Beagle
A merry, compact English hound with a superb nose, very sociable with people and dogs, and famously food-driven.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 33–40 cm · Females 33–38 cm
- Weight
- Males 10–11 kg · Females 9–10 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–15 years
- Exercise
- 60–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Tricolour, Bicolour, Lemon, Red, White
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 161 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with other dogs | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 5/5 – Very high |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 1/5 – Very low |
| Barking | 5/5 – Very high |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 3/5 – Moderate |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a friendly family dog
- enjoy daily walks and scent games
- already have another dog
Think twice if you …
- need a quiet dog
- are away most of the day
- want reliable off-lead recall
Care
Temperament
Happy, friendly and gentle, with a strong curiosity. Sociable with nearly everyone, but determined when it finds a scent or food.
Exercise
Needs an hour or more daily; sniffing walks, scent games, mantrailing and canicross suit it well.
Grooming
Weekly brushing is enough; it sheds moderately, more in spring and autumn.
Training
Clever but easily distracted; short, food-based sessions work well, and recall needs ongoing practice.
Health
Beagles can have epilepsy, hypothyroidism, intervertebral disc disease and a tendency to put on weight; several inherited conditions can be DNA tested. Ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- Musladin-Lueke syndrome (MLS)
- Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome (IGS)
- NCCD
- Lafora disease (NHLRC1)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Beagle was developed in England as a pack hound for hunting hare, followed on foot. Small packs are still kept for that purpose, but most Beagles today are family dogs.
It is cheerful, friendly and usually very good with children and other dogs. It is also curious, vocal and ruled by its nose: a Beagle will follow a good smell over the horizon and raid the bin if given the chance. Owners need secure fencing, a long line for walks and a sense of humour. It does not like long hours alone and may bay to say so.
Did you know?
Since the 1980s the US Department of Agriculture's Beagle Brigade has used Beagles to sniff out food in airport luggage.