The Meagle is a hybrid dog breed that crosses the purebred Miniature Pinscher, or min pin, with the Beagle. Although this is a relatively rare cross, plenty is known about the parent breeds, which means that we can determine much about the traits and characteristics of the hybrid.

The Beagle is a popular pet because it is energetic, alert, curious, and family-friendly. The Miniature Pinscher is popular because it loves to have fun and play games. It should be noted that a hybrid is not guaranteed to have the beneficial virtues of both parent breeds, however, and your puppy may develop the defiance of the Pinscher and the vocal nature of the Beagle.

Breed Overview

The Beagle Mini Pinscher mix will be small to medium in size and may have the pointy ears of the Pinscher or the floppy ears of the Beagle. Expect around 12 years with your fun-loving, generally healthy pet.

If the breed takes after its Pinscher parent, it can adapt to life in an apartment. If it barks like the Beagle parent, it may be too loud for neighbors in close confines and, in either case, the energetic breed will enjoy time running around the garden, especially if it has a playmate to keep it entertained.

Meagle Characteristics

Meagle Puppies

This is a relatively unknown breed so finding a Meagle puppy can be hard. You’ll want to make sure that you do your diligence on potential breeders while also checking the puppy itself, and its parents. Find potential breeders using social media, hybrid breed clubs, and breed groups. If you see a Meagle, ask the owner where they got their dog and if you could have the name and number of the breeder.

Always visit a breeder before deciding which puppy to buy. When you do visit, meet at least the mother and puppy. Make sure they are physically and mentally alert, ask to see copies of health screening tests, and make sure that you get along with the dog. Meagles can be quite lively. If they take after the Beagle parent, they can also be very friendly and somewhat prone to jumping up. Training and socialization will help guide your puppy towards the temperament you want, but it will get its early queues from its mum. Ask the breeder any questions you have about the breed, and be prepared to answer any questions the breeder has about your lifestyle and your home.

Because this is a hybrid, you may find some Meagles in local shelters and pounds. Adoption fees can vary by state and by individual shelters.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Meagle

The Meagle crosses two popular breeds of pet dog: the Miniature Pinscher and the Beagle. Both breeds are curious little dogs that were bred for hunting. They are active and energetic. Early socialization will help ensure a more sociable and accepting dog. Find out whether the breed is suitable for life in your family and your home.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

The Beagle makes an excellent family pet. It loves to play and will happily bounce around with children of all ages. Children usually need to be taught that the Beagle’s long ears are not for grabbing, however, as this can cause pain and stress for the dog. The Miniature Pinscher can also make a very good family pet with children, although early socialization will help ensure this is the case. The combination of these two dogs usually leads to a crossbreed that bonds with all members of the family and that gets along with children of all ages.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Beagle is a pack animal, so it will bond with other dogs and, if introduced from an early age, will form a similarly strong bond with cats. Pinschers will also usually get along with other dogs. To help ensure that these breeds do get along with other dogs, introduce them when they are still puppies.

Because both parent breeds are hunting dogs, they may be inclined to chase smaller animals. Cats are especially prone to being chased, not only because of their size but because the Meagle likes the challenge and views it as a game. Again, introduction at as young an age as possible is vital to ensure a successful meeting.

Neither the parent breed nor the resulting crossbreed should be left alone with smaller animals. What’s more, the Meagle’s amazing sense of smell means that your dog will quickly find caged animals, and their curiosity demands that the cage be kept safe and secure so that it is out of reach of the dog.

Things to Know When Owning a Meagle

The Meagle is a caring, attentive, and fun pet that will usually get along with all family members, as well as other dogs. However, it can be loud and prone to barking. It also has a lot of energy that needs an outlet to prevent the dog from displaying antisocial and unwanted behaviors. While it can make a great pet, it isn’t the ideal breed for all owners. Read on to find out more about the Meagle’s requirements and to see whether it is the right pet for your family.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Although the breed is quite small, it is also a high-energy dog. This means that it will have a good appetite and you should provide good-quality food to help meet its nutritional requirements.

Feed according to the age, weight, and activity level of your dog. If you are looking to add or lose weight, you should feed for your dog’s target weight and not its current weight. Generally, this means that you will feed a cup of dry kibble per day. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when feeding wet food, and if you feed treats, adjust the amount of kibble and meat you give.

Obesity is as big a health concern for dogs as it is for people. Avoid overfeeding and if you notice your dog putting more weight on, which is especially common as a dog ages and its energy levels drop, adjust the amount or the type of food you give each day.

Exercise 🐕

Another cause of obesity is a lack of exercise. Exercise is also important to avoid health and physical complaints and not only does going for a walk or taking part in agility classes exercise your dog’s body but it also keeps them mentally active. It can prevent destructive and other unwanted behaviors.

The Meagle is an active dog, despite being on the small side. You should walk for an hour a day. If you can offer more energetic exercise, such as running or chasing a ball around the garden, this will offer further benefit to the health of your dog.

