Beagle Overview

The smallest of the pack hound breed, the Beagle was initially designed for hunting hares. But the dog’s manageable size and friendly demeanor have earned it a place as a favored companion. This dog is ideal for family life, having a good attitude towards fellow animals and children. 

Because of their hunting origin, Beagles easily stray and can wander out of sight if left alone. 

The dog’s short coat makes maintenance easy, benefiting from – but not requiring – weekly brushings. However, their floppy ears are prone to infection and should be checked and cleaned regularly. 

Moderate exercise and training make this dog well-behaved, but their greedy nature may lead to obesity. 

The Beagle is a sturdy, friendly, non-aggressive, and intelligent breed that is ideal for apartments and ranch style homes.

Beagle History

The origin of the Beagle is forever lost in the realm of opinion and speculation. No written evidence documents their history, and the hope of finding said documents is thin. 

It is not until the 1750s that we see the Beagle in text. Youngsters at that time found fox hunting tiring, desiring an even faster prey. Turning their focus on the rabbit, they bred two different breeds of fox-hound: the Southern Hound and the North Country Beagle, evolving into the slow and steady Bloodhound and the swift and nimble Beagle, respectively. 

In the United States, the Beagle was popular in the south but not favored any more than the sloppy Basset hounds. Before being recognized by the AKC, many organizations devoted to the Beagle were already established, such as the National Beagle Club, founded in 1888. 

Nowadays, the Beagle is more broadly recognized as a trustworthy family dog, immortalized by novels and family-friendly motion pictures like Shiloh.

Beagle Character

While the Beagle may excel as a working dog, they should best be recognized as companions. Extensive training is not needed for a casual owner, but special attention must be paid towards teaching the dog to recall. 

Because of its background as a pack hound, the Beagle is nigh impossible to prevent wandering if it catches a scent. 

Most dogs, if not all of them, are not entirely trustworthy around babies or toddlers; the Beagle is no different. They tend to mouth hands and nip at clothing in play, becoming a nuisance to youngsters who are yet incapable of keeping up with the dog. 

However, if one absolutely has to get a dog while living in a household with a young child, the Beagle is preferable among other breeds. 

If you desire high obedience or are away from home for many hours of the day, then the Beagle is not the right dog for you. If left alone too long, they will become restless and destructive. And if left outside all day, they will set their minds towards investigation, searching for chinks or holes in the fence that they may crawl out of. 

A naturally greedy dog, the Beagle runs the risk of becoming obese, sometimes stealing food that is left unattended. 

For an owner with a large backyard and sturdy fence, the Beagle is a model companion. With the exception of exercise, this breed is an essentially low maintenance dog and is suited for families among anything else.

Beagle Care

Beagles should require daily brushing to remove any dead or loose hair. A wipe down with a damp towel should suffice for the bathing aspect, however a rubber, wire, or hard bristled brush would work best for the brushing aspect. The ears of this breed should be cleaned on a regular basis, as this breed is prone to painful ears or ear infections. The nails of the Beagle should also be trimmed. This breed is an average shedder, which can be controlled with regular combing.

Beagle Training

The Beagle is very intelligent and very eager to please making him a wonderful student to work with. However, they do tend to lose interest fairly quickly as they are bound to pick up a scent and follow it. This is when obedience training definitely comes in handy. If properly trained, the Beagle should listen however, if not trained properly, ignoring is a big problem. Consistency and firm yet gentle handling is a must if this breed is to excel as they so desperately want to.

Beagle Health

Common Health Issues for the Beagle:

Disclaimer: While we try our best to provide accurate medical reference information, it is very likely that we have errors on our website. Do not use this website to diagnose or treat your dog. Please check with your veterinarian for health advice and treatment options.

Less Common Health Issues for the Beagle:

Disclaimer: While we try our best to provide accurate medical reference information, it is very likely that we have errors on our website. Do not use this website to diagnose or treat your dog. Please check with your veterinarian for health advice and treatment options.

Beagle Resources