Rat Terrier Beagle mixes are intelligent and playful dogs. These dogs came from the union of a Rat terrier and a Beagle. They are easy to groom but need regular exercise and a proper diet. A Rat Terrier Beagle mix is well-suited with any place as long as you give them their exercise needs.
Both Rat terriers and Beagles shine when it comes to hunting and playing.
These dogs have similar appearances and qualities, known for their white coats with black patches. Most owners describe them as playful and friendly.
Although healthy breeds, Beagles and Rat terriers are prone to some health complications. Breeders combine the two breeds to produce a healthier, stronger, and smarter dog than its parents.
The Rat Terrier Beagle mix is a designer breed that inherited the characteristics of its parents.
Let’s dive deeper into this mixed breed’s needs, origin, and issues.
Beagle Rat Terrier Mix Characteristics
A Beagle Rat Terrier Mix has remarkable characteristics as it combines the qualities of Beagles and Rat Terriers. These dogs are friendly, adaptive, and smart. They have small or medium bodies and white coats with black, cream, rust, and red patches.
Most Beagle and Rat terrier owners describe their dogs as
- Adaptive
- Energetic
- Friendly
- Smart
As for appearance, the parent breeds have similar coats: a white coat with black, cream, red, and rust patches.
Their offspring (Beagle Rat Terrier mix) mixes the characteristics of their parents. A Beagle Rat Terrier mix is a playful dog that gets along with other house pets as long as you introduce them properly.
This dog can easily adjust to changes in its environment. Loud noises, diet changes, or different bath schedules do not affect a Beagle Rat Terrier mix. Compared to other dogs, this mix is not sensitive to changes.
The Beagle Rat Terrier mix is easier to train than a Beagle. It takes after a Rat Terrier who is eager to please its owner.
Dog owners do need to train their Beagle Rat Terrier mixes to control their impulsive behavior. They have a strong prey drive, posing a threat to unfamiliar animals.
Appearance
Height
13–18 Inches
Weight
20–30 lbs
Lifespan
12–18 years
Dog Breed Group
Mixed Breed
Coat Type
Double
Coat length
Short
Coat color
White and Black
Eyes
Dark brown or Amber
Nose
Black
Ears
Floppy, Stiff, or both
Hypoallergenic
No
Shedding
Grooming Difficulty
Adaptability
Apartment living
Good for beginners
Can be alone
Cold weather tolerance
Hot weather tolerance
Friendliness & Temper
Temperament
Affectionate
Kid-Friendly
Dog-Friendly
Friendly to Strangers
Playfulness
Trainability & Needs
Easy to train
Intelligence
Hunting Instinct
Barking
Energy Level
Rat Terrier Beagle Mix Appearance
Most Beagle Rat Terrier mixes have floppy ears, a black nose, a long tail, and a white coat with black, brown, red, rust, and cream patches.
Beagles and Rat Terriers have similar appearances. Both have a white coat with patches all over. The key differences between them are their ears, tail, and patch color.
Beagles have long tails, floppy ears, and brown, red, black, and rust patches all over their bodies. Rat Terriers have short or long tails, stiff ears, and black and cream patches on their coats.
Their offspring randomly inherit their parents’ qualities. A Beagle Rat Terrier mix can look like a Beagle, a Rat terrier, or both.

Beagle Rat Terrier Size
The Rat Terrier Beagle mix’s size is unique. There are two types: Mini and Standard. A Standard Rat Terrier Beagle mix grows 13–18 Inches tall and weighs 20–30 lbs. Mini Beagle Rat Terrier mixes grow to be only 13 inches tall and weigh under 20 lbs.
The American Kennel Club describes that Beagles[1] and Rat Terriers[2] both come in two sizes: standard and miniature (toy dogs). So does their offspring.
Mini Beagle Rat Terrier Mix
A Mini Beagle Rat Terrier mix is the resulting offspring when one or both parents are miniatures. This dog only grows to be 13 inches tall and weighs under 20 lbs.
If you’re looking for a small and adorable dog, this could be the one for you.
Standard Rat Terrier Beagle Mix
Standard Rat Terrier Beagle mixes grow up to be 18 inches tall and weigh 30 lbs. Their size depends on their parents, assuming you as an owner provide a proper diet.
Rat Terrier Beagle Mix Origin
Rat Terrier Beagle mixes have unknown origins. Their parents’ histories give insight into how the first Rat Terrier Beagle mix came to be. Beagles originated in the United Kingdom, while Rat Terriers originated in the United States.
Rat Terriers came from the United States. They are the product of mixing various dogs, such as Beagles, Manchester Terriers, Smooth Fox Terriers, Greyhounds, etc. The offspring were then brought to America by British immigrants. They then combined these dogs with other breeds to produce an efficient small game hunter[3].
The inter-breeding of various dog breeds resulted in two Rat Terriers of different sizes: Standard and Mini.
There are debates about whether Rat Terrier is a breed or not. Like the American Kennel Club (AKC), renowned kennel clubs recognize the breed, while others see the Rat terrier as a mutt or crossbreed.

Beagles originated in the United Kingdom. They are the result of breeding various hounds to produce an excellent vermin hunter[4].
There was a time when two Beagle coat variants existed: Rough and smooth. Rough-coated Beagles went extinct because people preferred smooth-coated ones.
Their breeding with other hounds resulted in beagles of two different sizes: medium-sized and mini or toy beagles.

