Beagle

Beagle Dog Breed Information

Size	13-16 inches (33-40 cm)
Weight	22-26 lbs (10-12 kg)
Origin	England
Color	Brown and white, red and white, black, white and brown
Lifespan	12-15 years
Suitable As	Family dog, therapy dog
Personality	Adventurous, gentle, calm, loving
Exercise
Drooling
Shedding
Grooming

Beagle Photo: Alexandr/stock.adobe.com

Breed Characteristics

The Beagle was originally a tracker dog, and its favorite activity is still snooping and exploring. This is one of the friendliest dog breeds, as they get on with everybody: their own family and strangers, other pets and other dogs.

Their kind nature doesn't make them good watchdogs. If you want a dog that protects, you should rather choose a dog breed like the German Shepherd. You can't have both: an excellent watchdog and a super cute and cuddly dog at the same time - that's just not possible.

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Pros and Cons

Pros

Friendly and loving
Likes to play and be silly
Gets on well with other animals
Not wary of strangers
Doesn’t need lots of grooming
Doesn’t drool

Cons

Lots of energy
Needs lots of exercise
Not always easy to train
Not a “beginner” dog
Gets overweight easily
Sheds a lot
Barks often
Likes to dig

Beagle Photo: androsov858/stock.adobe.com

Exercise Needs and Training

What about tricks and agility? Yes and... yes and no. Anybody training a Beagle needs a bit more patience than with other dogs that seem to understand tricks in seconds and wash the dishes on command. If you’ve got a bit of experience and stay on the ball, you can have a lot of fun with a Beagle and agility.

On the other hand, does a dog always have to be able to do something, to perform? Exercise is great and important but it just comes down to spending some quality time with your dog. Time that you purposefully pay attention to your dog. This also works well on “boring” old walks.

Top Activities

Scent Trails, Agility, Trick Training, Obedience

Beagle Photo: Nastya/stock.adobe.com

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Grooming

Beagles don’t drool a lot but they make up for it when it comes to shedding. Their coats should be groomed twice to three times a week to make sure any loose fur ends up in the brush and not on the floor.

Health and Care

Given the opportunity, Beagles have a tendency to eat too much. You should always check how much they’re eating. And if your dog shows signs of getting overweight, increase its exercise and reduce how much you feed it.

Appearance

The Beagle looks like a miniature foxhound. It’s a small, robust, compact dog. Its short, thick and coarse fur makes it “waterproof” and protects it when it’s snooping through the undergrowth.

Beagle Photo: Shutterstock

History and Origin

The Beagle was always a hunting dog, mostly used for hunting on foot. It has a long history, which is said to date back to the 5th century BC. The name “Beagle” only came into circulation in the year 1475, and the breed was officially recognized by the British Kennel Club in 1890. The exact origin of the name isn’t known. There are four theories:

1. The word “Beagle” could come from the French “begueule” (“open throat”, “snout”).
2. Or “beag”, an old English/French/Welsh word for “small”.
3. The old German word “begele” might even be an option. It meant “to scold”.
4. And the French “beugler” (“to yell”). No wonder: the Beagle is known for barking loudly and often when not trained properly.

Animal Testing

Unfortunately, many Beagles have a sad fate: due to their obedient, calm natures and their practical size, they are often used in animal testing laboratories. No other dog breed is used for testing as much as the Beagle. They’re even bred especially for testing.