Beagle Dog Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

If you’re wondering what it might be like to own a Beagle or whether it might be the right dog for you and your family, you’re in luck! In this article, we will discuss some pros and cons of owning a Beagle so that any “prospective” new owners might better know if this dog breed will suit them.

After all…

The last thing you want to happen is for you to regret your decision to adopt a Beagle simply because they are behaving EXACTLY the way they are expected to act as a Beagle! So, without further ado, let’s discuss this fantastic dog breed by first learning about where they came from and what purpose they originally served since this will often give us the best idea of how a particular dog will behave.

Beagle Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  England

Original Purpose:  Hunting small game, including rabbits.

Height: Shoulder Height of 1 ft, 1 inch to 1 ft, 3 inches

Weight: 18 to 30 pounds

Life Span: 10 to 15 years

Dog Breed Classification According to the American Kennel Club (AKC): Hound Group

Origins of the Beagle

The Beagle originates in England, dating back to the 15th century when he was initially used as a hunting dog in Britain. His ability to pick up a scent (scent hound vs. sighthound) and not give up, no matter what, made him very popular with the aristocrats of that time. Hunting was, after all, the #1 sport in England those days. But it should be noted that the Beagles of that period differed significantly from those we know and love today. Back then, the breed was much more agile, robust,r and faster than the typical Beagle we see today.

You see…

Over the years, as the Beagles were brought from the rough terrains of Scotland and Northern England to the Southern England countryside, they became more domesticated – a bit slower and less aggressive. Mainly because their “primary” purpose wasn’t to hunt and track rabbits all over the countryside anymore; instead, because of their friendliness and loyalty, they slowly began to transition from working/hunting dogs to more companion animals. Eventually, the Beagle breed was brought to the United States from England in the 19th century. They slowly grew in popularity, eventually becoming the personal pet of President Lyndon B. Johnson and everyone’s favorite dog in America…. Snoopy!

And even more recently…

A Beaglenamedf Uno was widely covered by the media in 2008 and won several prizes in a show held by the Westminster Kennel Club. This is all fine and dandy, but none of this tells us whether or not a Beagle is going to be right for you, so let’s not discuss some of the characteristics of the Beagle breed so that you can get a better idea of what it would be like to own a “modern-day” Beagle.

Physical Characteristics

Generally, Beagles are short or medium-sized dogs that typically have shoulder Height of 1 ft, 1 inch to 1 ft, 3 inches tall, and weigh anywhere from 18 to 30 pounds. Their coat will usually be mixed black and tan on top with a white underbelly. The fur will consist of hard, bristles” fur that will only require a minimal car,e making their physical upkeep pretty simple. They’ll also have broad, rounded ears that will hang well below their jawline and have a slightly curved tail that will usually stand erect when at ease.

Personality and Temperament

There’s a reason why Charles M. Schul,z the creator of the Peanuts comic,s chose to use a Beagle as his main character, S, snoopy, and it’s not because these are “unfriendly” dogs! So, Beahave has an excellent disposition and is are great family pet. They’re very good with kids, extremely loyal, and small enough to be hugged by a child. What more could you want?

But don’t be fooled….

While a Beagle is undoubtedly a cute little guy, at his “core,” – he is still an excellent hunter. He can follow any trail by the scent. You’ll need to understand that if your Beagle has to choose between listening to you or following that UNBELIEVABLE scent they can smell, we’ll guess what?

“If your Beagle isn’t on a leash, you’ll probably need to get in your car to chase him down!”

This can be a problem unless you fence off your property or have him on a leash; there is a risk of the Beagle getting away from the house while following an enticing scent. Another problem is obesity – Beagles love to eat and eat a lot. If you indulge your dog (no pun intended), that could lead to obesity and make him incapable of climbing stairs.

They can also get….

They are bored quickly. And as we all know, bored dogs can often time cause a LOT of problems. This is why one of the first things any new Beagle owner will want to do is immediately enroll in an obedience class. You see, despite Beagles being pets and super actionable with their owners (and even cats if socialized early on), they’re also notoriously difficult to train. It’s not their fault; ttheirnatural hunting and tracking instinct has been bred iver the centuries.

Now if you…

A Beagle might be the right dog for you if you have a large yard with a VERY secure fence around it or live in the vast open country. However, if you live in an apartment or in a city where your Beagle won’t have plenty of opportunities to run and explore, choosing to adopt a Beagle puppy would be a terrible decision for you.

You see, in addition to requiring a lot of exercise to be truly happy, Beagles also tend to bark a lot, which is another reason why Beagles aren’t always the best pets for those living in an apartment or close to their immediate neighbors.

Potential Health Concerns

The Beagle breed can suffer from a wide variety of health conditions, such as:

• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)  is a spinal issue that leads to severe neck pain. When your Beagle is affected by this condition, even the tiniest neck movements become difficult.
• Ear Infections, when not treated on time, these infections can lead to severe damage to the ear canal and could lead to hearing loss.
• Hip dysplasia, which is a genetic condition leading to the malformation of the hip socket,
• Luxating patellas, where the kneecaps get out of place, are other common conditions that affect these creatures.
• IgA Deficiency, causing blood clotting issues,
• Beagle Pain Syndrome (Meningitis),
• And Demodectic Mange.

So, needless to say, if you do choose to purchase a Beagle puppy from a Beaglebreederr, you’re going to want to make sure that the breeder that you choose is a responsible one that is willing to guarantee the health of your new puppy and puppies. While working with a reputable dog breeder is always a great way to avoid purchasing a “sickly” animal, another excellent course we prefer is to “skip” the whole puppy thing and simply adopt an adult dog from a rescue center or kennel!

This way…

You’ll better understand what you’re getting right from the start. For more information on where you might be able to find a Beagle rescue kennel, we would encourage you to seek out a local Beagle club in your area. If one is unavailable, you can also seek out the National Beagle Club, an excellent resource for information on beagle training programs.

Lastly, we don’t want to suggest…

All Beagles have medical issues; because this has been a prevalent breed for many years within the US, over-breeding has led this particular dog breed to have an increased risk for specific medical conditions, conditions which can be expensive to treat on your own and are very difficult if not impossible to diagnoses in newborn puppies.

For more information about how much it would cost to purchase a pet insurance policy, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.