Beagle dog breed
- Last updated: March 24. 2022
- Categories: Dog breeds, Hound dogs, Medium dogs, Short hair
- Post views: 803
The Beagle is one of the most popular family dogs in the United States due to its fairly small size and high friendliness towards strangers and other animals. The Beagles most commonly have a short tri-colored coat and have a medium shedding level, requiring minimal grooming. On the vocal side, they are considered high barkers, they howl as well. The Beagles date back to England in the 1300s where their purpose was to trail rabbits. Today, they still trail rabbits but are most commonly used as pets. Law enforcement also uses them for contraband detection as the Beagles have one of the most efficient noses of all dog breeds
M: 33 - 38 cm / 13 - 15 in
F: 33 - 38 cm / 13 - 15 in
M: 8 - 14 kg / 18 - 30 lbs
F: 8 - 14 kg / 18 - 30 lbs
Healthy dogs of this breed lives
average between 10 to 15 years
Hound: These dogs were bred for
hunting. They are great trackers
Beagle general information
Beagles are popular dogs that originated in England in the 1300s, bred to be the companions of rabbit hunters. The name Beagle is supposedly from the old French words for open throat, referencing to the dogs baying, which is a mix of howling and barking. Other theories are that the name just means small. By the 1800s, the breed existed in multiple sizes, with the smallest one being just 22 cm / 9 inches tall. This pocket-sized dog would often require the help of the hunter to cross fields., today, the Beagle still exists in 2 sizes, the 33 cm / 13 inches, and the 38 cm / 15 inches versions. The first record of the Beagle in America was in 1642, after the war, the modern American Beagle was formed from English imports. Although it got a reputation for being hard to train and has a high level of barking, the Beagle is a favorite family dog
Beagle dog breed appearance
The Beagle is a sturdy and compact dog in the lower range of medium-sized dogs with its max height of 38 cm / 15 inches and a weight of up to 14 kg / 30 lbs. They have a short dense coat that is weatherproof, protecting them from the elements. Their coats can appear in a variety of colors, tri-colored, consisting of black, tan, and white, dual-colored, or all white. Their ears and long and wide with a rounded tip, hanging close to the cheeks. Eye colors are dark brown and hazel. The Beagle has a moderately long sturdy tail it carries high, densely covered with hair, especially on the underside. If you want to dig deeper into every trait of the Beagle appearance, you can read more at the well-detailed Fédération Cynologique Internationale breed standard sheet
Beagle dog breed temperament
The Beagle is a bundle of joy that gets along with just about anyone it should encounter, strangers, other dogs, and other pets is no problem. It is a highly affectionate dog that loves companionship, as it was bred as a pack dog. Being gentle and tolerant, they make great family dogs for families with children too. But with all dogs, playtime with young children should be supervised for the safety of all parties. Early socialization is also important to get a dog that behaves well and reacts to the world around it in a proper fashion. When given enough exercise, the Beagle is a calm dog that can perfectly fine live in an apartment, but the high level of barking and howling can be a problem regarding neighbors. Nobody enjoys listening to a dog barking when at home
Beagle dog breed health
Beagles are generally healthy dogs, as long as they come from reputable breeders. Their main concerns are Canine Hip Dysplasia and intervertebral disk disease. As with all dog breeds, they are also prone to developing certain common diseases. This can include eye problems, skin allergies, orthopedic problems, and ear infections. Regular wellness checkups at the vet should be done at least once a year to track the dog’s development and catch any potential health issues early on, which improves the chances of successful treatment. If you suspect that your dog is having issues, or have changed its behavior radically, contact your vet and schedule an appointment. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your four-legged companion
Beagle shedding and grooming
Beagles are moderate shedders, but since they are short-haired dogs, their shedding shouldn’t be a problem for most people. Frequent brushing will also help keep the amount of dead and loose hair floating around the home at a low level. As with most dogs, they blow their coat twice a year, during spring and autumn, which will increase the amount of shedding until they are done putting on their new coat. Keeping the dog on a meat-rich diet also helps reduce the shedding amount and prevents dry skin. Meat is digested and absorbed quickly, promoting better overall health in your furry little buddy. If your dog is subject to excessive shedding, contact your local veterinarian and ask for guidance and hear with them if the dog should come in for a checkup
