Beagle

All you need to know about the Beagle

Beagles are curious, enthusiastic, and friendly dogs that will make a wonderful, loyal companion to anyone looking for a pet. Not only that, but they also make fantastic hunting dogs.

These pups are bred to hunt in packs, so you can expect your Beagle to be highly sociable. They are easygoing dogs that really enjoy the company of people and other animals. They are small in stature and have an amazingly sharp sense of smell.

They are quite popular in the United States, and for a good reason! It is hard to resist having a companion this cute, with a playful, loving personality to match. Beagles are some of the most low-maintenance pet dogs you can find.

If you have fallen victim to the charms of these adorable puppies and want to get one as a pet, we have you covered. Read on to learn all the important facts about Beagles.

Fast Facts

Group - Hound

Weight - 22-25 pounds (male) 20-23 pounds (female)

Height - 14-16 inches (male) 13-15 inches (female)

Hair Length - Short

Shedding - Moderate

Lifespan - 10-15 Years

The Appearance of the Beagle

The easiest way to describe a Beagle would be to compare it to a miniature version of a Foxhound. There are some differences, the Beagle’s head is broader, and their muzzle is shorter. The legs of a Beagle are also short when looked at in proportion to the body.

In general, this is a small to medium-sized breed. The skull of a Beagle is smooth, and it ends in a cute black nose. Their jaw is extremely strong with teeth that align perfectly when scissored together.

Beagles have beautiful, large, brown, or hazel eyes, with an overwhelmingly cute, somewhat pleading look to them. One word to describe the look in the eyes of a Beagle is irresistible!

Another detail of the look of a Beagles that is absolutely impossible to miss is their floppy ears. They turn a bit towards the cheek, giving an adorable look to the puppies!

The neck of a Beagle is medium length. This allows these dogs to bend towards the ground and pick up scents easily. 

Their tails are long and slightly curved with a white tip. You will always be able to see your Beagle thanks to the tail that is pointing upwards, even if the dog is sniffing on the ground. Beagles keep their tail upwards whenever they are active.

They have a short and smooth double coat that is quite thick. It is resistant to rain. 

In general, Beagles are quite muscular, which reflects in their need for an active lifestyle. Although extremely adorable, these pups actually have a lot of energy and strength, and it shows in their build.

What colors does a Beagle come in?

The breed standard states that Beagles can come in any true hound color. However, that isn’t saying much, so we need to explain it a bit further. It definitely means that you can find a Beagle in basically any color, but some are more prevalent than others.

Most commonly, Beagles are tricolored. This means that they are white with black areas and some light brown shading. This is the Beagle color pattern people are generally familiar with. It is probably the first one that comes to your mind when thinking of a Beagle.

However, two-color varieties also appear commonly. Most often, these will have a white base with tan being the secondary color. Other combinations include a reddish hue, dark brown as the secondary color, or sometimes even yellow or orange! 

Whether you go for the classic tricolor look, or something more unique, any color is allowed in competitions. This will definitely make life easier for anyone looking to get a pet Beagle!

All about the Beagle personality

Beagles are one of the favorite picks of many families for a reason. They are compact, affectionate, and cheerful. They have loads of energy and will need quite a bit of exercise and play-time every day. However, once they have used up their energy, they will enjoy laying around the house and cuddling with you.

Still, playing is what they do best, and they love it. They will adore spending time with children, but also other dogs and even cats. This makes them a great second pet, for those that just can’t get enough.

Naturally, early socialization is incredibly important and will solve a lot of possible issues you can have with your dog once it’s grown. If you bring your puppy Beagle to hang out with other dogs and meet other people while it’s still young, it will get used to the company of others. This will help it develop into a wonderful pet.

Beagles can be a bit yappy and are known to bark and howl occasionally. This can happen if someone tugs on their ears or tail, so you should teach your children how to interact with pets properly. It would be best to supervise their interaction at first until they are used to each other.

However, the fact that Beagles are somewhat loud has a lot to do with how they are bred. Since they are hunting dogs, their loud bark is actually a choice made by breeders! That way, they can spook the prey out of hiding and let the hunter know where they are.

Beagles can also make really good watchdogs because of this. They will alert their owners to any intruders, but it will stop at that. These dogs are not aggressive, and the most they will do at the sight of danger is bark.

These dogs are incredibly smart and curious but are also independent. They won’t obey every single one of your commands right away. Because of the way they were bred, once they start following a scent, they will become focused on it. They might ignore everything else then.

Is a Beagle easy to train?

Training a Beagle will require a lot of patience and consistency. If you don’t properly train and care for your Beagle, it can become a bit of a nuisance, thanks to its high prey drive and the amount of noise it can make.

This is why you should start early and use only positive reinforcement methods. These dogs do not like harsh training techniques. Show your love and care even while training.

Using treats as a reward is always an excellent idea that could make your life easier. Beagles are known to be a bit stubborn and can take longer to learn certain things. However, once properly trained, you can expect them to become amazing companions.

They are considered some of the best working dogs for a good reason. Once you invest into properly training your Beagle, there is not a thing it won’t be able to learn.

Beagles can also be difficult to housetrain. Keep that in mind before choosing one as your pet. Sometimes it may take up to a year to fully housetrain a Beagle. Crate training is always a good method and will help you a lot with this.

