Getting to Know The Beagle Dog Breed

Are you searching for a cute puppy for your family, one that can perfectly fit in your small apartment? If yes, then a Beagle is what you need in your life! But before you think about purchasing one of these adorable furry companions, we’ve prepared a handy guide for you.

Where Do Beagles Come From?

These pups are tiny and are just way too perfect for anyone who wants a family pup. These furry companions are way too easy to have around. Besides, their chill temperament helps them get along well with almost everyone.

These tiny pooches have been around since the 1500s. English hunters would often use these types of pups to track rabbits, hares, pheasants, quail, and other small animals. 

To create the Beagle, breeders crossed the Harrier and other types of English hounds. Since then, Beagles have grown in popularity in the United States. 

Initially, the name “Beagle” is thought to have originated from the French term “be’geule,” which means “gape throat” and refers to the dog’s baying voice. Additionally, the name also comes from the French word “beigh,” the Old English word “begele,” or maybe the Celtic word “beag,” all of which translate to “little.”

The AKC recognized this pup for the first time in 1885. Beagles are amazing narcotics detection dogs (they have the nose of a hound) and are great family pets. 

Quick Facts About The Beagle

TRAITS	DETAILS
Life expectancy	14 years
Size	Small to Medium
Height	Male: 14–16 inches Female: 13-15 inches
Weight	Male: 22-25 lbs Female: 20-23 lbs
Energy level	High
Hypoallergenic	No
Shedding	Medium
Grooming Level	Low Maintenance

Beagle’s Appearance

These little dogs have a classic hound-like look about them, with long ears, a proud head, and a long tail carried proudly. You will mostly find them running here and there doing their own business.

Their tiny size makes it perfect for anyone who wants a babyfur for their family. They have these big brown puppy eyes, which everyone will fall for. And that is why they have been ranked as the 7^th most popular dog breed by the AKC.

You can easily identify Beagles by the breed’s hound-shaped ears. Besides, they have a square-shaped nose with a strong sense of smell, a powerful jaw, short hair, and a multicolored coat. Also, their bodies are muscular and compact. 

Height And Weight Of A Beagle

As we already know, they are short dogs. Usually, a male Beagle can reach a height of 14-16 inches and weigh 22-25 pounds. At the same time, a female Beagle can reach a height of 13-15 inches and weigh 20-23 pounds. It seems if you’re looking for a lap dog, the Beagle is the pooch for you.

Colors And Coats Of A Beagle

We are sure you have already seen them trimmed fur. The miniature length of the breed’s hair makes Beagles the cutest snuggle buddies one can have. In terms of their fur coats, as we already know, they have short coats.

On top of that, they have a dense double coat, usually tri-colored, with tan, black, and white mixed in. These pooches have these unique colors, which you will fall in love with. If you are lucky enough to get a chance, you can find them in blue, white, and tan, pied, or speckled, among other hues.

Personality Traits Of Beagles

Beagles are way too friendly and loveable pets to have around your home. They have this cool mindset and will be your best companion till the end. Besides, they are happier around almost everyone and don’t care if they meet them for the first time.

Child Friendly

The Beagle’s chill temperament is a plus point around little children. They love to get along with toddlers. However, your Beagle might get jealous of them because they don’t want to share the attention. 

Sociable

As we discussed, Beagles have packed mentally, which made them great hunters. Breeders trained them to get along with other animals around them. Because of this, they are very down-to-earth dogs and have no problem being other pets, even if they are cats.

For First Time Owners

Beagles are adaptable dogs, having a curious, loving nature. If you have never owned any pet and it is your first time, then Beagles are more than ideal for you. Being their parent is a lot of fun since they are outgoing and playful, bringing a fresh breath of air to the household.

Apartment Friendly?

If you reside in an apartment and want a small dog, Beagles can be a great choice. These breeds can easily adapt to apartment life due to their small size and chill temperament.

Since they aren’t barking dogs, you don’t have to be afraid of waking up your next-door neighbors in the morning. On a side note, never leave your Beagle alone for a long time. If left alone in a house for an extended period, Beagles might become bored and become destructive. 

Intelligence

Being the hounds they are, Beagles tend to follow their noses. This instinct can get them into trouble at times, which is why some people consider them not to be the brightest of dogs. The Beagle’s lovely and friendly personality, mixed with its carefree attitude, may make you think he’s stupid, but he’s far from it.

