The Beagle is a child-loving and friendly dog with strong self-confidence. Find out everything about the history, nature, keeping, and care of the breed here in the profile.

History of the Beagle

Originally, the English bred the Beagle for hunting hares and other small game. Its task was to track the trail of the prey and locate the animal. The direct ancestors of the breed originated from southern France, from where the English brought them home during the Hundred Years’ War. They initially called the dogs Southern Hounds and crossed them with native Talbots. It is unclear how the name Beagle came about later. It is only known that the term was first mentioned by name in the household books of Henry VIII in 1515.

Just 100 years later, the Briton Gervase Markhams mentioned the Beagle in the “Description of the Most Important Hunting Dog Breeds.” Official recognition of the spotted hunting dogs did not come until 1890. Internationally, the breed is in the FCI Group 6 “Scenthounds and Related Breeds.” The former hunting dogs have evolved into family dogs. They are now among the most popular breeds in the United States.

Appearance of the Beagle

Beagles are medium-sized dogs that stand out for their friendly and cheerful appearance. They have short, shiny coats that can appear in various colors such as tricolor, bicolor, or lemon. Their physique is balanced and proportional, giving them a harmonious appearance.

The Beagle’s ears are strikingly long and drooping. They often reach almost to the ground, giving it a charming appearance. Its large, expressive eyes radiate intelligence and friendliness. The Beagle’s tail is set high and carried cheerfully, expressing its outgoing nature.

Breed Characteristics and Breed Standard

Beagles are a breed defined by their unique characteristics and the established breed standard. Here are some of the characteristic features that distinguish the Beagle.

The characteristic ears of the Beagle are long and drooping, giving it a sympathetic appearance. Its short coat is easy to care for and shiny. Beagles have a compact size and a balanced body shape, reflecting activity and agility.

The breed standard emphasizes the importance of proportions and balance. The legs of the Beagle are strong and agile, underscoring its ability for activities. The tail is set high and carried with joy.

Overall, Beagles embody a unique blend of charm, intelligence, and energy. Their friendly nature and special features make them one of the most popular breeds that people carry in their hearts.

Affection Level	High
Friendliness	High
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet-Friendly	Medium
Exercise Needs	High
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	High
Trainability	Medium
Intelligence	High
Tendency to Bark	High
Amount of Shedding	Medium

Nature and Character

The Beagle is a lively, cheerful breed with pronounced pack behavior. They were bred for hunting in packs. Therefore, they get along excellently with conspecifics and show no signs of aggressiveness. They also show exceptional friendliness and openness towards their humans, especially children. Moreover, the dog is always in a good mood and adapts without problems to various circumstances.

Is a Beagle good for beginners? Of course, despite all this, there is still a hunting dog in him and therefore not a beginner dog. Can you let a Beagle run without a leash? No, as soon as a good scent is in the air, the Beagle activates hunting mode and follows the trail. With a good deal of consistency, however, you can get the strong hunting instinct under control. Due to its high intelligence, the Beagle is stubborn and likes to act independently. You cannot expect submissive obedience from the confident and enduring dog. Nevertheless, a well-trained and physically and mentally lively Beagle is an ideal family dog.

What should I consider when buying?

If you want to bring a Beagle puppy into your home, you should be absolutely sure. After all, the little rascal will remain a part of your family for 12 to 15 years. During this time, he doesn’t like to be alone and needs a lot of exercise and care. He is used to having company and should definitely come on vacation with you. Once you have decided that the breed suits you, it is important to find a reputable breeder. It’s best to visit several breeders, ask them lots of questions, and inspect the condition of the puppies and the parent animals. For a purebred and healthy puppy, you should expect to pay $800 to $1200 .

Beagles are also available in animal shelters. There are always loving Beagles or mixes in need there. These dogs are also looking for a new home. However, these dogs can be traumatized or rather difficult. Therefore, experience with dogs is important here.