There you have it. It seems there is a lot to take in when it comes to the temperament of these dogs. But we believe it’s worth it. Next, let’s take a look at grooming.

How much Grooming does a Beagle need?

Beagles have a short, weather-proof coat that is quite easy to maintain. You should brush your Beagle at least once a week, although two to three times is encouraged. This will loosen and remove dead hair and will also encourage the growth of new hair.

Despite being short, the coat of a Beagle is prone to shedding. Since it is a double coat, expect your pet Beagle to shed heavily during Springtime. This is when you might want to brush them every day.

Since they do shed quite a bit, Beagles are not hypoallergenic. If you suffer from allergies, this breed is sadly not for you.

These dogs are quite clean and won’t need baths often. Bathe your Beagle only when it gets into a messy situation. Thanks to its playful nature, this might happen more often than you’d like it to, though.

Beagles are drop-eared dogs, which means they can easily get ear infections. This happens because air doesn’t circulate properly inside their ears. You should check them at least every two weeks to see any wax build-up or infections.

If you notice that your Beagle is shaking its head often or scratching its ears, you should give a proper check to the ears as well. However, never use water or oils to clean the ears of your Beagle.

You should brush the teeth of your pet Beagle at least two times a week to prevent the build-up of tartar or bacteria. This will keep your doggy’s breath fresh and will also prevent gum disease. 

Some Beagles will wear down their nails naturally, but some will require trimming. Check the nails twice a month and trim if necessary. If you can hear the nails clicking on the floor while your dog is walking, it’s a good sign of them being too long.

The Living Environment of the Beagle

Beagles adore the outdoors and should be given the possibility to go outside and play every day. If kept inside constantly, they can become overweight, as well as develop heart and joint issues.

They are highly social, so the ideal home for a Beagle is one where it can enjoy an indoor and outdoor environment. Having a house with a nice backyard would be ideal for your pet Beagle.

Since these dogs often keep their head to the ground, they tend to wander off searching for scents. Your backyard should absolutely need to have a fence because of this. Give your dog access to the outdoors, but do so carefully.

Beagles can also get quite lonely, so you shouldn’t leave your pet alone for longer than a couple of hours. These dogs won’t like being alone for extended periods of time and will show their dissatisfaction.

The Health and Nutrition of the Beagle

Generally, Beagles are healthy dogs that have a lifespan of about 10 to 15 years. They are prone to certain diseases, but nothing too serious. Like most other breeds, they can suffer from hip dysplasia. This is a painful condition that causes the hip joints to develop abnormally while the dog is growing.

Other health problems these pups can suffer from include cardiac issues and autoimmune thyroid disease. This is another condition that is common in all dog breeds and causes the thyroid hormones to be produced at abnormal levels.

The Musladin-Lueke Syndrome (MLS) is a condition that affects only Beagles and is a hereditary disorder. It manifests in pervasive fibrosis of the skin and joints. It can affect the heart, skin, and muscles of your pup. Dogs suffering from this disease are usually smaller than average and can have seizures.

When it comes to feeding, make sure to consult with your veterinarian to give your Beagle the best quality dog food you can. Divide its daily food intake into two meals, and you should be fine.

Beagles absolutely adore food and treats, so becoming overweight is a serious issue with them. Measure each meal correctly so your pet doesn’t become obese!

Where does the Beagle come from?

People are still debating about the actual origins of this breed. The American Kennel Club states that dogs similar to Beagles can be traced all the way back to the year 55 BC. This was in England, around the time the Romans arrived.

Others state that the ancestors of this breed can be found back in Ancient Greece. However, if we take a look at the breed name, we can see that it is of either French or Gaelic origins. “Be’geule” is the French term for the howls that dogs make during hunts, and “beag” is the Gaelic word for “little”.

Both of these could be correct, and it is generally accepted that the first Beagles descended from English pack hounds in the 1500s. These dogs were used to hunt rabbits at first, and they quickly became the favorites of hunters.

Beagles were further standardized and refined in England and Scotland in the 1800s. This was the period where we could first see Beagles how they are today.

Beagle Mixes you would like to know about*

Dog crossbreeds or mixes are sometimes called designer dogs. The name fits since you are “designing” a new dog by mating two purebred dogs. It has become popular in recent times, and more and more breeds have several noteworthy crosses we could write about.

The thing with mixed puppies is that it is hard to know which characteristics they will inherit from their parents. You should research as much info as possible on the parent breeds to understand what you can expect. This way, you will find a mix that has all of the characteristics you want and love.

Read on to see the most popular Beagle mixes:

• Beagle Shepherd - Beagle & German Shepherd mix
• Aussie Beagle - Beagle & Australian Shepherd mix
• Doxle - Beagle & Dachshund mix
• Beasky - Beagle & Siberian Husky mix
• Jack-A-Bee - Beagle & Jack Russell mix
• Poogle - Beagle & Miniature Poodle mix
• Beagle Hound - Beagle & Basset Hound mix
• Beagador - Beagle & Labrador Retriever mix
• Cheagle - Beagle & Chihuahua mix

*Not all breed mixes are equal in quality! Pets4you.com neither condones nor endorses any example of unethical and unhealthy crossbreeding. We encourage everyone to research in detail before they choose to get a crossbreed.