Why Do Beagles Cry?

When a Beagle cries it can be the most heart-wrenching or annoying sound on the planet. It’s especially annoying when you don’t know why they are crying.

Why is it that Beagles cry? Beagles cry for the same reasons people cry. They cry when they are separated for long periods of time (which cause separation anxiety when you leave for a short while), when they are in pain, or when they are bored and want attention.

A crying Beagle is a problem that definitely needs solving and is worrisome when you don’t know how to solve it. Knowing the problem and discovering ways to solve it are the first steps to helping out your pet.

Separation Anxiety

A very common cause for whining or crying from Beagles is separation anxiety. They may be very attached to you and are not used to you being gone.

If you are making some kind of change and aren’t home as much as before then you might be having issues with your Beagle. They are a pretty social breed so being alone can make them very uncomfortable.

Because it’s such a sensitive thing, there are some ways you can handle it without making your pet feel unwanted.

How Do I Help With Separation Anxiety?

• Get a second Beagle- Getting a second Beagle will greatly improve the separation anxiety for your Beagle. Beagles are pack dogs, so they will always do better when other dogs are around. (especially other Beagles)

• Get a sitter: Find someone you trust and have your sitter dog sit for a while until your pet has had time to adjust. You can gradually have the sitter trickle away as your Beagle gets used to being alone.

• Keep a routine: Routine is crucial for your pet to adjust to being away from you. Animals do best with structure, that’s just a given.

• Leave the TV on: Turn on the TV and set it up to a real talking volume. This will help your pet not feel quite so lonely and they will be able to relax.

• Don’t make it a big deal:  Don’t hug and kiss your dog like you’re never going to see them again when you leave! Dogs are smart and can tell something is wrong very quickly. Being overly lovey-dovey when you leave alerts them that something is wrong and that you might not come back.
• Give a five-minute window, enough for them to calm down. Then you calmly give them the love that they seek. (obviously, if they need to use the restroom you take them, however, do it calmly.)

Separation anxiety can be hard to handle because all you want to do is hold your pet and help them to know that it’s okay. Dogs aren’t little children, they are different. A firm and steady hand and consistency is the best way to help with separation anxiety.

Crying for Attention or Because They are Bored

If you are never around, your frequent absence may be a key reason for the whining. Dogs need attention! You can’t will them to not need it. You can train them, but just wanting them to adjust isn’t always effective.

Beagles are not a dog which can be ignored and left to fend for itself. They are high energy dogs and will end up driving you crazy if you don’t give it the proper attention and exercise that it needs.

Here are some things you can do to help them not to be bored and to keep them occupied:

• Get a second Beagle– Beagles do much better when they have a friend. If you get a friend then they will have someone to play with and it is less likely that they will get bored.
• Set aside a consistent time each day where you play with your Beagle. Animals respond well to consistency and routine. They will not only get used to it, but they will know it’s coming and will feel more at ease.
• Daily Exercise- Beagles are high energy and because they are hunting dogs they need daily exercise or they will get restless. It’s important to take your pup out for long walks daily for at least 20 minutes a day (minimum). Ideally, they should be out for 30 minutes a day to stay at a healthy weight.

How Much Time Should I Spend With My Beagle?

There is not necessarily a set amount of time that you should spend with your Beagle. It is important that you pay attention to the signals that your pet is sending you.

You’ll be able to tell whether or not you are spending enough time with your Beagle if you see that he/she is getting agitated, bored, or is whining too much.

It’s more important that you observe how much time they spend alone than how much time you need to spend with them. Every dog has different personalities and needs so some may need less attention than others.

Crying Because of Pain

Dogs get sick too. Even though their whining can be extremely annoying, don’t ignore it! If you’ve ruled out everything else; attention, boredom, anxiety, etc., then you may need to consider if your pet is in pain or sick.

If you think that your Beagle is in pain, the best thing for you to do would be to take them to the veterinarian. They would be able to tell pretty quickly what is going on.

If you are really unsure what is going on with your pet, it’s best just to take them to a vet. They will be able to tell whether it’s anxiety, lack of attention, or pain better than you could if you are not confident in that area.

What Kind of Pain is Common for Beagles?

Beagles can get stomach aches from something bad they ate, they can get the flu, they can get distemper, they can get cancer. There’s quite a range of sicknesses your Beagle could.

Beagles are living things and they are not invincible so you need to make sure that you take the proper precautions to prevent sicknesses and diseases which are common for Beagles.

Note: The Canine Distemper Vaccination is a 5-way vaccination which protects against hepatitis (adenovirus), leptospirosis, parvo and parainfluenza.

All of these diseases are common for Beagles and most dogs. This table is taken from The American Kennel Club website:

Beagles are a relatively healthy breed of dog and don’t have a lot of issues. That being said, they should still get their regular vaccinations to strengthen their constitution.

You can never be too careful when you are trying to protect your best friend. Keeping your pet’s vaccinations updated and on-schedule will help prevent them from suffering more than they need to.

Related Questions:

How long is too long to leave my Beagle alone? More than 8-10 hours is probably too long to leave your Beagle alone. Dogs need exercise and playtime or they get bored. If you’re gone for a really long time, they’ll probably nap for a while, but they will eventually get agitated and start tearing things up.

Are Beagles better in pairs? Because they are a ‘pack dog’, Beagles work much better in pairs. They tend to be a bit less stubborn and lonely when they have a partner.

How long do Beagles live for? Beagles have a lifespan of about 12-15 years. With proper care and attention, they could live longer than that, and even with the proper care they could have a shorter lifespan, but that is the average for this breed.