Training the puppy

When training the young dog, there must be no lack of consistency. It’s best if you already have some experience with dogs so that you approach the matter correctly from the start. You should make it clear to the puppy from an early age that you are the pack leader and he must not question your authority. They can be particularly sensitive, so you should choose a gentle tone with them.

With a scent-driven breed like the Beagle, you achieve the most with tasty rewards in the form of snacks and food. Praise is generally better than punishment and advances the relationship between dog and owner. Consistent training is very important for these puppies. Due to their breeding as hunting dogs with a high degree of independence and determination, Beagle dogs need clear rules. Since the breed gets along very well with other dogs, attending a dog school is ideal. Here, the puppy can make first contacts playfully and learn something at the same time. Poorly trained Beagles often become barkers.

How to care for a Beagle?

Beagles require regular exercise, social interactions, and mental stimulation. You should train your Beagle well to avoid behavioral problems. Especially the pronounced hunting instinct can become a problem. Also, a balanced diet and regular grooming as well as veterinarian visits are important.

Activities with your Beagle:

Since the Beagle was originally bred as a hunting dog, he requires an appropriate amount of alternative activities. Essential are, of course, long walks outdoors and regular contact with other dogs. As an adult dog, you can also take the little hunting dog on bike rides or jogging. Dog sports such as agility or dog dancing as well as small retrieving games also keep the dog busy. The dog also loves to use its sniffing nose in search games. Professional dummy training or simply hiding treats in the apartment are particularly suitable for this purpose.

Dummy training and fun with your Beagle:

Dummy training is not only an entertaining activity but also promotes the mental fitness of your Beagle. You can use special dummies to teach him to search for objects, retrieve them, or solve simple tasks.

Start with simple exercises and reward your Beagle for successful behavior. Gradually increase the difficulty of the exercises to train his brain and keep him busy. With your patience and enthusiasm, dummy training becomes a great way to strengthen your bond and have fun at the same time.

Grooming a Beagle

Grooming your Beagle is of the utmost importance to ensure that he is happy and healthy. Here are some grooming tips you can consider.

Health and hereditary diseases

In terms of health, Beagle dogs are considered very robust. They also hardly suffer from breed-specific diseases.

Here are some health aspects you should still consider:

Does the Beagle suit you?

Before deciding on a Beagle, it’s important to consider whether he really fits your lifestyle. Beagles are lively and social dogs that require a lot of attention and exercise. If you’re active people who enjoy spending time outdoors, the Beagle could be perfect for you. However, keep in mind that he also requires patience and training.

Interesting and Worth Knowing

Apart from the downsides, there are, of course, many people who love the character of the Beagle without exploiting it. Some celebrities like Paul van Dyk, Kylie Jenner, or Miley Cyrus have a representative of the breed at home. One of the most famous should be the cartoon character “Snoopy.” The US comic artist Charles M. Schulz used a Beagle as a model for his world-famous dog character from the Peanuts comics in the 1950s. Thanks to their sense of smell, they are often used as drug detection dogs or detective dogs.

Beagle as Laboratory Dogs:

Unfortunately, the good-natured and robust nature of the breed also brings a very big disadvantage for the dogs. Most laboratory dogs are Beagles or mixes. Around 2,500 representatives of the breed must undergo often painful tests for experimental purposes every year. Researchers use the friendly animals for the research and development of drugs, with some dogs suffering permanent damage. Fortunately, there are also organizations that advocate for these poor animals and seek new homes for them. Nonetheless, with lots of love and medical treatment, a laboratory Beagle can also lead a normal life again and be happy with his new family.

Conclusion

You now have a wealth of information about Beagles – from their breed characteristics to activities you can enjoy together. Beagles are wonderful, cheerful dogs that can enrich your life with joy and love. Remember to spoil your Beagle with love, care, and shared adventures, and you will build an incomparable relationship with your faithful companion.

Do you already have a Beagle or are you planning to get one? Tell me what makes your favorite so special!