Beagle dog breed barking level
Beagles are very vocal dogs, they bark, howl, and bay. If they don’t get your attention by barking, they switch over to baying, which is a horrible mix of barking and howling. As they were bred to be hunting dogs, Beagles use howling to alert the hunters of prey, which these days can be anything that moves. Common reasons for dogs barking are protection, alerting, being bored, fear, seeking attention, separation anxiety, or just saying hello. You can read more about barking at this guide from WebMD Pets: Understanding why dogs bark. All dog breeds can be trained to reduce barking, another thing that should be focused on learning from an early age. There are plenty of online resources where you can learn how to reduce barking, like YouTube videos, online courses, and websites. You might also want to look for books too
Beagle dog breed training
Beagles are hard to train due to their independence and stubbornness, but they are not untrainable, the owner must just put in some extra effort and patience. Beagles also tend to run off if they catch a scent, which can make outdoors training more difficult than with other dogs. As with all breeds, dog training can be a challenge for inexperienced owners, acquiring professional help from a dog trainer is always a good choice to get started. The first step on the long road is signing up for a puppy class, here you will learn the basics about dog care and training, most classes also have supervised playtime among the puppies for socialization. You can also watch dog training videos, attend online dog training courses, or maybe get yourself a dog training book
Beagle exercise requirements
Beagles have a medium energy level and should have at least 1 hour of daily exercise in order to stay healthy and happy, accompanied by mental stimulation in the form of games or training. For a scenthound like the Beagle, hiding treats around the home for it to find is a nice method to keep it occupied. Great ways to exercise your dog are playing a game of fetch, taking a hike, jogging, or just taking a long stroll a couple of times a day. Dogs that don’t get enough exercise and mental stimulation can become bored, depressed, and destructive as they try to find ways to entertain themself. This can lead to great frustration for the owner, as well as damaged furniture, so be sure to give the dog enough exercise to avoid any unwanted behavior
Caring for dogs
Grooming is not the only maintenance your dog requires throughout its life. Complete examinations at the vet should be done at least once a year for adult dogs. Puppies should come in every 3 or 4 weeks until they are around four months old. Contact your vet and they will set you up with schedules.
Trimming the claws should be done whenever they touch the ground when the dog is standing up, or make it a frequent routine to keep them short
Brushing the teeth should be done on a daily basis to prevent gum diseases. Chew bones and toys will also help strengthen your dog’s teeth and gums
Cleaning the ears to prevent ear infections is also another important part of the dog’s routine maintenance. You can have your vet show you how to do it
Socializing dogs
No matter what kind of dog breed you have, socializing it from an early age is the most important thing you can do in order to get a well-behaving buddy that reacts to the world around it in a healthy way. Until your puppy is around 16 weeks old, it should encounter different kinds of people, situations, and locations, learning that the world is a wonderful place to live. Puppies have a short developmental window in which their experiences will form their future selves. Puppies should however not be forced into situations they might feel uncomfortable with, as bad experiences may imprint and stay with the dog for the rest of the life. You can watch free videos from professional dog trainers on how to socialize your new puppy and learn how to do so the correct way
Beagle dogs on Instagram
Here are some pictures of the Beagle on Instagram. See even more photos of this lovely dog breed by exploring #Beagle or by using the Google Image Search
Video of the Beagle dog breed
Here is a video of the Beagle from Dogumentary TV on YouTube. If you are bored of reading, spend around 11 minutes watching this informative video instead
Frequently asked questions
References and resources
You can absorb more knowledge about this dog breed from the resources below. Websites, books, and social media sites where you can ask dog owners questions
