Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
Did you know that friendly Beagle is usually among the top ten most popular dog breeds in the States? That’s right; people love this curious and merry dog with a unique appearance and floppy ears.
This dog is mostly known as the pet dog, but originally they were bred to hunt, which is why they have such a strong urge to chase anything small and fast.
Beagles were bred to hunt in packs, which is why they enjoy the company and are easygoing dogs with happy-go-lucky attitudes.
Quick Facts
Real name: Beagle
Other names: English Beagle
Origin: England
Breed type: Hunting dog
Weight: Male 22–25 lb (10.0–11.3 kg), Female 20–23 lb (9.1–10.4 kg)
Height: 13–16 in (33–41 cm)
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Litter Size: Average of six puppiess
Color: Tricolor or white in combination with black & tan/brown or brown/tan
Coat: Short haired, hard coat of medium length
Beagle Introduction
Beagle is an excellent hunting dog that is often described as a happy dog due to his expression.
As hunting dogs, they are passionate about spending time in packs or next to their favorite human. There are two Beagle varieties:
- Beagle under 13 inches at the shoulder
- Beagle between 13 and 15 inches at the shoulder
Beagle comes in eye-pleasing colors such as lemon, white, red, and tricolor. Eyes are big in brown and hazel color, while ears are long and set on a broadhead.
Beagles are lovable, happy, and companionable dogs, which makes them perfect family dogs. Each year this breed is more and more popular among American pet owners.
They are smart, energetic, and curious hounds who will demand a lot of your attention and playtime. Now, let’s see how this breed was developed and how they got to be so popular.
Beagle History
Beagle is a bred of many mysteries. Not even today, people don’t have the full history information on this breed. Even the breed’s name is covered in secret. What is known for sure is that this breed is one of the oldest dog breeds alive.
Beagle is an ancient breed, and according to various sources, Beagles were written about as early as the 1400s.
They definitely have descended from hounds in packs by hunters of the foot in England, Wales, and France. Their primary job as hunters was to hunt rabbit and hare, but they were no strangers to hunting or tracking deer, and smaller hounds.
The smaller and more compact hounds were ancestors of the modern Beagle. Those who couldn’t afford large dogs to run next to horses, and those who worked in the field, loved having Beagles around them.
Beagles imports began in the years after the Civil War. The AKC registered its first Beagle, named Blunder, in 1885.
Beagle Physical Appearance
They are generally between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41 cm) high at the withers and weigh between 18 and 35 lb (8.2 and 15.9 kg), with females being slightly smaller than males on average.
Beagles are often seen as miniature Foxhounds, with the hound’s wear-and-tear look with a fairly long skull and ears set on a moderately low level.
Eyes are large with a gentle expression and commonly in brown or hazel color. Ears are short and set on the high. The chest is deep and broad, while the back is short, strong, and muscular. Forelegs are crooked or Dachshundlike.
Feet are always close and firm. The coat is hard or medium length. The coat is of soft quality or thin. Tricolored beagles are most common, and they occur in many shades, although they commonly have brown and black hair.
Sense Of Smell
Just like Bloodhound and Basset Hound, the Beagle has one of the best-developed senses of smell of any dog. A biog study was conducted in the 1950s when John Paul Scott and John Fuller began a 13-year study of canine behavior.
A big part of their research includes testing scenting abilities. For this part, they used various breeds by putting a mouse in a one-acre field and timing how long it took the dogs to find it.
As a result, Beagles found it in less than a minute, while Fox Terriers took 15 minutes to find it.
Beagles are superb when it comes to ground-scenting, which is why they aren’t so much used in mountain rescue. Some breeds are better at air-scenting, such as collies.
Beagles may be small in size, but they are among the best tracking dog breeds alive.
When it comes to tracking duties, Beagles are great. Since they tend to be quite stubborn, it is important to train them properly.
Hiring a professional dog trainer with experience in tracking training is always a great investment.
Since their noses are so powerful, make sure that you always provide walks that are on a leash.
Canine experts claim that this has something to do with their long ears and large lips that assist them in trapping the scents close to the nose.
Beagle Personality
Beagle was initially bred to be part of a pack, so having companions is very important for this breed, whether canine or human. This breed has gentle nature and loves spending time outdoor exploring.
When given adequate exercise, they are calm and tractable house pets. They tend to be great with children, tolerant and always ready to go for a game or an adventure. Still, this is an independent breed, and they tend to bark and howl.
Living With Beagle
This breed is suitable for first time dog owners, due to their even-temper.
Owning a Beagle guarantees fun because they are very social and mischievous. Plus, their natural desire to please makes them easy to train. They get along fine with other pets.
Just like with any other breed, supervision when with children is desirable. They can get carried away with playfulness. When in a walk, keep your Beagler on a leash, because they can easily run off when they see something moving.
Beagle Training
As with all dogs, proper training and early socialization can do wonders for dogs’ behavior. Training should start as soon as you get your Beagle to enter your home.
Have enough toys, a clean water bowl, and a bed where you BNeagle can spend time in silence and peace.
Arm yourself with treats and the new ones as you learn about your Beagle preferences. Just like other dogs, beagles don’t respond well to harsh techniques, but only to positive reinforcement.
Make training sessions short and fun, don’t let your dog get bored. If you need professional help, hire a professional trainer – you might have to take some puppy classes.
If you are a full-time employee check if your company offers pawternity leave.
Beagle Grooming
The Beagle has a smooth and dense coat that will demand maintenance. This type of coat gets heavier in the winter, so spring is shedding season.
You can expect your Beagle to shed moderately year-round. Weekly brushing is mandatory. You may use a medium-bristle brush or a rubber grooming mitt.
Beagles should be bath only when needed, and the only shampoo for dogs is allowed.
As with all breeds, you should check gums weekly and provide good that promotes dog’s teeth health. Check eyes and learn how to clean a dog’s ears.
Beagle Health
Responsible breeders will always give you a healthy puppy. They will screen their breeding stock for various health conditions, especially those that a certain breed is prone to.
Breeders will screen your Beagle for conditions such as:
- Hip dysplasia
- Epilepsy
- Luxating patella
- Eye disorders
- Hypothyroidism
Of course, you should take your Beagle to the veterinarian’s office as soon as it’s officially your dog. If you adopting a dog from an animal shelter, they will inform you of the dog’s healthy and hand you over a dog who’s being spayed or neutered.
Is Beagle the Right Breed For You?
Before you decide if a specific breed is for you or not, you should be sure that you already have a dog. Owning a dog is a big commitment and askes for your time investment and strong finances.
On the other hand, owning a Beagle can extend your life and make you happier. SO, if you want a dog who is athletic and has a short easy-care coat, next to love toward outdoor, a Beagle might be right for you.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to deal with a dog with an independent attitude, a distinctive doggy odor, and keeping him securely fenced, you should think about other breeds.
If you are a first time dog owner, check the breed that you should avoid.
Popular Beagle Comparisons