The prey drive and curiosity of the breed means that you should avoid letting your dog off its leash in busy areas, or anywhere that it is likely to see and give chase to small animals.

Training 🎾

The Meagle is intelligent and can learn commands quite quickly. However, training is not necessarily going to be plain sailing.

The breed is very active and playful, as well as curious. Its attention can wander, so the most effective handler is one that can keep their dog’s attention and prevent them from wandering.

Try to use the playful nature to your advantage. Turn training sessions into a game and keep sessions short. Always use positive training techniques and do not scold or yell at your dog.

One of the ways that you will want to train your Beagle min pin cross is to bark less. Barking is natural to dogs, but if yours is howling and baying all day long, you will want to stop it before the neighbors complain. Puppy classes can help, but you will need to train at home, too.

You will need to be firm, initially learn to ignore any barking and not react to it at all, and eventually to give praise and positive training when your dog stops barking or does not bark at some form of stimulus. No matter how consistent your training, and how eager your dog is to please you, you should be prepared for some amount of barking and vocalization from this breed, however.

Grooming ✂️

Although it does have a short coat, the Meagle is not considered hypoallergenic and it does shed moderately. Weekly brushing will remove dead hairs and help keep shedding under control, although there will always be some shed hairs on the furniture. The long ears can act as a dirt trap, which can cause irritation and may even lead to infection and other problems so, during your weekly brush, have a look in your dog’s ears and remove any dirt and debris that you can see.

Dogs cannot brush their teeth but can suffer from a host of dental diseases. Brush your dog’s teeth two or three times a week, or as often as every day, and get regular dental checkups. You can also buy special dental treats that help scrape tartar buildup away.

Health and Conditions 🏥

The Meagle has a lifespan of around 12 years. The breed is a hybrid, which may afford it some degree of hybrid vigor. This means that the crossbreed may be less likely to develop the genetic and hereditary diseases of its parent breeds. With that said, you should look for signs of the following conditions and see a vet if any symptoms do surface.

The most common complaint of the Meagle is that of canine hip dysplasia. This means that the ball and socket hip joint is malformed. It can cause inflammation and pain, eventually leading to lameness.

Male vs Female

The male and female Meagle are very similar in size and temperament, although some owners insist that the male is messier, more loving, and more eager to please, while the female is more level headed, matures at a younger age, and is tidier.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Meagle

1. Both Parents Were Born To Hunt

The Beagle is the quintessential hunting dog. Specifically, they were bred to hunt rabbits and hares, as well as foxes. They are pack dogs and rely on their incredible sense of smell to locate, track, and chase their quarry.

The Miniature Pinscher was also bred as a hunter: its size meant that it was ideal for hunting vermin like mice, and its strength and determination meant that it was a skilled rat catcher.

The hybrid Meagle combines many of the traits of these two hunting breeds so you should expect a dog with an astute sense of smell. It will be alert and curious, and may retain its hunting instinct. Early socialization and training should prevent your dog from giving chase whenever it sees a small animal, but you should always be attentive to the possibility.

2. The Min Pin Is Known As the King of Toys

The Miniature Pinscher has a regal appearance and a similarly lofty opinion of itself. It is lively, energetic, and charismatic. Because of its characteristics, and because this smaller breed is considered a toy breed, the Min Pin has been given the nickname of the king of toys.

The nickname is also fitting because the playful Pinscher loves its toys. It will carry its favorite possession around with it and its hunting instincts mean that the German hunter will always be able to find its toys.

3. The Meagle Is Likely to Be Vocal

The Beagle has a lot of positives and benefits. It will befriend just about anybody. It is a pack dog so also gets on with other dogs in the home, and it is a playful and cheerful dog that likes to spend time with its owners.

One of its less compelling traits, when being kept as a family pet, is its tendency to vocalize. The Beagle will bark, bay, and howl, and it is believed that the name Beagle originates from the word “beguele”, which is French for “gaped throat”.

The Pinscher is also known to bark freely, and this combination means that the Meagle hybrid will be a vocal dog. If you live in an apartment, this may mean that the breed is not suitable because it will annoy neighbors close to you.

Final Thoughts

The Meagle is a hybrid breed that combines the Beagle and the Miniature Pinscher. Both parent breeds are active and lively dogs. The Miniature Pinscher is known for being playful and loyal, while the Beagle is loved for its own loving and friendly demeanor. The Meagle will get along with all family members, can make an excellent playmate for children, and is ideal for those that enjoy going on long walks or going hiking.

The breed is generally hardy, although is somewhat prone to hip dysplasia, and has a life expectancy of around 12 years, although some Meagles live to 15 years and older. Other than ear maintenance and general canine grooming, the hybrid breed is considered easy to care for, although its short hair is moderate in shedding and does require routine brushing.

See also:

• Yorkie Pin (Yorkshire Terrier & Miniature Pinscher Mix)

Featured Image Credit: Karen Dole, Shutterstock