There is something undoubtedly entertaining about Beagles. The floppy-eared rascals are almost cartoonish with their stubborn will and tendency to “sing” at length to alert their owners to any passing person, dog, car, or, well, just about anything.

The Beagle has already had the “Doodle treatment” in being paired with the Poodle to become a Poogle. Furthermore, the Beagle has also been paired with a Labrador to become a Beagador. It stands to reason that it was only a matter of time before someone took the Labradoodle and mixed in some Beagle.

In this article, we will explore if this is proving popular and just what you may expect from such a mix.

Labradoodle History

The Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and one of the three sizes of Poodle (Standard, Miniature, or Toy). As the German Shepherd is a large breed itself, it is most commonly a Labradoodle with Standard Poodle parentage that is selected for a cross between the two.

While this mix was noted to have occurred as early as the 1950s it was around 1989 that the term Labradoodle became commonplace, and the popularity really increased.

The publicity surrounding the Labradoodle increased in the early 1990s where many guide, assistance, and/or therapy dogs associations realized the Labradoodle would be an option for individuals who experienced dog allergies.

Often the addition of Poodle genetics greatly reduced the amount of shedding that would be associated with Labrador Retrievers.

The Labradoodles smarts and low shedding coat attracted the attention of normal domestic pet owners and there was a meteoric rise in the number of breeders over the course of the ’90s and 2000s. 

Generally, Labradoodle owners favor the breed’s natural friendliness while their energetic and affectionate nature makes them popular for active singles, couples, or families with children.

Beagle History

Unlike the hybrid Labradoodle, the Beagle is a pure breed. These sturdy, stocky little pups are a type of scent hound. This means that the Beagle can sniff out even the faintest whiff of a rabbit from across a field.

The Beagle is largely thought to have originated in England and was first depicted in accounts from as far back as the Roman Empire. While in their earliest form, the Beagle generally helped villagers deal with pesky vermin. Their prowess for sniffing garnered attention and by the Victorian Era many hunters utilized packs of Beagles to hunt rabbits and other small animals.

Some hunters deliberately bred their Beagles to be small to fit in a pocket or saddlebag in order to be safely transferred along to the hunt. Interestingly this is one of the reasons that the Beagle made the jump to a domestic pet, as wealthy ladies of the period were enamored with their tiny size and feisty personality.

Modern-day Beagles are occasionally still utilized as hunting dogs however much rarely so. Instead, you are much more likely to find a Beagle very at home with an indoor, domesticated life.

Beagles are famed for their strong will, sometimes stubborn nature, and their flair for the dramatic. They can often be naughty, known to be destructive when bored, and can be extremely vocal when voicing any displeasure or anxiety. Many Beagle owners refer to this lively howl as their pup’s singing. Often this can only be averted by giving into your Beagle or temporarily winning obedience via a tasty treat.

What Do We Call a Labradoodle Beagle Mix?

There is not a lot of information on this cross to date, with often Beagle or Labradoodle owners advising they have been a bit of an accidental mix if they have occurred. The Beagle and Poodle mix is a hybrid, popular in its own right, and is referred to as a Poogle.  This has led to the Labradoodle Beagle mix affectionately being termed a “Labrapoogle”.

Why is this Cross Being Bred?

As mentioned above, the Labrapoogle does not appear to be being actively bred intentionally at this moment and most are the result of two unneutered dogs mixing without their owner’s knowledge. This can make it difficult to determine if these dogs are a good match.

In random couplings, it can be much harder to predict what offspring will be like. In more controlled breeding practices, potential matches are selected on a variety of factors including health, size, and temperament.

The Benefits of a Labradoodle Beagle Mix

In theory, a well-matched Labradoodle and Beagle mix should make for a pleasing pet containing a mix of Labrador, Poodle, and Beagle traits.  In the few accidental litters discussed to date, owners have commented on the variation within a litter with some looking very Beagle-like while some retain Beagle colors of white and tan, however, display a more Labradoodle-like fleecy coat.

The mix of Labrador and Beagle in the Beagdor is already shown to make for a loyal and playful dog. Loyalty is only likely to be enhanced by the presence of Poodle genetics too. The working dog credentials of a Poodle parent will also create a dog who has a strong desire to learn which can be advantageous during training.

It would be anticipated that with selective multi-generational breeding, that a Labradoodle Beagle mix could be directed towards having a low shedding, Poodle-like coat however still retain the Labrador confidence missing from a Beagle Poodle cross alone.

The Cons of the Labradoodle Beagle Mix

One of the criticisms leveled at this potential mix is the likelihood of a puppy who will experience separation anxiety. Beagles are notorious for coping poorly with even brief periods of separation from their owners.  It stands to reason that many people who have experienced Labradoodle’s with similar issues will wonder why you would want to match up this pair.

Many owners are also skeptical of the ethics of some breeders who wish to make multi-breed Doodle crosses, fearing it is a gimmick to create and market a new cross rather than a desire to breed healthy robust dogs.

