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Lemon Beagle: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Funny beautiful lemon beagle

Height: 13 inches and under; 13-15 inches
Weight: Under 20 pounds (13 inches and under); 20-30 pounds (13-15 inches)
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Colors: White with light tan-colored patches that darken with age
Suitable for: Active families, outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, individuals looking for an active companion
Temperament: Even-tempered, gentle, determined, stubborn, carefree, affectionate, excitable

Lemon Beagles are a rare color variation of the Beagle, producing puppies that look almost completely white. The small patches of color are lemon-like in color, which is where they got the name for this variant. As these adorable Beagles age, the light-colored tan patches become darker. One of the rarest colorations of Beagles, they are highly sought after for their rarity and uniqueness. Lemon Beagles are still purebred Beagles with no added breeds to create this variation, so they’re allowed in breed shows in most major kennel clubs. If you’re interested in getting a lemon Beagle, read on to find out more about this rare-colored dog.

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Lemon Beagle Puppies

Lemon Beagle Puppy
Image Credit: Shelby Biondi, Shutterstock
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Lemon Beagles are a rare type of purebred Beagles, so their price tends to be higher than more common color variations. Take your time to search for a reputable breeder that will give you a healthy puppy. Some breeders will even screen puppies for possible health issues and will let you meet the puppy’s parents. Meeting the puppy’s mother can give you a good idea of the puppy’s health and temperament.

When you bring a lemon Beagle home, be ready to have an energetic pup around. They’re a great choice for active families who love outdoor activities and will bring their pup along with them to explore.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Lemon Beagle

1. The Lemon Coloration Is a Recognized Variant

While there are breeds with color variations that are not considered breed standards, the white and lemon coloration of the lemon Beagle is. That means that these cute and rare Beagles are allowed in the show ring, but that they’re not poorly bred to “make” this color. This is in contrast to “silver labs,” which are bred solely for coloration purposes and are usually a result of backyard breeding.

2. Both Sizes of the Beagle Accept the Lemon Variation

Beagles come in two sizes: under 13 inches and 13 to 15 inches. Thankfully, both sizes recognize the lemon color. This is great for those looking for a smaller or bigger Beagle that also want it in the lemon coloration.

3. Lemon Beagles Are the Lightest Color

Although these cuties have very dark-colored noses, lemon Beagles are the lightest color of all the 11 recognized color variations. Since all-white Beagles are not standard according to all major kennel clubs, lemon Beagles are the closest thing to white Beagles.

white lemon beagle_Gabriel_JH_shutterstock
Image Credit: Gabriel_JH, Shutterstock

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Lemon Beagle 🧠

Lemon Beagles, as well as Beagles in general, are hounds and have a strong hound mentality. Known for their strong sense of smell, Beagles are known for their wanderlust by following their noses. Recall training needs to be perfect or they’ll block out everything to track a scent that catches their attention. Coupled with a working dog’s high energy level, Beagles can be a challenge to train for first-time dog owners. That being said, Beagles can be great tracking dogs with the right training and recall training can be successful.

Beagles are intelligent dogs that were bred to hunt in groups, so they need daily interaction to be happy. This means they’re not a great breed for families and individuals who will be gone for long hours since they’re very prone to separation anxiety. They’re also vocal dogs that may bark and howl almost non-stop until their owners are home, which makes them less suitable for apartment living. Even the quietest Beagles that have been thoroughly exercised can still be noisy and destructive if left alone.

Beagles are gentle with children and are often social with everyone, making them a great option for big families or active neighborhoods. It’s rare for a Beagle to exhibit aggressive tendencies with people and other dogs, but they still need to be properly socialized. They enjoy being close to their owners and love to snuggle, as long as their energy has been sufficiently burned off. Above all else, Beagles love to be part of the family and will thrive off of an active, outdoorsy lifestyle.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Yes, lemon Beagles (as well as other Beagles) are good family dogs and can tolerate children, but they also enjoy playing with children. We still recommend them for families with older children due to their size, but they’re otherwise great as family pets.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Beagles are naturally social due to being bred for pack hunting, so they do very well with other dogs. It’s even better if they’re raised with another dog, which will solidify their need to be in a pack. That being said, it’s important to introduce any new pet slowly to let the established pets get accustomed to a new animal in the house. As for small animals and cats, lemon Beagles have high prey-drives and may be too tempted. We don’t recommend this breed for houses with multiple cats or small animals to prevent unfortunate accidents.

