Question 1

Do you have a waitlist?

Accepted Answer

No. I no longer maintain a waitlist.

Over time, I found that waitlists weren’t the fairest way to place puppies. Many spots were held for people who later changed plans, which made it harder to place puppies with homes that were truly ready and committed.

Each litter is now treated as its own unique pairing, and applications are evaluated based on fit.

Question 2

What is the cost of a puppy?

Accepted Answer

Puppies are $3,500* with a $500 deposit (subtracted from the $3,500) once puppies are born to ensure that a spot in that litter is reserved for you.

I do not barter my price of my puppies and those who contact me trying to do so will be added to my Do Not Sell To list. I do not make any profit for myself off my litters as every penny gets put back into my breeding program and the puppies themselves. I have made my pricing as fair as possible without cutting a single corner or sparing any expense to breed quality, sound Beagles.

*Please note, the $3500 does NOT include shipping if you are not local and prefer to have the puppy shipped ,to the airport of your choosing. Shipping type and costs can be quoted separately. Costs of a Foxfire Beagle are subject to change in the future but I will always honour the purchase price at the time the deposit is taken.

Question 3

What is included with the puppy?

Accepted Answer

CKC Registration (Limited/Full depending on contract agreement)
Up to date Vaccinations and medical records with custom Titer schedule for future vaccinations
Full Embark DNA Panel
2 Year Health Guarantee for hips, eyes and heart 
Lifetime guarantee against genetic diseases affecting Beagles (MLS, FVII, PRA)
Dew Claws Removed
UTD wormings and worming schedule
Full Inspection by a Board Certified Veterinarian and proof of such
FoxFire Puppy Information Package 
Assessed by Canine Chiropractor
Microchipped
FoxFire Pedigree Certificate
30 days of free Pet Insurance through Trupanion 
BREEDER HELP FOR LIFE 
Lifetime return guarantee
Blanket & Toy with moms scent
Starter collar and leash
Boarding with us at FoxFire

Question 4

Do you health test?

Accepted Answer

Yes, extensively. All of our dogs are tested/cleared for the following
OFA Eye Certified NORMAL
OFA Heart Certified NORMAL
OFA Hips with passing score
Not Affected for genetic diseases such as MLS, Lafora, Factor VII & PRA
Full Embark Panel which tests for over 160 diseases
OFA Thyroid Panel - Normal

Question 5

How do you socialize your puppies?

Accepted Answer

FoxFire puppies are born and raised in my home and are extensively socialized before they leave as well as including ENS (early Neurological Stimulation) exercises and ESI (Early Scent Introduction) into their earlier stages of development. I have chosen to closely follow the Puppy Culture and the Avidog programs which are programs laid out for breeders which gives us the tools and protocols to socialize our puppies safely to new sights, sounds and smells while giving us workbooks to document each puppies progress and move them along at an individual rate.

At 5.5 weeks old the puppies begin off leash adventure walks with me and their mom to imprint the follow response into the puppies. As beagles are notorious for not being the easiest dog to recall consisently, I put extra time and effort into this crucial time in their lives.

Once the puppies are old enough, I begin taking them to my office, parks and safe areas to socialize. There is a crucial period in a puppies life where socialization is extremely important. Unfortunately it falls between 8-16 weeks which is when my puppys have gone to their new homes and it is out of my hands. I do everything in my power to help these puppies before that period but ultimately a lot does fall on the hands of the new owner.

Question 6

Can I choose my puppy?

Accepted Answer

I never sell my Beagle puppies on a "first come first serve" basis. The puppies are carefully monitored and documented during their time spent with me and evaluted by non-biased well respected breeder friends before they go to their new homes. I know my puppies from the moment they were born and will know them better than anyone.

When contacting me or even after a deposit is made, we will have indepth conversations on what exactly you want in a puppy. With this information, I will match a puppy I best see fit for you, your home and what you can offer said puppy.

I want my homes to be excited about their puppy and I'm always willing to explain why a certain puppy was chosen. Please understand that the process is done this way because I want my puppies to fit in their homes so it is forever.

I truly believe matches are better made based on temperament traits rather then the physical traits you see in a picture or video. It is easy to fall in love with the uniquely marked puppy but that doesn't mean it is the best personality choice for you. The puppies do need time to mature and grow and I will let you know which puppy is yours between 6-8 weeks of age but likely never before that period.

Question 7

Do you ship your puppies?

Accepted Answer

I will not ship my puppies via cargo. Too much risk is taken out of my hands by leaving a precious life in the care of an Airline.

I will permit Puppy Nanny's and can assist sometimes in providing one. Otherwise, my puppies are conditioned to flying in Sherpa's and travel very via when brought in cabin and flown that way.

Question 8

When can I visit?