The fact that the Labradoodle Beagle mix has yet to become particularly prevalent or popular does suggest that people may be more satisfied with the two breeds separately.

Size and Weight

As an indication of potential size and weight, it is always wise to look to the parent breeds in the first instance.

The Beagle is recognized as coming in two sizes. There is a full size or standard Beagle who are taller than 13” however no taller than 15” and weigh in the region of 25lbs to 35lbs. The smaller Beagle will be less than 13” in height and weigh around 20lbs to 30lbs.

The Labradoodle by comparison comes in three size variations, largely dependent on the Poodle parent used. A Standard Labradoodle is the biggest and can be up to 24”  in height and weigh up to 65lbs.

A Medium Labradoodle will come in at between 17” and 20” in height and weigh between 30lbs and 45lbs.

The smallest, the Miniature Labradoodle, will be no taller than 16” and weigh between 12lbs and 25lbs.

It would make sense that the best match for a Labradoodle Beagle mix would be to utilize a Miniature or smaller Medium Labradoodle, dependent on the size of the Beagle parent.  It would be hoped that a resultant litter would fall somewhere in the range of both parents however, in reality, especially when using the first-generation Labradoodle, there could be much greater variation. This is due to the potential for Labrador (who are bigger) genetics to be expressed.

Color and Coat Types

There have not been enough documented cases of Labradoodle Beagle mixes to say with certainty the type of coat or color that would be expected. We can always look to the parent coats for a hint.

Beagles have a dense, double coat that does shed and needs brushing to help loosen up hair from the undercoat. Overall, their coat length is short and their most common color pattern is tricolor of black, tan, and white. They can also have more reddish shades. Strictly speaking, they can be any “hound color” which includes variations of tan, fawn, and browns.

Labradoodles by comparison can have a greater variation in coat type, owing mostly to the fact there are a hybrid mix of two dogs to start with.  Labradoodles can have a “hair” type coat which is more reminiscent of the Labrador fur, which will shed. This is potentially the least popular Labrador coat type and breeders often actively breed to avoid this.

Those that present with more of a mix of Poodle coat types will either have wool or fleecy coats. In these Labradoodle’s their coats will be more like hair than fur and will range from curly to wavy. These are the most popular Labradoodle coat types as they are low to practically non-shedding.

A Labradoodle Beagle mix could in theory present with any coat type exhibited by their parent breeds or a blend.  If it was a conscious decision to cross a Labradoodle and Beagle it would be expected that a fleecy or wool coat Labradoodle would be selected in order to try and reduce the shedding associated with a Beagle.  

It is always harder to predict in hybrids where three breed genetics are involved especially in a mix such as Labrador, Beagle, and Poodle where they are all so different.

Health

There is little information on the long-term health of a Labradoodle Beagle mix however we can look to both parent breeds to identify any health needs present. Actively crossing dog breeds is a means of breeding out some health conditions that may have become more prevalent in a pure-bred line over time.

Well-bred Labradoodle’s are generally considered healthy however they may have a tendency for some conditions including:

• Ear infections
• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Epilepsy
• Allergies
• Diabetes
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Hypothyroidism

Beagles have slightly more potential health issues however the ones which overlap with the Labradoodle are of more significant concern as a Labradoodle Beagle mix puppy could inherit two faulty genes, one from a mother and one from a father meaning they may be more likely to get the condition.  These include:

• Hip dysplasia
• Epilepsy
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy

The good news is a reputable breeder would be able to look back over breeding lines of both their Beagle and Labradoodle’s to minimize the risk of this occurring.

Temperament

While we don’t have a great deal of information available regarding a Labradoodle Beagle mix, we do know the temperament of a Poogle (Beagle x Poodle) and a Beagador (Beagle x Labrador). We can use this to take a guess at what a mix of Poodle, Labrador, and Beagle genetics might look like in terms of mood.

A Poogle is active and friendly, and a great watchdog given its tendency to be vocal. Some owners have noticed that their prey drive and stubbornness from the Beagle can persist which is worth remembering if you live near areas with small animals. They can struggle with separation anxiety.

A Beagador is loyal without fault and displays a friendly playful disposition. They too can be known to be a little on the stubborn side and can be destructive if not given enough exercise.

It stands to reason then that a Labradoodle Beagle mix will display some of the positive traits such as loyalty, playfulness, and friendly nature however could experience compounded levels of stubbornness. They will be energetic dogs who will need both mental and physical stimulation.

Exercise Needs

While Labradoodles and Beagles both enjoy some couch snuggles from time to time, they are actually very active breeds and will need daily vigorous exercise to keep them at their best. A Labradoodle Beagle mix will likely need at least 60 minutes of exercise a day however would benefit from plenty of games of tug and chase to satisfy their desire to run.

Feeding Requirements

The exact feeding requirements will depend on the age and size of the dog. As mentioned before, as the Labradoodle Beagle cross is fairly unknown, you can expect quite a variety in size across the initial litters.