How To Spoil Your Beagle - Smart Dog Learning

Let’s be honest: beagles are already spoiled. Those ears? That nose? That “I’m starving” look five minutes after dinner? Yeah, they know what they’re doing.

But if you’re here, you probably want to take it to the next level — to truly pamper your beagle without making them the canine version of a fussy influencer who only eats organic duck pâté. (Although, let’s be real — they’d love that too.)

So here are 5 guilt-free, tail-wagging ways to spoil your beagle while keeping them happy, healthy, and still mostly down-to-earth. Mostly.

Disclosure: As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. Cook Them a Homemade Meal (Yes, Like a Fancy Chef)

You meal prep for yourself (or you think about it). Why not throw something together for your pup?

Beagles are food-obsessed — it’s one of their core personality traits — so cooking them a fresh, dog-safe meal is peak love language.

Beagle-friendly ingredients:

Lean meats (chicken, turkey, beef)
Brown rice or quinoa
Steamed veggies like carrots, spinach, or green beans
A spoonful of plain pumpkin (great for digestion)

Just skip the onions, garlic, and heavy seasonings. Keep it simple, and your beagle will look at you like you’re Gordon Ramsay.

Bonus points: serve it in a slow feeder bowl so they don’t inhale it in 4.2 seconds.

2. Plan a Nose-Work Treasure Hunt

Beagles were literally bred to sniff out stuff. It’s their full-time job. If you’re not giving them chances to use that nose, you’re basically making them retire early — and they’re not ready for that life.

How to do it:

Take a few of their favorite treats or kibble
Hide them around the house or backyard
Let them sniff them out one by one
Watch them go full detective mode

It’s mental stimulation, physical exercise, and pure joy all in one activity. Plus, it keeps them out of the trash for five minutes.

Pro tip: You can also freeze treats in a towel, snuffle mat, or treat puzzle for extra nose-activated fun.

3. Upgrade Their Nap Game

Beagles nap like it’s their second job (after eating and sniffing). So if your pup’s been sleeping on the same lumpy old bed since the Obama administration… maybe it’s time for an upgrade?

Nap-spoiling ideas:

A memory foam orthopedic bed
A cave-style bed for those who like to burrow
A cozy blanket just for them (that they’ll 100% drag around the house)

Don’t be surprised if they snub the couch for their new personal throne. Or bring every chew toy to bed like royalty.

Optional but adorable: match their blanket with yours. No, it’s not “too much.”

4. Go on a “Sniffari” Instead of a Walk

You: trying to get your steps in.
Your beagle: wants to stop and sniff every blade of grass.

Instead of rushing them through your power walk, dedicate time to a true beagle adventure walk — aka a “sniffari.”

What it looks like:

Longer leash or a harness for roaming
Letting them lead the way (within reason)
Pausing every 2 feet because “omg something peed here once”
Zero rush, all exploration

You’ll be surprised how tired they are afterward — sniffing is mentally exhausting for dogs (in a good way).

Think of it as doggy yoga. It’s relaxing. Centering. And yes, sometimes muddy.

5. Schedule a One-on-One Spa Day

Okay, maybe not a cucumber-on-the-eyes situation (unless your beagle is really into wellness), but a home spa day can be a great bonding moment.

What’s involved:

A warm (not hot) bath with a gentle, dog-friendly shampoo
A soft brush to remove shedding fur
Ear cleaning (super important for floppy-eared dogs like beagles)
Nail trimming (if they’ll let you)
Followed by cuddles and treats. Lots of treats.

Keep it calm, make it gentle, and keep praising them like they just won an award for “Best Dog Ever” — which, obviously, they did.

Hot tip: If bath time is a no-go, even just a brushing session with peanut butter on a lick mat = A+ spoiling.

Final Thoughts

Beagles are high-energy, stubborn, loving, food-motivated goofballs — and we wouldn’t want them any other way. Spoiling them isn’t about being over the top (okay, maybe a little over the top). It’s about tuning into what they love: sniffing, snacking, sleeping, and hanging out with their favorite human.

So go ahead — cook the meal, buy the fancy bed, and let them sniff that hydrant for as long as they want.
They’ve earned it. 🐾

David

I’ve spent 10+ years in dog training, digging into what makes dogs (and their humans) tick. At Smart Dog Learning, I share my no-nonsense, fun approach to training so you can enjoy life with a well-behaved, happy pup—no boring lectures, just practical results 😉