Doxle
Hybrid Breed Description
The Doxle is a cross between the Beagle and the Dachshund. Because each hybrid inherits a unique combination of traits from both parents, we recommend thoroughly researching both breeds before choosing a Doxle. Pay special attention to temperament, health issues, and care requirements, as your dog may express characteristics from either parent breed.
Beagle
Beagles are compact, solidly built scent hounds recognized in two size varieties by major kennel clubs. The smaller variety stands thirteen inches or less at the shoulder and weighs under twenty pounds, while the larger variety measures between thirteen and fifteen inches tall with weights ranging from twenty to thirty pounds. Despite their relatively small stature, Beagles appear substantial and muscular for their height, with bodies slightly longer than tall that create a balanced, athletic silhouette designed for endurance and stamina in the field. Their deep chests extend down to the elbows, providing excellent lung capacity essential for their historical role tracking game over long distances. The breed displays distinctive facial features that contribute to their endearing appearance and exceptional scenting abilities. Beagles possess slightly domed skulls with medium-length, square-cut muzzles and broad noses that are typically black, though lighter pigmentation is acceptable in lighter-colored dogs. Their large, soft brown or hazel eyes convey a gentle, pleading expression that melts hearts instantly. Perhaps their most recognizable feature is their long, low-set ears that reach nearly to the nose tip when drawn forward, hanging close to the cheeks with soft texture. The moderately long tail, often carried with a distinct white tip, served a practical purpose historically as a visible flag for hunters to track their dogs through brush and tall grass. Beagles sport smooth, dense, weather-resistant double coats that provide protection from outdoor elements and shed moderately throughout the year, with heavier shedding in spring when they lose their thicker winter fur. The breed appears in numerous color combinations, though the classic tricolor pattern of black, tan, and white remains most common. Other recognized colorations include blue-tan-white, lemon-white, red-white, tan-white, and chocolate-white. Some Beagles display ticking or mottling in their white areas, such as the blue-mottled or bluetick pattern featuring midnight-blue appearing flecks. Their overall impression is one of a quality, purposeful hound built for tireless work yet possessing an irresistibly sweet countenance.
Key Characteristics
Beagles exhibit a gentle, friendly, outgoing temperament that makes them beloved family companions, demonstrating remarkable sociability with people of all ages and getting along exceptionally well with children and other pets. They possess a naturally sweet, curious personality characterized by enthusiasm and cheerfulness, rarely displaying aggression or unfriendly behaviors toward humans or animals. Bred historically to work cooperatively in hunting packs, Beagles maintain strong pack instincts and genuinely enjoy company, whether human or canine. They form deep bonds with their families and dislike being left alone for extended periods, potentially developing separation anxiety or destructive behaviors when isolated too long without adequate attention and stimulation. The breed demonstrates considerable intelligence combined with an independent, sometimes stubborn nature that can present training challenges. Beagles are scent hounds first and foremost, possessing extraordinarily keen noses and powerful tracking instincts that drive their behavior profoundly. When they catch an interesting scent, Beagles become intensely focused and determined, often experiencing what owners call selective deafness as they tune out everything except the trail they're following. This single-minded pursuit of scents means Beagles require secure fencing and should remain leashed during walks, as their noses can lead them to wander far from home while investigating intriguing smells. Their hunting heritage also manifests in their vocal nature, as Beagles readily express themselves through barking, howling, and baying, particularly when excited, bored, lonely, or alerting to unusual activity. Beagles possess high energy levels and require substantial daily exercise to maintain physical fitness and mental well-being. Without adequate activity and engagement, they become bored and may develop problematic behaviors including excessive vocalization, destructive chewing, or attempts to escape confined areas. These athletic dogs enjoy long walks, play sessions, and activities that allow them to use their remarkable scenting abilities. Beagles are food-motivated and possess voracious appetites, making them relatively easy to train with treats but also prone to overeating and obesity if food intake is not carefully monitored. Their curious, exploratory nature combined with their determination and problem-solving skills means they can get into mischief, finding creative ways to reach food or investigate areas owners might prefer they avoid.
Beagles are generally hardy dogs with relatively few breed-specific health concerns, typically living ten to fifteen years with proper care, though some individuals may reach older ages with excellent management. However, certain conditions occur with increased frequency in the breed and warrant attention. Obesity represents perhaps the most common and preventable health problem affecting Beagles, as their insatiable appetites and food-seeking behaviors combined with insufficient exercise easily lead to excess weight gain. Maintaining ideal body condition is crucial because obesity exacerbates numerous other health issues and significantly impacts quality of life and longevity. Owners must carefully measure food portions, limit treats, and ensure adequate daily exercise. Ear infections occur frequently in Beagles due to their long, pendulous ears that hang over the ear canal openings, creating warm, moist environments where bacteria and yeast thrive. Regular ear cleaning with veterinary-approved cleansers helps prevent infections, though even with diligent care, some Beagles remain prone to recurrent ear problems requiring medical treatment. Cherry eye, involving prolapse of the third eyelid gland that appears as a red mass in the eye corner, also affects the breed and may require surgical correction. Hip dysplasia, characterized by abnormal hip joint development leading to looseness and eventual arthritis, causes pain and mobility limitations. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of proper position, produces intermittent lameness and discomfort. Intervertebral disc disease affects Beagles' spines, causing disc degeneration, herniation, or rupture that compresses the spinal cord and results in pain, weakness, or paralysis. Epilepsy, a neurological disorder causing recurrent seizures, typically manifests between six months and five years of age and may require lifelong anti-seizure medication management. Hypothyroidism, involving inadequate thyroid hormone production that slows metabolism, leads to weight gain, lethargy, skin problems, and other systemic effects but responds well to daily hormone replacement therapy. Beagles also show increased susceptibility to various tumors including mast cell tumors and other growths that require veterinary evaluation and treatment. Regular veterinary examinations, preventive care including dental cleaning, maintaining healthy weight, and monitoring for early signs of health problems all contribute significantly to maximizing Beagle longevity and quality of life.
