Beagle: A Guide to Chewing Bully Sticks

Beagles are compact, sturdy hounds bred for pack hunting---combining exceptional scenting abilities with moderate jaw strength and efficient bite mechanics. These friendly dogs possess well-balanced dental structure that reflects their working heritage.

Balanced Mesocephalic Hunting Design

Beagles belong to the mesocephalic family, which have well-proportioned skulls. Their moderately long muzzles provide excellent balance between breathing efficiency and bite mechanics, while their broad nasal cavities support their legendary scenting abilities. This skull design offers several advantages: superior air flow for sustained hunting, and efficient jaw leverage for holding prey.

Beagles generate bite forces averaging ~140 PSI, which reflects their moderate size and functional hunting requirements. They needed sufficient jaw strength to hold rabbits and other small game without the crushing power that might damage valuable pelts. Their dental structure features the classic scissor-bite pattern where upper teeth slightly overlap lower teeth, creating efficient chewing mechanics perfect for working through tough materials.

In Short—Which EverChew Holder?
Most Beagles will thrive with the Small Dog holder for dogs under 16 pounds, or the Medium EverChew Plus for standard-sized Beagles weighing 16-39 pounds. Their moderate bite force and methodical chewing style work well with the elastomer's flexibility and durability. But if your Beagle is chew-tastic, then maybe they need the black nylon SuperChew holder.

Understanding Bully Stick Benefits and Why Holders Are Essential
Beagles are natural, methodical chewers with strong oral fixation tendencies that reflect food motivation. Their chewing behavior serves multiple important purposes: dental maintenance, mental stimulation, stress relief, and satisfying their natural foraging instincts.

Bully sticks are pure protein treats (similar to beef jerky) that perfectly match Beagle preferences and needs. Their firm but gradually softening consistency provides ideal texture for Beagle dental mechanics, allowing them to work systematically along the entire surface while effectively scraping away plaque and tartar. The high protein content satisfies their strong food motivation while the extended chewing time provides mental stimulation that helps manage their energy and vocal tendencies.

However, Beagles' scent-driven nature and food motivation create serious risks with bully stick stubs. Their food drive often overrides their judgment about appropriate swallowing sizes, and they may try to swallow that stub. Additionally, their pack hunting heritage can make them competitive about food resources, leading to gulping behaviors when they perceive other pets or distractions as threats to their chews.  The holder prevents this mis-judgement.

Life Stage Considerations
Puppy Phase (8 weeks - 8 months): Beagle puppies experience intense chewing during teething, typically peaking between 3-6 months. Their developing scenting abilities mean they explore everything with their mouths, making appropriate chew redirection particularly important.

Adult Phase (8+ months): Adult Beagles continue active chewing throughout their lives, often using it as their primary stress-relief mechanism when separated from their pack or during periods of reduced activity. Their methodical nature means they can work on appropriate chew items for extended periods, making durability and safety paramount.

Senior Phase: Older Beagles maintain their food motivation and chewing interest even as their overall activity decreases, making appropriate chew items valuable for maintaining dental health and mental stimulation.

Selection Guidelines
Choose the Small Dog holder if your Beagle:

·         Weighs under 16 pounds

·         Shows gentle to moderate chewing behavior

Choose the Medium EverChew Plus if your Beagle:

·         Is a normal-type adult Beagle

·         Benefits from extended chewing sessions for mental stimulation

·         Has shown no destructive tendencies with similar materials

Get the Large SuperChew if your Beagle:

·         Has proven destructive with all of their toys

·         Is exceptionally large