Designer dogs have grown in popularity over the last few decades. While this has brought about variety in dogs’ choices, it has also revealed some unique crossbreeds. One of these is the Great Dane Beagle mix, which seemed challenging to breed.
The Great Dane Beagle mix, also referred to as the BeDane, is a crossbreed of the massive Great Dane and the medium-sized Beagle. The combination is a sweet, high-energy, and family-oriented dog that relates well to other dogs and people in general.
If you are eyeing this unique yet friendly dog, you might want to learn more about it. Below, you will understand the crossbreed in detail, including its history, personality, maintenance, health, lifespan, and more.
What is a Great Dane Beagle Mix?
A Great Dane Beagle mix is a crossbreed of the Great Dane and the Beagle, two dogs in varying sizes. The Great Dane is considered a large dog, weighing between 100 to 200 pounds, while the Beagle is a medium-sized dog weighing between 18 and 30 pounds.
The breeding of the two seemed impossible considering the size difference, but somehow breeders made it work. The mix is not as common as most other designer dogs, but their popularity grows daily.
The mix inherits the desirable traits from each parent, giving you the best of both worlds. BeDanes are super friendly, charming, and playful, making some of the best dogs for families. They are highly affectionate and get along pretty well with other children and adults alike.
Great Dane Beagle Background
There is not much information on the history of the Great Dane Beagle mix, but their popularity has grown over the last two to three decades. Both dogs have a long history dating back to thousands of years ago. Below is the history of the Great Dane and the Beagle.
Great Dane History
Great Danes are considered large dogs with an average height of 30 to 34 inches. They also weigh pretty high compared to other large dogs coming in at 100 to 200 pounds at full maturity.
The Great Dane results from crossbreeding the English Mastiffs and the Irish Wolfhounds. These two can be traced back to the 16th century, originating from England.
The Great Danes were imported to various countries across Europe, where they were known as ‘Englishe Docke’ to mean English Dog. They were initially bred as working dogs, where they were used for hunting boars and bears.
In 1878, the name was changed from Englische Dogge to Deutsche Dogge to mean German Mastiff. In English-speaking countries, it was known as German boarhound. In the 19th century, the name was changed to Great Dane following the rising tension between Germany and other countries.
Beagle History
The origin of the Beagle is not clear, but it can be traced back to medieval times. Beagles were small pocket-sized dogs during those times, and Queen Elizabeth I had one of these. They were so small the size was between 8 to 9 inches.
Today’s Beagles are entirely different from the initial ones. Back in the 1830s, Reverend Phillip Honeywood facilitated the development of modern Beagles to create bigger and more manageable ones.
The development resulted in the Beagle being used as a hunting dog, where they were used to track down small animals. Today, they have grown in popularity around the US, thanks to their versatility and easy maintenance.
Great Dane Beagle Mix Appearance
The Great Dane and the Beagle have differences in appearance. This means breeding the two can result in varying appearances, even between siblings. The appearance of crossbreeds can be unpredictable as they pick different dominant features from the parents.
The Great Dane, a not-so-common breed, has no standard for appearance. Therefore, it will vary among litters, depending on the parent with the most outstanding genes.
That said, you can end up with a dog that inherits most of its physical features from the Beagle or the Great Dane. Your mix can have long floppy ears, and the color of the Beagle or the head can take the shape of the head and face from the Great Dane.
Size and Weight
The size of the Great Dane Beagle mix will be similar to one of its parents or somewhere between the two parents. BeDanes can vary in size, with smaller ones measuring 13 to 15 inches in height and bigger ones averaging 28 to 32 inches.
When it comes to weight, BeDanes can weigh as light as 20 to 30 pounds or as heavy as 100 to 175 pounds. Most will weigh around the 50-pound mark; therefore, relatively more prominent than the Beagle but smaller than the Great Dane.
Color
As mentioned, the appearance of Great Dane Beagle mixes varies depending on the dominant genes from either parent. This results in various colors, some as a mix of both parents and some similar to one of the parents.
Therefore, they can come in Tan, White, Brown, Red, Lemon with patterns of these colors. For example, you can find a BeDane in brown as the dominant color but with parts of the body in white. Same way, you can find a completely Brown BeDane.
Coat Type
Like both parents, the Great Dane Beagle mix has a short but dense fur coat. This characteristic makes them pretty easy to groom. They shed seasonally, but that is manageable with regular brushing.
The good thing is that the coat is dense enough not to lodge dirt inside. However, it is advisable to bathe them once a month, as part of their regular maintenance. They do not need regular professional grooming as the coat is quite manageable with standard grooming supplies.
Great Dane Beagle Mix Temperament
Beagles are generally friendly, gentle, and playful. They are so charming you will want to watch them all day. Their playful nature leads them to do stupid things; you will laugh all the time. They are also exceptionally social and enjoy spending time with humans and other dogs.
As social and energetic as they come, Beagles are gentle. They rarely get into fights with other pets and relate well with kids, regardless of age. They can be a little stubborn, but that is part of their playful nature.