Common Beagle Rat Terrier Mix Health Issues
Rat Terrier Beagle mixes are prone to various health issues: eye, bone, joint, hormone, and heart complications. Lack of exercise, improper grooming, and an unbalanced diet increases the dog’s risk of diseases.
Beagle Rat Terrier mixes are robust and healthy dogs, but they are still at risk of some diseases.
Lifestyle and genes are key factors when it comes to your dog’s risk of health complications.
Before getting a dog, check your dog’s medical background to see if it is at risk of any diseases. You can also test if the dog is prone to health complications.
- Gene Testing
- Patella Evaluation
- Hip Evaluation
- Cardiac Exam
- Eye Exam
Based on common Beagle[5] and Rat Terrier[6] health problems, a Beagle Rat Terrier mix is at risk of the following issues:
- Hip dysplasia
- Luxating patella
- Mitral valve disease
- Cataracts
- Thyroiditis
- Progressive retinal atrophy
All dogs are also prone to parasitical, bacterial, and viral infections. Vaccinating your dog annually and deworming it every three months ensures that your Beagle Rat Terrier is immune to viruses, parasites, and bacteria.
Beagle Rat Terrier Mix Lifespan
Beagle Rat Terrier mixes are long-lived. They can live for 12–18 years as long as you meet their needs.

Exercise Needs
Beagle Rat Terrier mixes are energetic and playful dogs. They need at least 40 minutes of exercise to remain healthy.
Beagle Rat Terrier mixes are active and playful dogs. They always look for ways to play and spend their energy. Lack of exercise can result in unwanted behaviors[7].
- Scratching on furniture
- Chewing household items
- Peeing and pooping in the wrong areas
- Non-stop barking and howling
- Frequent bursts of energy or zoomies
Exercising has numerous benefits to you and your dog:
- Deepens bond with the dog
- It keeps you and your dog fit
- Reduces hyperactivity
- Lessens anxiety
Avoid doing strenuous exercises when they’re young (3–8 months old). This will do more harm than good to bone and muscle growth. Full-grown Beagle Rat Terriers have sturdy bones, making them excellent exercise companions.
Here are activities that you can do with your Beagle Rat Terrier mix:
- Hide and seek
- Treasure hunting
- Scent tracking
- Tug of war
- Jogging
- Chew toys
- Free play
- Short walk (15-minute walk)
- Long walk (30+ minute walk)
- Swimming
- Hiking
Is a Beagle Rat Terrier Mix Easy To Train?
Although one of its parents has a stubborn personality, a Beagle Rat Terrier mix is easy to train. It is an intelligent dog that loves attention and praise.
Beagle Rat Terrier mixes are easy to train due to their intelligence and enthusiastic personality. They love spending time with their owners, which drives them to learn new tricks and commands.
These dogs are adaptive. They can figure out complex feeding puzzles, tricks, and commands. You can also use typical dog motivators to train your dog.
- Treats
- Praise
- Attention
- Food

Food and Diet Needs
Beagle Rat Terrier mixes require a balanced amount of essential nutrients that amount to 2–3% of their weight, depending on their daily activities.
Your dog’s diet significantly influences their health. Dogs use nutrients for different organ system processes[8]. An unbalanced diet increases your dog’s risk of health complications, such as obesity.
It is important to feed your dog a balanced meal with a variety of nutrients:
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Fibers
- Fats
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
Before creating a diet for your dog, remember to consult a veterinarian to determine your dog’s food requirements.
You can feed your dog pure kibble as it contains various nutrients. However, you need to choose the right brand for your dog, as some have large amounts of sodium.
Many owners feed their dogs’ various meats, vegetables, fruits, and grains. Dogs will and can eat anything, so you need to choose the right one for them.
Here are healthy foods that you can serve to your dog:
- Edamame
- Swiss Chard
- Soy
- Turnips
- Cabbage
- Lentils
- Banana Peppers
- Chicken
- Cod
- Pollock
- Tuna
- Salmon
- Blueberries
- Bananas
Avoid feeding your dog the following foods as they contain harmful substances to your dog:
- Green onions
- Apples
- Avocado
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Chocolates
- Xylitol
- Garlic
- Shallot
- Coffee
Care and Grooming
Dog owners will have no problem grooming a Beagle Rat Terrier mix. It is a mild-mannered dog with a short coat. Use a soft bristle brush to quickly remove dirt, liquids, and damaged hairs. This dog only needs monthly grooming.
Short-coated dogs are easy to clean because their short hair leaves little space for dirt and fluids. You can clean them by brushing them at least once every three days. Beagle Rat Terrier mixes only need monthly grooming since they are unlikely to develop a pungent smell.
Veterinarians recommend brushing their teeth daily to avoid tooth- and gum-related issues. Beagle Rat Terrier mixes have long ears, so you also need to clean their ears every three days to prevent ear infections.
When brushing, use the opportunity to check if they have parasites. Fleas and termites thrive in the coat of a dog.
Signs of flea, mite, and lice infestation include:
- Flea, mite, or lice eggs all over your dog’s coat
- Scaly skin
- Red spots
- Frequent scratching
- Fatigue
- Brown or black ear wax
- Anemia (Sever cases)

Grooming Products For Rat Terrier Beagle Mixes
Here are grooming products that you can use for your Rat Terrier Beagle mix:
- Nail Clippers
- Antifungal soap (sulfate-free)
- Vet-recommended ear cleaning solution
- Vet-recommended dental cleaning kit
- Anti flea and lice powder
- Ear miticide
- Aloe vera dog shampoo
Conclusion
A Beagle Rat Terrier mix is an intelligent, adaptive, and playful dog. It is the offspring of a Beagle and a Rat terrier. There are both regular and miniature mixes, depending on the parents.
Regular exercise, proper grooming, and a balanced diet are essential to keep this dog healthy and strong. Their small to medium-sized body, low shedding coat, and easy-to-train nature make it an ideal apartment pet as long as you meet its exercise requirements.