Dachshund
Dachshunds present an instantly recognizable silhouette with their distinctively elongated bodies and remarkably short legs. Standard Dachshunds typically weigh between sixteen and thirty-two pounds, while miniature varieties weigh eleven pounds or less, with most dogs standing approximately nine inches tall at the shoulder. Their unique build features a deep, broad chest that provided ample lung capacity for their original hunting work, coupled with short, muscular legs that enabled them to dig into burrows and navigate underground tunnels when pursuing badgers and other prey. The breed comes in three distinct coat varieties that each require different grooming approaches. Smooth-coated Dachshunds feature short, sleek fur that lies close to the body and requires minimal maintenance. Longhaired Dachshunds display elegant, flowing coats with feathering on the ears, chest, legs, and tail that need regular brushing to prevent matting. Wirehaired Dachshunds sport a coarse, dense outer coat with a softer undercoat, along with distinctive facial furnishings including bushy eyebrows and a beard. The breed appears in numerous color combinations including red, black and tan, chocolate, cream, blue, and isabella, with patterns ranging from solid colors to dapple, brindle, and piebald variations. Despite their compact size and short stature, Dachshunds possess a surprisingly sturdy and well-muscled build. They feature an extended muzzle that tapers toward the nose, large pendant ears that hang close to the cheeks, and oval-shaped eyes that convey an alert, intelligent expression. Their tail extends in line with the back rather than curling upward. The breed's low-slung body proportions mean their length from chest to rear significantly exceeds their height, creating their characteristic sausage-like appearance that has earned them affectionate nicknames like wiener dog or sausage hound.
Key Characteristics
Dachshunds exhibit a bold, spirited personality that belies their small stature, demonstrating remarkable courage and tenacity rooted in their heritage as independent hunters bred to confront dangerous prey in confined underground spaces. These dogs possess a fearless nature and will readily challenge animals much larger than themselves, though this bravery can sometimes border on recklessness. They maintain a lively, curious disposition and approach life with enthusiasm and confidence. Dachshunds form strong bonds with their families and display fierce loyalty to their chosen people, though they can be reserved or wary around strangers until properly introduced. The breed demonstrates considerable intelligence and independence, traits developed through generations of making autonomous decisions while hunting underground without human guidance. This independent streak manifests as stubbornness during training, as Dachshunds often have their own ideas about following commands and may test boundaries with their owners. They respond best to patient, consistent training using positive reinforcement methods rather than harsh corrections. Smooth-coated varieties tend to be more energetic and assertive, while longhaired Dachshunds are often calmer and more docile, and wirehaired types display particularly outgoing, terrier-like personalities with extra spunk and confidence. Dachshunds were originally developed with loud, resonant barks to alert hunters to their location underground, and modern dogs retain this vocal tendency. They make excellent watchdogs who alert their families to any unusual activity, though this vigilance can lead to excessive barking if not properly managed. The breed needs regular mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom-related behavioral issues. They enjoy being active participants in family life and can become destructive or develop separation anxiety if left alone for extended periods without adequate attention and engagement.
Dachshunds face significant predisposition to intervertebral disc disease, a serious condition affecting approximately one in four members of the breed due to their elongated spinal structure. Their chondrodystrophic build, characterized by disproportionate dwarfism with shortened limbs relative to body length, causes premature degeneration of the cushioning discs between vertebrae. These discs can bulge, herniate, or rupture, compressing the spinal cord and resulting in pain, mobility impairment, or even paralysis. Owners can help minimize back injury risk by preventing jumping on and off furniture, avoiding stairs when possible, maintaining healthy body weight, and building strong core muscles through appropriate exercise. The breed shows increased susceptibility to several eye conditions including progressive retinal atrophy, a genetic disorder causing gradual vision deterioration that eventually leads to blindness. Cataracts commonly develop in older Dachshunds and can also result in vision loss, though surgical intervention may restore sight in some cases. Glaucoma, characterized by elevated intraocular pressure, causes significant pain and can damage the optic nerve if left untreated. Additional orthopedic concerns include hip dysplasia, where abnormal hip joint development creates looseness and excessive movement, and patellar luxation, in which the kneecap slips out of proper position. Both conditions cause lameness, stiffness, and reluctance to exercise. Obesity represents a particularly dangerous health problem for Dachshunds because excess weight places tremendous additional stress on their already vulnerable backs and joints. The breed also faces elevated risk for diabetes mellitus, liver disorders including portosystemic shunt, and various cancers affecting skin, fat cells, and anal sacs. Dachshunds typically live twelve to fifteen years with proper care and health management. Regular veterinary examinations, maintaining ideal body condition, providing moderate daily exercise to build supporting muscle mass, and avoiding activities that strain the spine all contribute to longevity and quality of life for these distinctive dogs.
Important to Remember
Each hybrid dog is unique and may inherit any combination of traits from either parent breed. The information above represents the characteristics of the purebred parent breeds. Your Doxle may favor one parent over the other or display a blend of both. We strongly encourage you to read the complete breed profiles for both the Beagle and Dachshund to fully understand the range of possible temperaments, health concerns, and care requirements.