Barking Restraint

These cute pups don’t bark or growl, but they have three vocalizations. Firstly, a bark/growl, secondly a baying howl, and thirdly a half-baying howls, a sort of cross between a frantic bark and a bay. 

Whenever this fury Beagle sees a prey or when it’s their breakfast time, and they want to wake up the adoring ones, they use the half-howl vocalization. They are the dogs that get along with everyone way too well and consider everyone their new best buddy.

Temperament And Instincts Of Beagles

Talking about temperaments, Beagles have a wonderful temperament in general. Thanks to their breeding, as they were bred to work in groups, they are way too calm all the time. Moreover, on the brighter side, they are incredibly friendly to both other dogs and humans.

We just can’t stop praising their outgoing nature, as they enjoy being around their owners. However, they are the pups that don’t like to be left alone, which is a drawback of their friendly nature. Because they are a fit and lively breed, they also demand a lot of exercise. 

High Prey/Hunting Drive

Beagles are one of the best hunting dog breeds. Breeders developed their hunting ability over decades to hunt gophers, rabbits, and other small game. They have a strong sense of smell and remain a popular small game hunting breed today.

How To Care For A Beagle

To have your dog in the best shape possible, you must care for his every need. Keep the below tips in mind when looking to become a Beagle’s parent.

Grooming

Being teeny-tiny, Beagles don’t require much in the way of particular care, despite being active and lively dogs. Instead of grooming, their primary requirements are lots of exercises and a lot of your company. 

Beagles are tiny in stature and have neatly cut short coats. Fortunately, you won’t have to groom your pup very often unless you have left him to play in the filthy mud. Also, you can have them brushed twice a week to keep them tidy. Don’t forget to have their teeth brushed regularly and their nails clipped once a week.

Shedding

These pups have a smooth and dense double coat that gets thicker throughout the winter, so spring is shedding season. Year-round, Beagles shed mildly. Brushing your dog once a week using a medium-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt or tool, or a hound glove removes loose hair and encourages new hair to grow.

Diet And Feeding

Who doesn’t take their food seriously? Everyone does, and Beagles do that too! Your Beagle will most likely take its food bowl very seriously regarding feeding time. So, never disturb your furry friend while they’re eating. 

A high-quality source of animal protein will be the first ingredient in the finest dog food for Beagles, followed by low-to-moderate amounts of healthy fats and digestible carbs. Supplements such as prebiotic fibers, probiotics, and chelated minerals are great additions.

Also, you can use treats as a source of reward. However, do monitor the calorie count to avoid your Beagle getting obese.

Activity And Exercise Requirements

If you’re willing to have a Beagle as your family pup, you must prepare yourself for different exercise schedules. Beagles are highly energetic and active dogs. They strive to be active all the time, going from here to there.

You must arrange a proper exercise or activity session for them for at least an hour per day. As they belong to the hounds’ pack, they are bred to be energetic and may often become destructive if left alone and unexercised.

How To Train A Beagle

Often many Beagle keepers have revealed that Beagles might be extremely tough to train at times. Also, some of the owners claimed that fully housetraining some Beagles might take up to a year. It has been found that till this time, crate training is effective. 

Beagles are the breed that can be independent and headstrong, despite their loving and kind nature. To give them a family nature, it’s a good idea to start obedience training. However, make sure you know about the Beagle’s hound personality and temperament and use food as a reward.

Health Problems Of A Beagle

Beagles are the healthiest breed of all. However, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t prone to certain conditions. Some diseases may include patellar luxation, chondrodysplasia, glaucoma, hypothyroidism, distichiasis, central progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA), epilepsy, cherry eye, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).

Apart from these, they may also have obesity because of their small size and drive to eat a lot. Fortunately, all of these diseases can be treated while contacting your local veterinarian. 

Daily Routine For A Happy Beagle

To have your Beagle pup the happiest, you can follow the below routine.

Is It The Right Dog For You?

If you’re looking for a great family pet, then Beagles can be the best friend you have been looking for. These puppies could make wonderful family companions. You would just be so happy with them and feel the positive vibe when they are around you. 

Besides, if you or your family members spend most of the time at home, you’ll have an extremely happy puppy on your hands. So, if you are thinking of buying or adopting them, be prepared to have them regularly exercised.

FAQs About Beagle

Dog Facts And Figures Summary