On the other hand, Great Danes are kind, big-hearted, and loyal. They are friendly and always looking to please their owners. They are therefore easy to train and socialize with. Their hearts match their size, making them some of the most affectionate large dogs.
The Beagle Great Dane mix inherits qualities from both parent breeds. They are social, playful, loyal, and kind. BeDanes work perfectly as house pets and prove to be incredible companions to their owners.
It is important to note that the qualities they inherit highly depend on genetics. A Great Dane Beagle puppy may be a little stubborn as the Beagle or acquire the people-pleasing quality of the Great Dane.
If your BeDane takes after the Great Dane, it may come across as strong and stubborn. This would require a firm pack leader or an owner with experience handling headstrong dogs.
Even if your BeDane is small, the stubborn and headstrong character might be dominant. This can be a little challenging to deal with as a first-time dog owner, but positive reinforcements would help manage the character.
Another important thing you should note about BeDanes personality is that they cannot stay alone for too long. They enjoy human interaction, and even though they will seek some independence when the house is full, they will be back in a short while.
They cope better with other dogs; therefore, having one among other dogs or pets will do a BeDane justice.
Great Dane Beagle Mix Maintenance
Keeping your Great Dane Beagle mix happy and healthy is the ultimate goal. You should ensure your dog meets its needs to get the most out of your dog as a companion.
Exercise
Both parents, the Great Dane and the Beagle are high-energy and super-active dogs. The mix is not different; therefore, it needs regular exercise to stay happy and healthy. Unfortunately, if you are looking for a laid-back dog, a BeDane is not a great fit.
BeDanes need plenty of physical activity to stay happy. They do well with long walks at least twice a day; the more you can give them, the better. More to this, they need high-intensity exercises such as running and sports.
Keeping the dog active helps with physical stimulation and preventing destructive habits, which would otherwise reign to use built-up energy.
Training
BeDanes are brilliant dogs, meaning they pick up tricks and commands pretty quickly. Even so, training them can be a challenge, especially with their stubborn nature in play. They can be uncooperative and will want to take unwarranted breaks every so often.
The best approach to training a Great Dane Beagle mix is to break the sessions into short and quick ones. Create a training schedule with short daily sessions than hour-long episodes; that way, the dog will cooperate fully.
BeDanes rely heavily on positive reinforcements during training; therefore, make an effort to praise your dog, offer treats and applaud him when he picks up on a cue. While at it, do not forget to take your dog to the park to interact with other dogs and people.
Nutrition
Finding the right food for your BeDane is crucial to ensuring health and proper weight management. The diet you choose majorly depends on your dog as far as his age, activity levels, and health status go.
That said, you ought to ensure you provide a well-balanced diet that meets the dog’s energy requirements. Remember, BeDanes are high-energy, so they need a big-enough portion to provide energy. But, be careful with this as they are prone to obesity from overfeeding.
The best idea would be to talk to your Vet and seek advice on the best food for your dog. Your Vet can draft a diet plan according to your dog’s health status and activity levels. And, they can plan out how to track your dog’s weight and keep obesity at bay.
Great Dane Beagle Mix Health Issues
BeDanes are healthy for the most part, but, like other dogs, they are prone to a few health issues. These can be similar to those that both parents suffer from. Below are some of the health issues you should look out for:
- Hip dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Bloat
- Cardiomyopathy
- Tricuspid valve disease
- Dwarfism
- Eye issues
- Hypothyroidism
- Ear infections
As usual, getting your BeDane puppy from the right breeder can help a great deal in preventing these health issues. Most reputable breeders provide a detailed health report, including possible health issues from the parents. With this, you can be aware of what your BeDane could develop.
FAQs
Are BeDanes Registered Anywhere?
BeDanes are not registered yet, but the parents, the Great Dane and the Beagle are registered as breeds by the American Kennel Club.
Are Great Dane Beagle Mixes Great Family Dogs?
Great Dane Beagle mixes are excellent family dogs, thanks to their interactive, friendly nature. They enjoy human interaction and get along with other pets, making them ideal for families. However, they are highly active and can only fit in families that uphold an active lifestyle.
How Long Do BeDanes Live?
BeDanes can live for over 12 years. The Great Dane has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, and the Beagle can live up to 10 years. Of course, how long your dog lives depends on the lifestyle it adopts, which has a significant influence on its overall health.
Is the Great Dane Beagle Mix Hypoallergenic?
The Great Dane is considered a moderate shedder, while the Beagle is a heavy shedder. The mix can be a medium to intense shedder, meaning it is not hypoallergenic. Therefore, it does not suit people that suffer from pet allergies, as it sheds from time to time.
Final Thoughts
The Great Dane Beagle mix is a social, playful, friendly, and gentle dog, perfect for families. It is easy to maintain, adapt quickly to new situations, and relates well with people and pets. BeDanes can thrive and give back in equal measure with an active lifestyle.