beautiful white lemon beagle_Gabriel_JH_shutterstock
Image Credit: Gabriel_JH, Shutterstock

Divider 4Things to Know When Owning a Lemon Beagle:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Lemon Beagles are energetic hounds that need a diet matching their activity levels, especially Beagles that are working dogs. We recommend a crunchy dry kibble with at least 20% protein, fortified with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet. It’s best to find a kibble that is either made for medium-sized dogs or working breeds, which will support the high-energy levels that Beagles have. A crunchy kibble will also help reduce plaque and tartar buildup, which smaller breeds are highly prone to.

Exercise 🐕

Exercising your Beagle is essential to their health since they’re naturally energetic and active. At a minimum, a few brisk walks a day with an hour of playtime is a good start, but that may not be enough. Lemon Beagles also need “sniff” breaks, which is essentially a walk or off-leash roaming (in a fenced-in area) where they’re allowed to follow their noses. Beagles really enjoy using their powerful sense of smell and do best when they’re allowed to utilize it.

Tracking games can be a great way to encourage their noses and teach them to find things solely by scent, which can open the door to a variety of opportunities like search-and-rescue operations. Beagles are also highly athletic and can do well in most canine sports, especially flyball and disc-throwing. Regardless of what activity you choose, it’s important to find what will challenge your lemon Beagle.

lemon Beagle_EnelGammie_shutterstock
Image Credit: EnelGammie, Shutterstock

Training 🦮

Training your lemon Beagle needs to start from day one, with a big emphasis on recall training. Due to their wanderlust, recall training will most likely be your biggest challenge. Beagles can be stubborn with obedience training in general, but it’s crucial to stay calm and patient with them. They can sense frustration and may shut down, so most aversive training methods will not work. We recommend hiring a professional dog trainer to guide you in the training process. An alternative to a professional dog trainer is joining a group puppy class, which will help with obedience and give your Beagle puppy a chance to socialize.

Grooming ✂️

Grooming your lemon Beagle shouldn’t be a big challenge since the coat is shorthaired, but grass stains may be hard to remove. The problem is that bathing your Beagle too often will lead to dry skin, so greenish-brown stains will sometimes be inevitable. We recommend bathing once a month at most, though they can easily go a few months without a bath. A good brushing of the coat once a week is also recommended, which will help reduce shedding and promote natural oil production.

In addition to coat care, you’ll need to trim your Beagle’s nails every 3 to 5 weeks. Lastly, your Beagle’s ears should be wiped out gently to prevent wax buildup and remove debris.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Beagles are relatively healthy dogs, but they still have their fair share of health problems. It’s important to financially prepare for your lemon Beagle’s future, as some treatments can be extremely expensive.

Here are the most common health conditions of the lemon Beagle:
  • Cherry Eye
  • Glaucoma
  • Ear hematomas
  • Obesity
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Epilepsy
  • Cancer
  • Chondrodystrophy (Beagle dwarfism)
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Diabetes

Divider 3Male vs. Female

Male and female lemon Beagles are similar in size and personality, with males being slightly bigger. Because of the little differences, there’s no reason to choose one over the other. The choice should be made with all family members involved.

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Final Thoughts

Lemon Beagles are a cute, rare color option of the Beagle, one of the most popular dog breeds today. Known for their light coloration, lemon Beagles are great dogs with even temperaments. Though they’re energetic dogs with a tendency to roam, Beagles can be great family pets in the right environment. They’re also quite intelligent if given a chance and can be used for a wide variety of work, especially tracking and sniffing jobs.

While they may be vocal and prone to separation anxiety, lemon Beagles enjoy being part of the family. If you’re looking for a smaller but active hound with a rare coloration, the lemon Beagle is a great option.


Featured image credit: Gabriel_JH, Shutterstock

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