location, Location, Location

And you thought it only had something to do with if you wanted a penthouse apartment in a bustling city, or a house in the suburbs with the white-picket-fence.

Not the case. However, beagle breeders do tend to concentrate more in the southern states (where there tends to be greater demand), then they do in comparison to northwestern or northeastern states.

Because of this, the prices may be that much more artificially inflated as supply may not meet the additional regional demand, especially by home breeders that work on a smaller scale, as opposed to ones that came from a state where there are a larger number of beagle puppies available for purchase. Home breeders typically make all that much money with these ventures, as much of the money goes into veterinary related expenses, food, supplies, shipping (which can cost hundreds of dollars, if applicable), among other associated expenses.

Then again — you have to be mindful of…

You Get What You Pay For

A low price found can go either one of two ways: They could either be quite the steal or it may be too good to be true. Granted, if you’re looking for a mixed bred; you can find beagles in many different forums. Craigslist, Facebook; flea markets, and unfortunately — puppy mills.

This being said; cost should not be the only parameter that you base your decision on; especially in terms of quality. Yes, it is a factor, but the only one.

‘Tis The Season

In certain areas of the country; such as the Northeast, where there are more volatile seasonal weather & temperature changes, this can play a factor in the pricing of a beagle.

The months of April through September are typically busier for beagle breeders, as families and individuals typically have more time at their disposal. Logically, the remaining months of October through March tend to have lower demand, and the prices reflect accordingly.

Let’s be honest — if you’re trying to find the best deals, buying a beagle “off-season” will likely be your best bet, as most other individuals will be dissuaded from delving into the foray because they may not be as inclined to deal with training, exercise and other care required when the weather may be more challenging.

Other One-Time And Ongoing Costs

In this section; we discuss the other costs that may come up; and links [to Amazon] to the products that we’ve used and continue to use, if applicable.

Spaying or Neutering:

During spaying, the veterinarian removes the uterus and ovaries; whereas, with neutering, they remove both testicles to prevent procreation.

The average cost of spaying a female is between $50 to $175, while the average cost of neutering a male is $45-$110 at a low-cost clinic or Humane society.  At some animal hospitals, it can be markedly more, so just be aware.

Initial Medical Exam: 

Assuming that your beagle is a puppy, their first visit to the veterinarian when all is said and done, you should expect to be in the $50 to $300 range. They will likely be needing preventative medications, special treatments, and vaccines. Not only that, but there can be additional costs associated with the follow-up visits, that they typically need over the following months until about 16 weeks of age.

Collar & Leash: 

Your beagle will absolutely need at least one least and one collar (with ID tags). Fortunately, when you buy these, they will generally last them for years to come. Expect to pay between $10 – $50 for both combined. Personally, I use the Illumiseen LED Collar [Amazon] and Illumiseen LED Leash [Amazon] because I prefer the enhanced visibility at night as I walk around the suburbs.

Carrying Crate / Seat Belt Harness: 

Safety, safety, safety. The Aspen Pet Traditional Kennel [Amazon] has been a tried-and-true crate solution, while the Pawaboo Dog Safety Vest Harness [Amazon] is a fantastic alternative; if you prefer not to keep your beagle crated in the car, while on road trips.

Bedding:

I have an admission: I’ve fallen asleep on my Skyler’s Barkbox Memory Foam Bed [Amazon]. I have one in my living room and one in my kitchen. It was Thanksgiving and I had cooked way too much and was exhausted — but I digress. Every pup deserves a cozy bed and keeping one or two around the house will cost you $50-200.

Remember, we both dogs and humans spend approximately a 3rd of our lives sleeping. We might as well make sure it’s restful sleep.

Training: 

This expense can vary greatly. Depending on whether you go the route of learning free tips online (like here), buying books, bringing your beagle to formalized obedience training, or any other avenues; the costs can widely vary. A general guideline is in the $30 – $80 per hour range.

