The idea of breeding purebred dogs to create designer dogs has increased the possibilities of owning unique, high-quality dogs. If you have thought about owning a designer dog, one that should be top of your list is the Whippet Beagle mix.
As the name suggests, the Whippet Beagle mix is a crossbreed dog resulting from breeding the Whippet and Beagle. This crossbreed creates a high-energy yet sweet dog that is easily adaptable and suitable for families.
The Whippet Beagle mix gives you the best from both parents and is undoubtedly a breeze to keep as a pet. Below you will learn more about this designer dog, including its appearance, temperament, maintenance, health issues, and more.
What is a Whippet Beagle Mix?
A Whippet Beagle Mix results from breeding the Whippet and the Beagle, resulting in an energetic yet charming dog. The mix is a sweet, friendly, and active dog, suitable for families leading an active lifestyle.
Both parents are energetic and highly active dogs, making the mix a shadow of both. The Beagle in itself is known to be one of the sweetest dogs and one of the most suitable for families with pets and young children.
The Whippet is known as a high-energy working dog loyal to its owners. As energetic as it comes, it is gentle, kind, and friendly, making it easily adaptable to new environments and people.
The mix of these two balances out the high energy and friendly nature, creating a highly adaptable, gentle, and active dog. It is also low maintenance and easy to keep happy, but like other dogs, they need regular stimulation and care (explained below.)
Whippet Beagle Mix Background
Understanding your dog’s background can help you figure out how to maneuver living with the dog in the long run. Being a crossbreed, the Whippet Beagle mix has little to its history as an individual dog.
But, the parents have some history explaining how they came to be and how their popularity has grown. Below is a description of both parents’ backgrounds.
Whippet Background
The Whippet, a medium-sized breed, has its roots dating back to the 1800s. It belongs to the sighthound family, a descendant of the greyhounds, and is believed to have originated from England.
Whippets resemble smaller greyhounds as not much changed after years of breeding. Whippets were bred to hunt by sight and trained to hunt at high speeds. Today, they are still kept as working dogs, but most owners keep them as home pets.
The Whippet was popular in England; however, they were first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888. It was not until 1890 did the Kennel Club in England recognize the Whippet as a breed.
Beagle Background
The Beagle is one of the dogs with their histories dating back to the 5th Century BC. During medieval times, the word beagle was used to refer to the smaller hounds, although these differed significantly from the modern Beagle.
Queen Elizabeth I kept the miniature size of the Beagle called the Pocket Beagle, which was about 9 inches at the shoulder. It was small enough to fit in a pocket or a bag hence the name.
This miniature beagle rode along with the larger hounds as they went hunting. As crossbreeding continued, the Beagles were established as small hounds in the 15th Century.
Later on, in the 18th Century, they were trained to hunt rabbits. Their popularity grew in the 19th Century, and they were introduced to America by English settlers. The American Kennel Club later recognized the Beagle in 1885.
Whippet Beagle Mix Appearance
Size and Weight
The Whippet and the Beagle have distinctive looks, but there is no significant difference in size. Whippets stand at 18 to 22 inches at the withers and weigh anywhere between 25 to 40 pounds.
On the other hand, Beagles are a bit smaller, standing at an average of 13 inches, and can weigh anywhere between 17 to 30 pounds. The mix, therefore, can be a small to medium-sized dog.
If your Whippet Beagle mix takes more after the Whippet, then it can fall into the medium-sized bracket. It is important to note that the size is highly dependent on the dominant gene from either parent.
That said, you can have a mix that is more like the Beagle in size and stature, or like the Whippet, or fall somewhere between both parents in terms of size. But, from the observation, the mix’s siblings are more or less the same size as the parents are not that different in size.
Coat Type and Colors
The Whippet Beagle mix has a short and smooth coat, which is easy to maintain. Both parents have short coats; easy to keep neat; however, the Beagle sheds a lot, needing regular brushing.
The coat of the Whippet Beagle mix presents as the parents,’ but it may steer more to the Whippet or the Beagle depending on the dominant gene.
When it comes to the colors, both parents come in various colors. According to the American Kennel Club, the Beagle comes in 11 different standard colors. Most of these colors are mixes of brown and tan with other colors.
Whippets, on the other hand, come in 18 colors. Like the Beagle, most of these colors mix one standard color with another.
The mix presents in any of the colors from the parents or a combination of both parents’ colors. That means they can come in a wide range of colors from both parents.
Whippet Beagle Mix Personality
One of the personality traits that reigns in both the Whippet and the Beagle is the gentle, friendly demeanor. The mix portrays this exact personality, making it easy to blend into families, regardless of the setup.
Whippets are generally calm indoors and make lovely house pets. On the other hand, Beagles are active and would rather spend time outdoors. That said, they need a lot of busy time to stay happy and healthy.