Accepted Answer

As long as the puppies are not in an At-Risk period, I'm happy to welcome approved visitors into my home for puppy visits. This can be arranged by reaching out and expressing interest ahead of time so I can schedule visits accordingly.

If you're interested in visiting my adult dogs and I do not have young puppies at home, simply contact me directly and I'd be happy to welcome you into my home to meet the FoxFire Crew!

Question 9

Where are the puppies raised?

Accepted Answer

For the first two weeks of their lives, the puppies are raised in a quiet nursery in a warm, comfortable bedroom off of my master bedroom. I often spend sleepless nights in the whelping box with mom and want to ensure the puppies are close and kept away from the rest of the busyness.

When the puppies are 3 weeks old and onward, they move down into a room off of my livingroom and kitchen where they get to take in the hustle and bustle of my home as well become socialized to people coming and going, everyday household noises (vacuuming, TV, laundry etc) but are still kept safely secured in an xpen. My house is very interactive and the pups get alot of visual stimulation along with a nice area to run and play and explore.

Question 10

What kind of temperament do your Beagles/puppies have?

Accepted Answer

The most important trait of a dog is it's temperament.  I only breed Beagles that have sound temperaments true to their breed standard to ensure that the pups I produce will have outstanding temperaments themselves.

My own dogs are the definition of a "merry little hound". They're friendly, goofy, playful, mischevious personalities with a love for life and their family. Those who are considering a Beagle best come with a good sense of humour as these mischevious hounds require owners that can laugh off the antics they come with.

Excellent with children and other animals (if socialized correctly), they are a joy to have around and have never experienced ANY aggression in my lines whatsoever. They are not like their fieldline/hunting-line cousins and can be trained to be quiet. calm(ish) members of the family

Question 11

What is the difference between PET QUALITY Beagle and SHOW QUALITY Beagle?

Accepted Answer

Pet Quality simply means that the dog has faults. These faults are generally cosmetic such as non-scissor bite, unideal markings or colouring, top line not straight enough for showing, etc. These faults will NOT affect the health or temperament of the dog. A pet quality dog is not for breeding and it is required that the dog be spayed or neutered. Pet Quality pups are sold on a Limited CKC Registration. Our pet quality dogs make good companions and often their faults are not detectable to anyone but the most experienced eyes.
 
Show Quality means a Beagle puppy with no disqualifying faults at the time of sale (lined out in more detail in the show puppy contract) and comes with the expectation that the owners will be showing the dog in the confirmation rings in Canada or the USA.

Question 12

At what age do I spay/neuter my Beagle?

Accepted Answer

I do recommend that you alter at no earlier than 1 year old and females should go through one full heat cycle first. I am open to discussions with my puppy owners if they feel uncomfortable with this and request a different timeline.

New research from Dr. David Waters DVM, PhD, head of the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation at Purdue University has proven that dogs spayed or neutered under the age of 1 year of age have a higher risk of cancer.

Question 13

Do I have to have a fenced yard to be considered for a puppy?

Accepted Answer

I will consider active homes that do not have fences because of living in apartment/condos but it will require discussions on plans put in place to ensure the puppy is exercised and will be given the opportunity to be walked/ran on leash outdoors.

I am no longer accepting applicants living in homes that do not have a fenced yard. From unfortunate experiences that have resulted in a young dog being hit by a vehicle, I do not feel comfortable placing a Beagle in a house without a fenced yard. A tie-up line is not appropriate for this breed and it's not something I'm interested in signing up one of my puppies for.

Beagles are not lap dogs. They were not bred to sleep on your lap all day and be content like Chihuahuas, Shih Tzu's and other smaller breeds. If this is what you seek in a dog, you will not be content owning a Beagle who is a busier, eager to go on adventures type of dog.

Question 14

Are Beagles good with other dogs?

Accepted Answer

The breed was meant to work together in packs, and consequently, Beagles get along very well with other dogs and prefer companionship. Beagles will look to their owners and families as their new “pack.” For this reason, among others, they make terrific family dogs as they love to be surrounded by energy, love, and attention. They are definitely an excellent choice for a multi-dog household.

Question 15

Can I hunt with my FoxFire Beagle?

Accepted Answer

I have chosen to put my focus in my breeding program into performance and showline Beagles. Ones that will excell in the show ring and be active competitors in performance sports such as agility, rally, barnhunt, scent detection, track and more. I do not breed hunting line Beagles nor do I actively compete in field trials with my own dogs.

Beagles have the natural instinct to track rabbits but are of the same mindset as their sporting breed cousins. They do not flush game the way a spaniel would, nor would they return game like a Retriever is bred to do. Hounds are independent working dogs who compete against their own pack for the scent of the game (usually rabbit). Hunters run these dogs with GPS collars and selectively pick specimens of the breed to use.

