Breed Profile – Beagle

General Information

The Beagle is a small to medium-sized dog breed. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game. They have a keen sense of smell and tracking instinct that sees them employed as detection dogs for prohibited agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine around the world. They are popular as pets because of their size, even temper, and lack of inherited health problems. These characteristics also make them the dog of choice for animal testing.

« Back to Top

Beagle Characteristics

A merry, affectionate and loyal little dog, making him a favorite as a household pet and companion for the family. The breed standard of the American Kennel Club defines the Beagle’s expression as soft, gentle and pleading. Those big brown eyes and floppy ears can melt a stone. The beagle's general appearance resembles a Foxhound in miniature, but the head is broader and the muzzle is shorter, the expression completely different and the legs shorter in proportion to the body. This is because beagles were trained to use their sense of smell often, and they would bend down a lot. They are generally between 13 and 16 inches high at the withers and weigh between 18 and 35 lb, with females being slightly smaller than males on average.

Beagle's have a smooth, somewhat domed skull with a medium-length, square-cut muzzle and a black gumdrop nose. The jaw is strong and the teeth scissor together with the upper teeth fitting perfectly over the lower teeth and both sets aligned square to the jaw. Their eyes are large, hazel or brown, with a mild hound-like pleading look. The large ears are long, soft and low-set, turning towards the cheeks slightly and rounded at the tips. Beagles have a strong, medium-length neck (which is long enough for them to easily bend to the ground to pick up a scent), with little folding in the skin but some evidence of a dewlap; a broad chest narrowing to a tapered abdomen and waist and a short, slightly curved tail (known as the "stern") tipped with white. The white tip, known as the "flag" has been selectively bred for, as it allows the dog to be easily seen when its head is down following a scent. The tail does not curl over the back, but is held upright when the dog is active. The Beagle has a muscular body and a medium-length, smooth, hard coat. The front legs are straight and carried under the body while the rear legs are muscular and well bent at the stifles.

« Back to Top

Health & Training

Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) is a fairly common health problem in all dogs, purebred and crossbred alike, which affects many older Beagles. There are two causes of this condition, one being auto-immune thyroid disease and the other, more common, being idiopathic hypothyroidism. Common indicators of hypothyroidism are lethargy, tendency towards obesity, increased sensitivity to heat and cold, bilateral hair loss and bilateral blackening of skin, particularly on the abdomen and thighs. Hypothyroidism can also adversely affect reproduction.

Back problems in dogs are as common as they are in humans, and Beagles are known to suffer from them. Canine epilepsy (a seizure disorder) is another disease that affects Beagles. Extensive research has been done on the inheritance of epilepsy, and pedigree analysis demonstrates that it is a familial pattern of inheritance. Dogs who are known to have stolen from the kitchen table, raided the trash or pilfered from the clothes hamper must be watched for signs of distress: lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or obstruction of the bowels.

Caring For

All walks must be on a leash and collar. Any time he is off-lead, he must be far, far away from traffic as his natural curiosity, keen sense of smell and love of the chase will cause him to throw caution to the wind and just keep going, with or without his owner.

Beagle Virtues

The Beagle is a breed that fits easily into most households. He wants to please those he loves and be in their company as much as possible, thriving on being with his special people.

Beagles are amenable to training but will never be the precision worker that the average Doberman Pinscher or Shetland Sheepdog easily becomes. When you say, “Come,” the Beagle’s tendency is to reply, “Yes, in a minute,” and carry on with what he is doing. Since the Beagle yearns to please, he learns what makes you happy and, thus, him comfortable, and will strive to maintain that status quo. He will be just as obedient as necessary to keep on your good side, but, being a Beagle, he will think of some innovative tricks to keep you laughing and amused. With his inherent desire to hunt and trail, and his body construction, he is an athletic and functional hound. He can jump up on your lap and into your car, go for long walks on lead and join you on runs through the woods or along the beach.

« Back to Top

Ideal Owners

The Beagle, due to his inherent easy and steady disposition, fits into most family situations. It doesn’t take an overly dominant owner to become master of this dog. He will do well with an owner who takes him for long daily walks, brings him on trips in the family car and includes him in watching television in the evenings. A working couple can provide a good home for a Beagle if the dog is not left outside when they are at home and is included, whenever possible, in the evening and weekend activities.

He generally does well with children of all ages, provided he has been raised with them and that the youngsters are kind, gentle and considerate of their dog. Children and dogs go together well, provided the children are aware that the dog is a “person in a fur coat,” not a teddy bear or a doll.

The household with someone at home during the day is ideal for any dog, making socialization and house-training a breeze. But in these modern times, when so many couples work and the children are off at school, some planning must be done to accommodate the puppy while he is left alone. No puppy should be left loose in a house; even having him closed in the kitchen or another room is not an ideal situation. A lonely puppy becomes a bored puppy, and pretty soon damage is done to his surroundings. This isn’t good for the furnishings nor is it good for the puppy, as many things that the puppy may get into can cause great harm and big veterinary bills. You will want to learn all about the proper use of a crate as a tool for training and housebreaking puppies.

No dog can be expected to stay within the confines of his own property without a fence, nor to safely run loose in a neighborhood, and Beagles are no exception. There are too many vehicles about, among other dangers, to chance a dog’s being loose on the streets.

All walks must be on a leash and collar. Any time he is off-lead, he must be far, far away from traffic as his natural curiosity, keen sense of smell and love of the chase will cause him to throw caution to the wind and just keep going, with or without his owner.

No dog wants to be locked away when the family is home. A Beagle who is included whenever possible in family activities will be a happy, well-adjusted Beagle.

« Back to Top