Food & Treats:

This is their life-blood. You must feed them with high-quality food and treats to ensure their proper nutrition. These will generally range from $20-60 per month ($240-720 per year). Your beagle’s size and energy expenditure along with the food quality will directly affect their consumption. Specially formulated diets, such as veterinary therapeutic diets or freshly-made special-order food, can easily cost $100 or more a month.

Annual Medical Exams:

Toys:

We all need a little bit of fun, don’t we? It’s no different for your beloved pup. Toys are great for both their mental and physical stimulation. Pricing for this segment can vary widely, dependent on how many toys you are tempted to purchase, and how destructive they can be with them. Though some of us may indulge, you can probably plan on spending $25-150 per year.

The Sharlovy 14 Pack of Chew Toys [Amazon] is a great variety pack for an even better price.

Grooming: 

Your dog’s grooming needs are largely based on the type of hair coat he has. Smooth-coated, short-haired dogs require some maintenance, but not much. Between the cost of grooming tools and visits to the groomer, you can plan on spending anywhere from $30-500 a year. We wrote about grooming extensively here: Beagle Grooming Needs: A Simple Guide

Pet Sitting / Boarding: 

Ready for vacay? Well, most people have to anticipate that they’re going to put their beloved pooch into someone else’s trusted hands. Typically, this will cost about $100-300 a year. However, if you’re a jet setter, expect to spend much more.

Boarding does tend to be less costly than hiring a private babysitter. However, if you hire a private babysitter, your dog will get individual attention; and your dog will also be less likely to be exposed to health issues from other dogs that it comes in contact with. Alternatively, if you decide to travel with your dog, you can expect your travel fees to increase. Personally, I prefer to ask a friend of mine to look after my dog, if push comes to shove.

Pet Health Insurance: 

We discuss this further in the next section.

Considerations Before Purchasing/Adopting A Beagle

As with life, the costs of pet ownership can be erratic.  To help hedge against an unexpected expense — and let’s be honest, there are going to happen.

Here are a few tips to keep you one step ahead:

Sock Away For A Rainy Day

You might not be thrilled about this — but if you’re overspending in any aspects of your life; are you willing to cut it back? If “yes”, you’re on the right track to save more for the proverbial rainy day. If “no”, don’t even bother considering a pet, because you may not be willing to keep your beagle happy and healthy.

You should have a solid $1,000 to $3,000 to cover an unexpected vet bill. Yes, credit cards can be an option, but you’ll have more peace-of-mind if you have the money already socked away.

Pet Insurance

According to Psychology Today, 81% of pet owners consider their pets to be an equal member of their families. At the same time, Lending Tree states that 75% of pet owners don’t have pet insurance and 39% regret not having it.

Pet insurance reimburses you for the treatment of illness and injuries. How cool is that? Just like health insurance for humans, some plans cover hereditary problems, prescriptions, cancer treatment and more.

Simply put: It allows you to make choices that are best for your beagle, instead of ones just because they may be the less expensive options.

Don’t allow your beagle to become a statistic of “economic euthanasia”. What this means if you cannot afford the medical treatment that your beagle needs, some people are resorted to putting their beloved beagle down because of financial constraints.

According to Embrace Pet Insurance, the most common serious issues for the Beagle and the cost to treat them are:

• Hip Dysplasia – $1,500 – $6,000
• Patellar Luxation – $1,500 – $3,000
• Demodectic Mange – $200 – $1,000
•  IgA Deficiency – $2,000 – $5,000
• IVDD – $2,500 – $7,000
• Meningitis – $1,500 – $4,000

Pet insurance plans can cover needs that range from catastrophic to comprehensive, and anything in between. If your pup is younger, you’ll have that many more options available to you.

According to The North American Pet Health Insurance Association, the average annual premium for a pet insurance policy covering accidents and illnesses in the U.S. was $435 in 2014. The average annual premium for an accident-only plan was $154.

For more in-depth information on pet insurance, Is Pet Insurance Worth it? [Canine Journal] is a stellar article.

Final Thoughts

Before welcoming a beagle into your life and your home, prospective beagle parents should evaluate their lifestyle, time availability, and budget.

Remember: Owning a beagle is a privilege and luxury, not a right.