While American Kennel Club (AKC) does not list miniature Beagles as a breed, it is common among pet lovers and dog breeders to differentiate standard Beagle and miniature Beagle (the latter also being referred to as Pocket).

Miniature beagle is one of the most popular types of breed in American families. These little dogs are excellent scent hounds. Genetic instincts make them sniff out variety of smells while on the walk, and that’s why it is so much fun to watch a beagle chasing the invisible. You never know what his nose is up to!

Popularity of beagles makes them a target of shady breeders and owners of the so-called puppy mills. Those are breeding facilities that produce poorly bred puppies in large numbers. Puppy mills usually sell beagles via Internet and newspaper ads, but may also supply with dogs pet shops across the country. Beagles that bred in those places often get poor feeding and little to no veterinary care. Inherited genetic diseases, lack of quality food and water, overcrowded cages make young miniature beagles suffer since the very first day of living. Buying a puppy in such places incurs an array of problems for future owners.

That’s why basically there are two reliable ways to get a beagle, either to buy one from a legal breeder or adopt.

Miniature beagles for adoption are available through shelters, rescues and pounds. Many of them have websites online with photos of currently available puppies and their descriptions. Normally you can expect to find an online application form which you can fill in and instantly submit to arrange an appointment with the staff.

Volunteers that care about abandoned beagles will ask you a number of questions, so be sure you’re prepared for a long interview. Your family, job, working hours, number of family members and their age range, housing, size of yard, allergy diseases, pet experience and a whole lot more things will be covered. So get ready for a lengthy process of miniature beagle adoption. Please understand that you’re taking responsibility for an animal, and people who arrange adoption for you want to make sure a puppy is getting a forever home, and will not be abandoned after a year.