What are Beagle cross Jack Russells like? I think they look absolutely adorable, but what are they actually like in terms of temperament and affection?
I imagine they must be very high-energy dogs, right? Since both Beagles and Jack Russells are known for being so active.
Please share your advice and experiences! If you're torn between two breeds—in this case, the Beagle and the Jack Russell—do you think it's a good idea to go for a crossbreed of the two?
P.S. My best mate is thinking about adopting a Dalmatian. Could you tell me a bit about the breed's characteristics, such as how affectionate they are, their general behaviour, and their activity levels? Also, are they good with children? His partner is pregnant, so he wants to be sure.
Thanks so much for your help!
Translated from French
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
Right, following all your replies (and thanks for those), I see you're advising against me getting a Beagle or a Jack Russell. I take it that means a Parson Russell is off the table as well? Would you recommend a Fox Terrier, or is that a bad idea too? If not, what breed would you suggest based on my lifestyle? (No offence intended, but I'm not really a fan of "toy dogs" like Poodles, Pekingese, Yorkies, or Chihuahuas).
Thanks for your help!
Evening! I don't know much about Beagles, but it’s true that you hear some real horror stories from overwhelmed owners. I know of one that belongs to a friend of my dad’s; he’s a working dog living on a farm surrounded by woodland – I’ve never seen him in any other setting.
Jack Russells, on the other hand, I know inside out – I’ve got two at home. It really comes down to how much effort you’re willing to put in because a one-hour walk definitely isn’t enough. A Jack Russell needs to ruuuun, jump, climb and explore! Mine are 7 and 5 now, and the only things that actually tire them out are off-lead walks in the forest where they can run, sniff out trails, and climb over logs, or going out with the bike. We do the occasional quiet walk on the lead, but that’s mainly just to get to the fields or the local park to let them off. That’s where they really have fun with balls, chasing each other and digging... Plus, they love a swim in the summer – rivers, lakes, even ponds – and they’re straight out in the snow in winter. There are no excuses with a Jack!
They’re brilliant dogs, but you’ve got to be sure you can handle them and meet their needs. A bored, neurotic Jack Russell is a recipe for disaster. So many of them ended up in rescue centres once the "fad" died down because owners found themselves completely overwhelmed by behavioural issues – anything from "basic" chewing and howling to full-on aggression. And believe me, when a Jack bites, it really hurts! I’m not trying to paint a bad picture of the breed – I absolutely adore my two – and I don’t want to put anyone off, but it’s better to be warned so you can be sure of your choice for everyone’s sake. ;)
Personally, we’ve almost always had terriers, so I used to think all dogs were high-energy and a massive "project". But since I got my first little bull-type breed at home, it’s been completely different. I’m totally smitten. To be honest, I wasn't as keen on the look at first, but now I’m a fan of almost every bull breed or mastiff-type I see! Looks aren't everything; you really need to think about your lifestyle and what you can offer a dog, then figure out which breed group is the best match (terriers, companion dogs, bull breeds, shepherds, and so on).
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m going to have a proper think about which breed I should adopt.
Hi everyone, I don’t know much about Beagles, but sadly it’s true that you hear some right stories about overwhelmed owners. I know of one that belongs to a friend of my dad’s, but he’s a working dog used for hunting and lives on a farm surrounded by woods—I’ve never actually seen him in any other context.
I know Jack Russells much better though; we have two at home. It clearly depends on your motivation and your plans, because a one-hour walk is definitely not enough—a Jack runs, jumps, climbs, and explores! Mine are 7 and 5 years old, and the only things that really tire them out are off-lead walks in the woods where they can run, explore, track, and climb over logs, or going out with the bike. They do go on "leisurely" lead walks, but that’s mainly to get to the fields or the park to be let off, where they can enjoy their balls, games of chase, and digging... the upside is that in summer they love swimming—rivers, lakes, ponds, they'll go in anything—and in winter they love running in the snow. There are no excuses with a Jack! They are brilliant dogs, but you have to be sure you can step up and meet their needs, otherwise a neurotic, bored Jack is a total disaster. So many of them ended up in rescues once the Jack Russell "fad" ended because owners found themselves out of their depth with dogs showing behavioural issues, ranging from "simple" destruction or howling to actual aggression. And believe me, when a Jack bites, it really hurts!
I’m not trying to paint a bad picture of the breed—I adore my dogs—nor am I trying to put anyone off, but it’s better to be warned beforehand and be sure of your choice for everyone’s sake ;)
Personally, we’ve almost always had terriers at home, so I used to think a dog was naturally always high-speed and a massive amount of "work." Since then, I’ve had my first little molosser at home and it’s radically different—I’m totally smitten. Even though I wasn't as "tempted" by the look at first, I’m now a fan of almost every bully breed or mastiff type I see! Looks aren’t everything; you really need to determine what kind of lifestyle the dog will have and what you can offer it, and then decide which category you might match with (terrier, companion dog, molosser, shepherd, etc. etc.).
@Alexis13, that's not what I'm saying. The result will be... I'm not talking about the Russell, but the crossbreed. When you cross two dogs, you get a completely random mix without the slightest certainty of how they'll turn out. In this case, both have boundless energy as a common trait, which will almost certainly be passed on to the puppies. By definition, a purely companion pet is calm most of the time. So, with this crossbreed, you might end up with the exact opposite. Some people love that personality, but others just can't cope with it.
