The Beagle is one of the best known and loved of all the hound group. They’re intelligent, happy, and outgoing but also have quite a mischievous nature, so they might get in trouble pretty often, especially if left alone for long periods of time. However, with the right training and most importantly, the right treats, Beagles can be incentivized to behave properly.

Even though the Beagle size doesn’t usually exceed 40 cm, they won’t be very comfortable living in a small apartment as they need plenty of space to run around and burn off the excess energy.

COLOUR

LIFE SPAN

12 – 15 Years

HEIGHT

33-40 CM

WEIGHT

22 LBS

Beagle Appearance

These sturdy and bold little scent hounds have kindly expressions and are compact and athletic. They have short coats that are dense and weather-resistant, and come in a range of different patterns. The Beagle colours are also as varied as they can include blue, black, lemon, white, red, brown, tan, or black.

Beagle Personality

This is a happy, easy-going dog who is full of life and fun to be around. The Beagle personality is very good-natured and, as they were bred to be pack animals, will get along with most other dogs. They love children, but need to be exposed to cats at an early age in order to develop good relationships with them, and may never be safe with strange cats or small furries.  

The Beagle is a good watchdog, barking at anything unusual, although once the burglar is indoors, the Beagle may prefer a game with him! The Beagle suits an owner or family who want an active, affectionate, cheerful dog who loves getting involved in games and activities but who are able to cope with their selective attitude to obedience and lack of reliable recall.

HISTORY AND ORIGINS

Around the mid-16th century, hounds began to be classified according to their purpose, i.e. sight hounds, scent hounds, etc. Around this time a small hound, bred to kill rabbit and hare, was assigned the name ‘Begles’, a French term meaning ‘gape throat.’ This referred to the animals’ tendency to ‘tongue’, i.e. bay as a pack. The anglicised version where these dogs have their origins of course, is ‘Beagle’. The breed owes its ancestry to the Foxhound, the Harrier and a small bloodhound known as a ‘Kerry Beagle.’

IDEAL OWNER

The ideal Beagle person is home all day, likes walks, enjoys positive reinforcement-based training, and particularly takes part in scent-based games or sports such as man-trailing or tracking. They may be a family with older children or a child-free family, but long, interesting country walks should feature heavily in their lives – along with a love of physically affectionate dogs.

EXERCISE NEEDS

The Beagle dog breed needs a great deal of exercise – around two hours a day. For many Beagles, this will be on-lead, and because of his strong hunting instinct, he should not be let off-lead until owners are confident he will return when called, or else only in a safe enclosed area. One of the best ways to keep your Beagle happy and well-exercised is to play scenting games and give him a chance to use his exceptional nose.

SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Like most hounds, Beagles are happiest in the countryside as they love the scents and open spaces of the great outdoors, and need a lot of exercise. A medium house with a decent sized, well-fenced garden is a must, and with lots of close-by walks. They enjoy living with other Beagles too.

NUTRITION AND FEEDING

Your dog’s diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It’s important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food. Proper nutrition along with care can contribute to a Beagle lifespan reaching 15 years. 

GROOMING

This breed is easy to keep as the Beagle grooming process only requires a quick brush once a week, to remove dead and loose hairs. One slight problem is that Beagles do love to roll in foul smelling material. Luckily, they are quite easy to bathe. The ears should be checked on a regular basis to ensure they are clean and free from infection. 

TRAINING