The mix of these personalities results in a calm dog and high-energy from time to time. And, since both dogs were bred as working dogs, there is an element of being energetic in the mix.
The Whippet Beagle mix is a knowledgeable dog due to the hunting instinct of both parents. The dog is likely to chase small animals even when kept as a pet, as their working instinct manifests strongly.
The thing with crossbreeding is you cannot point out how the puppy comes across in terms of personality. It could be chill and gentle as the Whippet or active and curious like the Beagle. Whatever it takes, the mix maintains a friendly, affectionate personality all through.
Whippet Beagle Mix Care and Maintenance
Your Whippet Beagle mix needs regular care and maintenance to give you back affection. Therefore, it is essential to understand what your furry friend needs to keep it happy and healthy. Below is a care and maintenance guide you can borrow tips from.
Feeding
There is no one rule on feeding when it comes to Whippet crossbreeds. Mainly, diet is planned on a per-dog basis to ensure what the dog eats meets its utmost needs. That said, your Whippet Beagle mix may need more or less than another dog of the same energy levels and size.
The idea is to ensure your dog gets food that provides essential nutrients for proper growth and development. On the same note, you ought to ensure the food meets our dog’s energy levels, as Whippet Beagle mixes are known to be high-energy dogs.
They need a significant portion compared to smaller, more calm dogs; however, they are prone to obesity from overfeeding. If you are unsure about what to give your Whippet Beagle mix, the best approach would be to talk to your vet for advice on the best food for your dog.
Grooming
The Whippet Beagle mix is considered a moderate shedder, a characteristic of one of the parents, the Beagle. Therefore, you need to brush your dog regularly to remove loose hair and keep it neat.
You will also need to invest in a good quality vacuum to keep your floors and other surfaces clean. Your Whippet Beagle mix also needs a bath once in a while, but you should be careful not to dry their skin.
Exercise
Generally, Whippet Beagle mixes are energetic and quickly build up and store energy. They need regular exercise, at least an hour a day, to use up energy and stay active. You can take your dog out for a walk, bring it along for a hike, or leave it to play with toys in the backyard.
Training
As mentioned, Whippet Beagle mixes are brilliant and have strong instincts. While this is great in maneuvering life with your dog, it can make them challenging to train. Also, both parents are known to be stubborn, making it even harder to teach them.
The best training approach would be to break the sessions into shorter spans to keep them attentive and cooperative. Additionally, including positive reinforcement as part of your training will yield more desirable results.
When training your Whippet Beagle mix, another thing to keep in mind is to ensure regular exercise. Your dog will use up built-up energy, making it easier to train. Again, we all know that exercise can help prevent destructive behavior, reinforcing training in the long run.
Lastly, make sure you take your dog out to interact with people and other dogs during the training period. You want to help the dog adapt to changes, learn how to accommodate strangers, other pets, and cope in new environments.
Whippet Beagle Mix Health Issues
Whippet Beagle mixes are not resistant to genetic health issues like all dogs. But, you can avoid this significantly by getting a puppy from a reputable breeder. That way, you will get a report on the parents’ health status and possible health issues to look out for.
Some of the health problems affecting Whippet Beagle mixes are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Hypothyroidism
- Cancer
- Elbow dysplasia
- Heart diseases
FAQs
Are Whippet Beagle Mixes Registered Anywhere?
The mix is not registered anywhere, just like most crossbreeds. But, both parents, the Whippet and the Beagle, are registered as breeds by the American Kennel Club.
Are Whippet Beagle Mixes Hypoallergenic?
Whippet Beagle Mixes are not hypoallergenic, owing to the moderate shedding trait of one of the parents, the Beagle. Although they come in a short, manageable coat, they are not suitable for people with pet allergies.
How Long Do Whippet Beagle Mixes Live?
Both Whippets and Beagles have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years which is the same for the mix. How long your dog lives highly depends on the lifestyle and health management through the years.
Are They Good Family Dogs?
Whippet Beagle mixes are excellent family dogs, thanks to their friendly, gentle, and loyal personality. Their active and high-energy demeanor makes them ideal for busy families with other pets and kids.
Additionally, they are easy to care for and keep happy. Although they shed moderately, you can manage this by brushing the coat regularly and keeping up with vacuuming. They are easily adaptable and make a perfect addition to any family.
How Much Does a Whippet Beagle Mix Cost?
The whippet Beagle mix can cost upwards of $1000. The cost depends on the breeder’s reputation, the location, and the puppy generation.
Final Thoughts
The Whippet Beagle mix is a friendly, active, fun, and loyal dog to keep. The dog adapts well and relates incredibly well to pets, kids, and adults. The mix thrives with adequate exercise, regular grooming, and consistent human interaction, giving you a fantastic experience keeping one.
More on Whippet Mixes
If you’re simply in love with Whippet Mixes and can’t get enough, then check out our other posts below:
