Find the Right Breed of Dog for You
Dive into over 300 breed in our all inclusive online resource
Beagle
Small Breed
The Beagle is one of the happiest and oldest breeds of dog. With their distinctive baying cry and their lively, sweet, gentle, loving nature, they have become an extremely popular family dog, as well as still being used as an excellent hunting dog.
Breed standards
Country of origin
Great Britain
Weight
9-14kg / 20-30lbs (standards may vary)
Height
Desirable minimum height 33cm / 13in; Desirable maximum height 40cm / 16in (standards may vary)
Coat
Short, dense, waterproof hair
Markings
Red and white, orange and white, lemon and white or tri-colour. No markings.
Lifespan
Above average, 12-15 years
Their loyal and sociable attitude is coupled with an energetic, playful nature in which they do, literally, follow their nose, picking up interesting scents and seeking them out. This non-aggressive, intelligent breed is a very popular family dog.
Temperament
The gentle, curious Beagle is a breed of dog that appears to love everyone, no matter the age. An extremely loving animal that loves to play just as much as to spend time with people. As a very social breed they dislike being left alone and, if you spend a lot of time away, buying two would be best for the Beagle. They enjoy running in fields and may go off on their own at times and need good, firm training to make sure they will always come back when you call them.
-
PoorChildrenGood
-
VeryCombativenessNot very
-
VeryDominanceNot very
-
Not veryFriendlinessGood
-
Not veryIndependenceVery
-
LoudNoiseQuiet
-
Not veryTrainabilityVery
Good to know
The Beagle's willingness and want to succeed makes it a first choice working dog and companion dog. Its small stature and ever-wagging tail make it a calming sight for all.
- Makes a fantastic family pet and is excellent with children
- Very little grooming needed
- Excellent working dog
- Happy in most climates
- Does not require trimming or stripping
- Good for novice owners
- Is very active indoors
- Likes to bay, a sounds which some find disturbing and hard to get used to
- Tendency to wander off by themselves
- Can be prone to heart disease, epilepsy, eye and back problems