Sorry, I misread that—I thought you were saying the Jack is the worst companion dog and the Beagle is the best hunter... Yeah, so I'd imagined that for a crossbreed, they would have taken a bit from both breeds (50/50) or maybe 1/4 of one and 3/4 of the other. (In every way—looks, temperament, behaviour, activity levels, etc.). Right, looking at everyone's replies, it sounds like a purebred would be better... Now I'm a bit lost!
Beagle? Parson? Jack Russell? Or even a Fox Terrier? Because I reckon a Beagle/Parson cross or a Parson/Jack Russell cross would be the same deal—I mean, a random result regardless of which breeds are crossed.
I'll have a think about it!
I’m sorry, but your "stats" aren't really a match at the moment for a Beagle, a Jack Russell, or a crossbreed of those two. An hour a day is basically just for toilet breaks (three 20-minute walks).
You’re out of work for now, but when you do get a job, you’ll have to adapt your life to the dog. I’ve seen so many ads saying, "I’m going back to work and no longer have time for my dog" – I wouldn’t want you or the dog to end up in that position.
It’s great that you have the beach nearby, though (just make sure you pick up the poo! ;)
Otherwise, these two breeds aren’t the easiest for a first-time owner who isn't particularly active. The only Jacks I’ve seen that were well-adjusted and not overweight spent their time with their owners running, hiking, or cycling...
As for Beagles, I’ve met a few, but they’re usually out in the countryside, roaming the hills for several hours every day.
Um, no, when you’re torn between 2, 3, or 4 breeds, you definitely pick just one. You don't just put in a custom order for a mix. Take me for example, I love Jack Russells, Malinois and Staffies, but I wouldn't want someone to hand me a cross of all three... imagine the temperament of all those combined, it’d be a recipe for disaster! If you want a general breed profile, you can just look here: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/dalmatian/ or https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/beagle/. But first and foremost, you need to tell us a bit about yourself (why you want a dog, whether it’s for work, how much free time you have, if you’re sporty, if you live near a park, etc.) so we can advise you on which breed might suit you.
Thanks for your reply! Well, I’m nearly 23, I’m currently out of work but I’m looking for a job in catering as a kitchen porter. I’m not particularly sporty but I do go for an hour’s walk every evening. I don’t have a park right near me; actually, my village is split in two – there’s the east side and the west side. I live on the east side and the local park is on the west side, about a 20-minute walk away, which doesn't bother me at all. I live right opposite the beach (dogs aren't allowed there, but in the evening everyone takes their dogs there to let off some steam on the sand and in the water).
You’re looking at a dog with massive stamina and energy that will never really be "calm"; they’ll always be alert, have a high prey drive, but be very friendly with a big personality... basically, that’s what you’re in for. Beagles are still used as hunting dogs, and Jack Russells are like little powerhouses—constantly on the move. If their needs aren’t met, they’ll become neurotic and develop behavioural issues, such as aggression or being destructive. From the Beagle side, you'll get destruction and howling, so you’d better be the very active type and have plenty of time for a crossbreed like that. Where do you plan on finding one? Have you seen any at the RSPCA or a local rescue? Watch out for litters from private "backyard" breeders—there’s a lot of illegal stuff out there, no breeding licences, no guarantee of the parents' welfare, and they often charge a lot even when the puppy hasn't been microchipped or vaccinated, and socialisation is often poor... I don’t know much about Dalmatians, so have a look at the breed profile. Is your friend really going to be available enough for a puppy with a baby on the way?
Thanks for the reply. Regarding the crossbreed, that’s just it—I don’t know where I can find one, but I want to adopt from a rescue or a shelter, not buy from a pet shop... As for my friend, yes, he’ll have time for a Dalmatian because his girlfriend isn’t working and he works from home. He doesn't know if he wants a male or a female yet, nor whether he wants a puppy or an adult dog! (To be honest, I don’t know if I want a dog or a ***** either, or if I should get a puppy or a young adult).
A Dalmatian! The only breed I’ve never been able to get my head around—they made me want to sue Walt Disney for false advertising. I’ll put it down to a bad, inbred line though, as I don’t like to make generalisations. As for that crossbreed! Somewhere between the world’s worst pet and a gold-medal hunting dog. This little guy is going to be a real live wire! Thanks for your reply, but why do you say Jack Russells are the worst pets?
How can I put it... You know the 'flaws' of a Beagle – well, I say flaws, but they’re only considered flaws for life in a home when they're actually just normal traits for a hunting dog – same goes for the Jack Russell. Well, with a crossbreed, you could end up with a real 'handful' 😁 – a hunter, an escape artist, zero recall, a bin raider, a killer of chickens and cats, and a dog that needs a massive amount of exercise 😁. I’ve probably forgotten a few, I’ll have to ask my neighbours who hunt again...
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I did imagine that these puppies and dogs would need a huge amount of exercise.
Er, no. When you’re torn between two, three, or four breeds, you definitely pick one; you don't just put in a custom order for a mash-up. For instance, I love Jack Russells, Malinois, and Staffies, but I certainly wouldn't want someone to land me with a cross of all three... you’d end up with the temperament of all three combined, which would be a total recipe for disaster.
If you’re looking for some general breed profiles, you just need to have a look at these:
But above all, you need to tell us a bit about yourself (why you want a dog, whether you work full-time or not, how much free time you have, how active you are, if you live near a park, etc.) so we can actually advise you on which breed would be the best fit.
