Breed · Short smooth coats
Beagle grooming: weekly brushing, spring shedding and nails
AKC's Beagle coat facts: a smooth, dense double coat that sheds in spring, weekly brushing with a mitt or bristle brush, nail care and baths.
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Short answer
AKC's trait field lists the Beagle's coat as Smooth and Short, but its grooming text describes a smooth, dense double coat that gets heavier in winter, so spring is shedding season; Beagles also shed moderately all year (3 of 5). Weekly brushing with a medium-bristle brush, rubber grooming mitt or hound glove removes loose hair (AKC). Core tools: rubber mitt or bristle brush, nail clippers or grinder. Don't shave it: AKC advises against shaving double coats.
Key facts
- Coat type (AKC)
- Smooth[1][2]AKC's grooming text describes a smooth, dense double coat, and its double-coat guide names the Beagle.
- Coat length (AKC)
- Short[1]
- Shedding (AKC, 1-5)
- 3 of 5[1]
- Brushing (AKC guidance)
- Weekly with a medium-bristle brush, rubber mitt or hound glove[1]
- Seasonal shedding
- Spring, after the coat thickens in winter; moderate all year[1]
- Nail trims
- Trim regularly; long nails cause pain and trouble walking and running (AKC)[1]
- Professional grooming
- Not called for in AKC's breed advice[1]AKC says Beagles don't need frequent baths.
Watch out for
- Spring shed: AKC says the coat gets heavier in winter, so expect more hair in spring.
- Not for shaving: AKC's double-coat guide names the Beagle as a short double coat and says shaving doesn't eliminate shedding.
- Bathe only when needed: AKC says Beagles don't need frequent baths unless they get into something messy.
- Check the ears weekly (AKC), and clean only when they're dirty, never with cotton swabs (Cornell).
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Nail grinder
Two-speed rechargeable pet nail grinderChoose the white grinder.
Short foot hair is less likely to snag; VCA suggests 1-2 second touches so the nail doesn't heat up.
Sold by Pawsh Living Store
Nail clipper
Scissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightChoose the gray clipper.
Scissor-style, with a light; on dark nails, VCA suggests small clips of 1-2 mm each.
Sold by Shop1105233629 Store
Weekly: a mitt or bristle brush over the whole body; AKC says brushing also promotes new hair growth. In spring: brush more often while the winter coat sheds.
No catalog pick yet for a rubber grooming mitt, hound glove or medium-bristle brush, the tools AKC names. The catalog's nail tools fit; see how to trim black dog nails if your Beagle's nails are dark.
Questions
Is a Beagle double-coated?
AKC's coat-type tag says Smooth, but its grooming text describes a smooth, dense double coat that gets heavier in winter, and AKC's double-coat guide names the Beagle as a short double coat.[1][2]
When do Beagles shed the most?
In spring, AKC says, because the coat gets heavier in winter. Beagles also shed moderately year-round.[1]
How often should I brush a Beagle?
Weekly, with a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt or tool, or a hound glove, according to AKC.[1]