Uses of Mini Beagles

The compact size and friendly nature of a mini beagle, sometimes called "pocket beagles," lead many to think these dogs are not good for anything other than being a family pet. In fact, there are several uses for mini beagles. Since these dogs usually do not get taller than 12 inches, they are able to do some jobs that standard size beagles could not. Mini beagles love to work hard.

  1. Hunter's Helper

    • Standard sized beagles were bred to be hunting companions, but mini beagles are also used in this way. Because of their small size, these dogs are able to go places that a larger dog could not. Also, they have a shrill bark that is easy for hunters to hear outdoors.

    Drug Sniffer

    • Mini beagles are used as drug sniffing dogs. Because a mini beagle can have more than 200 million smell receptors (compared to humans who have only 5 million), they make a great choice for use by police to detect drugs and explosives. Mini beagles are also used by airport security and customs officials to detect food items being brought in and out of countries illegally. All types of beagles are used in this capacity, including the mini beagle.

    Termite Detector

    • This is not the most well-known use of a mini beagle, but this dog can in fact be trained to detect termites. This use is most commonly applied in Australia. If the mini beagle detects termite activity, he will pinpoint the location of such activity, making the exterminator's or inspector's job much easier.

    Family Pet

    • Mini beagles have a gentle nature that make this dog a great choice for a family pet. Thanks to their friendly nature, they do not make the best watch or guard dogs, but they are usually gentle with children and get along well with most other animals. These small dogs do fine in an apartment, but they do require some activity each day. A small yard or daily visit to a local dog park will meet this need.