A sturdy, compact dog with a merry disposition, the Beagle looks rather like an English Foxhound (see p.158) in miniature. The Beagle’s origins are unclear, but it appears to have a long history, possibly being developed from other English scent hounds such as the Harrier (see p.150). In England, from the 16th century onwards, packs of small beagle-type hounds were kept to hunt hare and rabbit, but it was not until the 1870s that a standard for the modern Beagle was recognized. Since then the breed has remained remarkably popular, at first for hunting and now as a companion dog. This versatile hound has also been used by law enforcement agencies to sniff out drugs, explosives, and other illegal items. The Beagle’s friendly and tolerant nature makes it an excellent pet, provided it has plenty of company and exercise – it does not easily tolerate long periods of solitude, KC Variety of colours which may lead to behavioural problems. A typical scent hound, this dog is highly active and has a strong instinct for following a trail. Left alone in an inadequately fenced garden, or allowed to run off the lead, a Beagle can disappear swiftly and stay away for hours. The breed has a loud bark and can be noisy, which may irritate neighbours if the barking becomes excessive. Fortunately, Beagles are relatively easy to train, and do best with an owner who combines fondness with firmness and clear leadership. This breed is good with children old enough to understand how to handle a dog, but cannot be considered safe with small family pets.

The Breed History 

Though one of the most popular modern dog breeds, the origins of the Beagle are obscure. Some reports place them in England before Roman times. Many of the early reports date to the 1300s. It is thought that their early lineage included crosses out to other scent hounds, and Foxhounds are variably thought to be derived from the Beagle as a result of those crosses, or perhaps Foxhounds were crossed back to be an early influence on beagle type. The mid 18th century reports indicate two types of hare hunting hounds. The modern beagle apparently derives from the North Country Beagle. The modern American lines were first imported in the 1860s and 1880s. The breed name origins are also obscure, with deviation from Olde English, French or Celtic being cited; the derivative may be from roots such as “begle”, “beag”, or “begele”.

Breeding for Function 

As hunters, they are courageous and have a great deal of stamina. They hunt equally well in packs, braced (pairs) or solo, though they are most commonly hunted in packs. They are scent hounds and were bred to hunt hare and rabbit. Today, they are most commonly companion dogs.

Physical Characteristics

Height at Withers: Two distinct varieties: 

1. Thirteen Inch: up to 13” high. 

2. Fifteen Inch: 13-15” high (maximum height 15” in the United States, 16” in England). 

Weight: Thirteen inch variety is generally less than 20 lb (9 kg), Fifteen inch variety is generally 20-30 lb (9-13.5 kg). 

Coat: The hard, short-medium outer coat hairs may be of any hound colors. The haircoat is dense. Black, tan and white tri-color is very popular, also common are the red and white. Irish Spotting is a specific spotted marking distribution. Ticking is also accepted; blue tick and red tick being the most common of this pattern. Patch beagle refers to a predominantly white beagle strain (with large black, lemon or red patches generally). Dilutes (e.g., blue) in the coat are also accepted. 

Longevity: 13-15 years 

Points of Conformation: The skull is broad and slightly domed, ears are long and pendulous with round tips that hang in towards the cheek, the leather is fine, and the ear pinna is broad. Eyes are soft in expression, brown or hazel in color, large and wide-set. Beagles have a moderate stop and square muzzle, minimal flews, large nose and the nostrils start out black but fade with maturity. The neck is medium in length and muscling with no throatiness. The back is short, ribs are well sprung, and forelegs are straight boned. Feet are compact and round. The tail is held high but not over the back, and is shorter than most hound tails and is slightly curved with brush.

Recognized Behavior Issues and Traits

Reported breed characteristics include: Loyal, gentle, trustworthy, playful, adaptable, affectionate, but can be prone to independent thinking and will wander off if not kept on leash or fenced in. The fence needs to be secure to prevent digging and jumping escapes. Considered excellent with children due to a low aggression tendency, assuming they are properly socialized. They possess a moderate to high barking tendency. Not considered a watchdog. Good with other pets, though may chase small ones if not accommodated to their presence. They have low grooming needs and low to moderate shedding tendency. Good for city or country living. Beagles have low to moderate exercise needs. They need close human companionship or may howl or become destructive. Can be more of a challenge to housebreak than some of the other breeds. Tend to gain weight unless given adequate exercise and dietary intake is controlled.