Lab Beagle Mix Shedding, Grooming, and General Care

Last Updated on November 11, 2023 by Linda Richard

Labrador Retrievers are notorious shedders and Beagles drop quite a bit of fur too. So, Lab Beagle mix shedding, grooming, and general care – what can you expect? Does this crossbreed match or surpass the shedding of purebred Labradors? Does it get as bad as famously bad German Shedders and Huskies?

Let’s go over all the specifics, what you can expect, and tips on what you should do below.

Lab Beagle Mix Shedding – What Can You Expect?

You can expect quite a bit of hair floating around your house, there’s no getting around that. Labrador Retrievers are pretty heavy shedders, all things considered. They are typically seasonal shedders too. This means that they will “blow” their coat all over your home two (sometimes three) times a year, typically in the spring and autumn.

Many breeds do this as they prepare for the summer and winter seasons. In the spring, they shed their heavy undercoat and grow a new lighter layer for the summer heat. In the fall they do the opposite – they shed their lighter undercoat for a new, denser underlayer.

Read more about: How To Stop A Lab From Shedding And Should You Shave Your Dog?

Beagles, on the other hand, are also a double-coated breed but don’t shed seasonally. Their undercoat is much shorter and denser and it doesn’t blow in the spring and fall. Instead, Beagles shed year-round – a little each they. This shedding isn’t as stunning and overwhelming as the seasonal blowout is, but it builds up over time if you don’t brush and groom your dog (and if you don’t clean your place regularly and thoroughly.

So, where does the Lab Beagle mix fall between these two extremes? Really – it can fall anywhere in between them depending on which parent your dog looks more like. Some mixed pups will shed seasonally like their Lab parent and others will shed year-round like a Beagle. Many will do both – shed throughout the year and then blow the rest of their coat in the spring and fall.

Is Matting An Issue?

Beagles are short-haired dogs while Labradors have medium-length hair. Neither of these coat types is particularly predisposed to matting. However, if your mix’s coat is closer to medium length and you really don’t take good care of it, some matting is possible.

Be especially careful after a bath or a swim. Labs and their mixes love swimming, however, wet hair mats very easily. After (or while) your dog dries off, always remember to comb and brush their hair. Otherwise, matting is almost guaranteed.

If this doesn’t sound like a serious concern, keep in mind that matted hair can lead to some very nasty consequences:

Hair mats cause physical pain as they get worse and worse, and pull your dog’s skin as it moves.

Mats around the ears – one of the most common places – can eventually rupture the delicate blood vessels and cause hematomas.

Matted hair stops the airflow to the skin. The increased moisture can lead to skin irritation and infected lesions or bacterial infections such as Pyoderma.

Severe matting will literally prevent your dog from moving adequately. This can change your dog’s walking pattern which can lead to skeletal deformities over time. Or, it can reduce your dog’s overall fitness, leading to obesity, depression, and myriad other problems.

In short – comb and brush your dog’s hair regularly.

Are Beagador Dogs Hypoallergenic?

Not at all. No dog really is but this cross isn’t even light on people with allergies.

How Bad Is Lab Beagle Mix Shedding Compared To Other Breeds?

Labradors are pretty heavy shedders so you’d hope that your dog’s coat is closer to that of a Beagle. Either way, however, this crossbreed’s shedding issues are up there – not as bad as some breeds but worse than most.

What Are The Grooming Needs Of The Beagle and Labrador Mix?

In addition to regular combing and brushing, as well as the occasional bath, you will need to do the few other standard grooming practices all dogs need. These include:

• Ear inspections and cleaning with wet cloth or cotton balls
• Eye cleaning is also important
• Dental hygiene – brushing once a week and plenty of chew toys
• Nail clipping/filing can also be helpful if your dog isn’t filing its own nails when going out

Trimming the dog’s hair can also be helpful if it’s more mid-length rather than short. This makes the brushing and overall maintenance much easier. However, whatever you do, never shave your dog. Double-coated breeds should never be fully shaven.

Not only do they need their undercoat for thermal isolation both in the winter and in the summer, but a fully-shaven undercoat can start growing in new and atypical directions, leading to a different look and overall discomfort.

Do You Need A Professional Groomer For Your Labbeagle?

You don’t need it, but a couple of visits a year can be helpful before your dog’s seasonal blowout. This will drastically reduce the amount of work you need to do. Regular brushing will still be a must, of course.

If you are thinking of potentially going to a groomer, however, it’s best to start early. If an adult dog has never been to a professional groomer before, it can get freaked out.

So, Lab Beagle Mix Shedding – How Bad Is It, and Should You Be Worried?

A Beagle and Lab mixed dog will shed either seasonally or year-round. Or both. This makes it worse than certain other breeds that don’t shed nearly as much. At the same time, however, Lab Beagle mix shedding isn’t something unheard of or unmanageable either. Most spitz dog breeds will shed more and super-shedders like the German Shepherd or the Husky are even worse.

So, whether your Beagador pup sheds more seasonally like a Lab or more consistently like a Beagle, it shouldn’t be an impossible challenge to deal with. Regular brushing and grooming, the occasional bath, and a strong vacuum cleaner will make life with this crossbreed easy and enjoyable.

So, if shedding feels like a deal-breaker for you – trust us, with the right care, it’s not so bad. On the other hand, if you really don’t want to bother too much, there are many other lower-maintenance dog breeds out there.

Read more about: Do Labradors Shed A Lot and How Can You Deal With That Challenge?