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If you take a German Shorthaired Pointer and breed them with a Beagle, you’ll get a Boingle! Also known as the Beagle Point, they combine some of the best traits of their parents. The Pointer is a smart, eager-to-please, happy breed and the Beagle is a curious, merry, and clever dog.
Breed Overview
Height:
16–20 inches
Weight:
40–60 pounds
Lifespan:
12–15 years
Colors:
Black, white, brown, tan, tricolor
Suitable for:
Active families, house with a yard
Temperament:
Sweet, friendly, energetic, loving, fun-loving, stubborn
Boingles are spunky, medium-sized dogs with short, smooth coats that shed a fair bit. They have long, drooping ears and a perky tail held upright in a jaunty way. They typically come in tricolored patterns of black, white, and brown or tan, and their coats might be water-resistant if they take after their German Shorthaired Pointer parent.
Boingle Characteristics
Boingle Puppies
The Boingle has lots of energy and is quite a friendly and social dog. They have no known health issues beyond what they might inherit from their purebred parents and a decently long lifespan. The eager-to-please nature and intelligence of the Boingle make them relatively easy to train, but they can have stubborn tendencies that they might inherit from their Beagle parent.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Boingle
Boingles are smart dogs that need to be kept entertained, or they will become bored, which can lead to destructive behavior. They’re very spirited, fun-loving dogs that love to spend as much time as possible with their families.
Boingles get along with almost everyone but might behave aggressively toward other dogs or small animals. Boingles are confident, brave dogs prone to barking at people they don’t know, so they can make excellent watchdogs.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
They’re fantastic family dogs! Boingles enjoys the company of children and will do exceptionally well with an active family who enjoys walking and playing with their dog. Always remember that while the Boingle is great with children of all ages, there should always be supervision with young children, and they should be educated on respecting all dogs.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽
The Boingle does well with other pets if they were raised with them and properly socialized. Boingles have a high prey drive and might be prone to giving chase when a smaller animal runs across their path. Beagles are pack animals, while Pointers might show aggression to dogs of the same sex, so depending on which parent your Boingle takes after most, they might love being around other dogs or just be tolerant of them.
Things to Know When Owning a Boingle
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
You should invest in high-quality dog food for your Boingle based on your dog’s current activity level, size, and age. For a medium-sized dog, an average of 3 cups of dry dog food a day should be sufficient. Follow the feeding instructions on the back of the food bag and consult your vet if your Boingle’s weight or health is of any concern.
Exercise 🐕
Boingles need a lot of exercise to remain healthy and happy. An average of about 1 hour of daily activity, including walks and playtime, should be enough. A fenced backyard is necessary to prevent escapes, but you can’t leave them alone in the yard and expect them to get enough exercise. They love to run around but need their owners to play games with them and participate in their exercise program.
Training 🎾
Boingles are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners and can be fairly easy to train. However, they can become bored rather easily, and the Beagle parent does have a reputation for stubbornness, so treats and positive reinforcement will go a long way. Early socialization is essential with the Boingle to curb their high prey drive when you have smaller pets in the home.
Grooming ✂️
Boingles have short coats, which makes grooming a little easier. They need to be brushed about once a week (more often during shedding season) to keep up with the shedding. They only need a bath when necessary, typically every 6 weeks, with a high-quality dog shampoo.
The Boingle’s long, droopy ears should be cleaned about once a week. They also need their nails trimmed every 3 to 4 weeks and their teeth brushed two or three times a week.
Health and Conditions 🏥
The Boingle is a healthy dog with no known serious conditions. But it is important to examine their parents’ hereditary health issues to give you an idea of what the Boingle might potentially inherit.
The vet will check the Boingle’s hips and knees and conduct a complete physical exam, including a blood test. If there are any suspicions of heart disease, a radiograph and possibly an electrocardiogram will be performed.
The vet will thoroughly check your Boingle’s eyes, ears, and skin. A urinalysis and blood test will be conducted to help rule out hypothyroidism.
Male vs Female
Female dogs are more likely to be a little smaller and lighter than males. Boingles average 16 to 20 inches in height and weigh about 40 to 60 pounds. You can expect the female Boingle to be on the smaller and lighter side of this and the male closer to the heavier and taller side.
It has been said that male dogs tend to be more territorial and, therefore, more aggressive than females, but unsurprisingly, there are always exceptions. The main determination of a dog’s personality is how they’re raised, socialized, and trained throughout their life.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Boingle
1. The Boingle Needs Company
Boingles form very close bonds with their families and will experience separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. This will include destructive behavior and behavioral problems such as excessive barking.
2. The Boingle Is a Great Contender for Competitive Sports
The Beagle and the Pointer are bred for hunting activities and are fast runners. The Boingle will inherit the speed of their parents and can excel in dog sports such as tracking and retrieving.
3. Boingles Make Excellent Hiking Dogs
Both the Pointer and the Beagle are hunting dogs built for stamina and bursts of speed. Boingles have the Beagle’s stubborn determination and the Pointer’s endurance and athleticism, so they will make great dogs for long walks and hikes.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for one of these hybrid dogs, you could start by speaking to breeders of Beagles and German Shorthaired Pointers, as they might have some insight on where to find them. You can also post online through social media, contact dog clubs, and attend dog shows. You can also consider adopting a dog. Many rescue groups have hybrid dogs that have been surrendered.
If you’re looking for a happy-go-lucky dog that will love you and your family unconditionally and take you on long hikes and runs, the Boingle might just be the perfect dog to become the newest member of your family.
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Featured Image Credit: Travis J. Camp, Shutterstock