The Beagles I breed do not have any field champions closely in their pedigrees thus I cannot and will not guarantee that they will be able to be competitive in the field. I do know many great field-line Beagle Breeders and would be happy to recommend one of these breeders to you. Please reach out to me if this is what you seek.

Question 16

Are Beagles difficult to housetrain?

Accepted Answer

They are more difficult to train compared to some other breeds. Being a scenthound, owners need to be sure they are using proper cleaning solutions to clean up messes as a previous accident is very easy for a Beagle to scent. However with diligence and consistency, they can be house trained but do not expect it to happen over night.

Question 17

Do Beagles smell?

Accepted Answer

The Beagle breed has its own distinct odor and in general, this type of smell is often found with canines in the hound family. In addition to this, many elements combine to affect the odor that will emit from any dog; with health, hygiene, environment and diet having the most impact.

However, with my own dogs and the many I have come across I have no found their smell to be noticeable or offensive to the nose. When bathed monthly, it pretty much completely elimnates any smell they may have.

Question 18

What are Pocket Beagles?

Accepted Answer

Please find more information on Pocket Beagles here

Question 19

Do all Beagles end up overweight?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not but they do require careful food monitoring and portion control. Beagles are not a free-feeder friendly breed and will need to have their meals careful portioned. An adult Beagle should only be consuming 1 to 1.2 cups of food per day. They will, however, if given te opportunity eat as much as physically possible in one sitting - filling their bellies beyond capacity. So keeping food locked up is in their best interest.

With moderate exercise and careful care put into diet and treats, a Beagle can most definitely maintain a health weight - adding years to its life.

Question 20

Are Beagles good with Children?

Accepted Answer

Beagles are incredibly curious and sweet dogs. Being the merry little hounds that they are, it makes them great additions to households with children as they are so playful, energetic and small enough to be sturdy yet non-threatening to children. They thrive off of being a central part of their families lives and are very interactive with their families.

Usually, a house full of people and constant play companions is exactly what Beagles need. This dog breed is curious, loving, and friendly. They are happy-go-lucky dogs and are very loyal. However, they should still be monitored around children especially as puppy to ensure they are safely handled.

Question 21

What colour of Beagles do you breed?

Accepted Answer

As it currently stands, I will only be breeding tri-coloured beagles and have no immediate plans to introduce any other colours (such as lemons, reds, chocolates or blues) in to my lines.

Question 22

Do Beagles shed?

Accepted Answer

Beagles, like most dogs, have seasonal coats. You should always expect your Beagle to shed more during the springtime, even if you live in a decently warm climate.

Remember, Beagles were bred for hunting hare and rabbit in the English countryside. Anyone who knows England knows rain! So, Beagles have learned to deal with this with a two-layered coat, also called a double coat.Their undercoat is soft and dense to keep them warm while the outer coat is much more coarse with longer, tightly packed hair that works to be somewhat waterproof.

So, even though Beagles do not look like such obvious shedders, such as Golden Retrievers, your eyes might deceive you a little bit. You definitely will want to keep a lint roller handy. They are much lighter shedders than some breeds out there such as labs.

Question 23

What is the average life span of a Beagle?

Accepted Answer

A healthy Beagle lifespan is anywhere from 11 to 15 years, which is consistent with other breeds of similar size, but of course, this varies considerably. But some Beagles have even lived up to 18 years. If kept a healthy weight and a proper diet, the odds of having a Beagle live well into the teens is very probable.

Question 24

Do you breed Pocket Beagles?

Accepted Answer

Please find my stance on the breeding of pocket beagles here.

Question 25

Do Beagles bark a lot?

Accepted Answer

The reality is that Beagles are not any noisier than other breeds.The tend to bark when they are aware of movement from an unknown source in their territory and want to alert their owners.This could be a stranger approaching the front door, the noise of a cat in the garden or even the telephone ringing.

As a result, these dogs do make great watch dogs and remain vigilant to any unwanted visitors, whether it be of the human or animal variety.Beagles will also bark when they are excited, which could be triggered by their handler returning home after a long day at work.

However, when properly trained and socialized, Beagles can be taught to be quiet, calm members of our household. The training involved with this does require a lot of consistency but is fully doable.

Hunting/Field line Beagles will typically be much more vocal than showline/performance Beagles.

Question 26

What do you feed your Beagles?

Accepted Answer

My adult beagles are fed a well balanced raw diet. I do not expect my puppy people to also feed their Beagles raw but should they chose to, I will gladly educate owners on the proper way (portions and brands) to feed their hounds.

My kibble of choice are Pro Plan Purina Focus, Fromm, Acana or GO and have had all my dogs thrive off these brands in the past.

Puppy FAQ

Frequently asked questions