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The Beagle is one of the best known and loved of all the hound group. They’re intelligent, happy, and outgoing but also have quite a mischievous nature, so they might get in trouble pretty often, especially if left alone for long periods of time. However, with the right training and most importantly, the right treats, Beagles can be incentivized to behave properly.
Even though the Beagle size doesn’t usually exceed 40 cm, they won’t be very comfortable living in a small apartment as they need plenty of space to run around and burn off the excess energy.
Beagles are generally a robust breed but can suffer from:
- Hip dysplasia
- Lafora's epilepsy which is an inherited condition where carbohydrates cannot be broken down reulsting in toxin build up and nervous signs.
- Meningiti which is a painful condition where the tissue surrouding the spinal cord and the brain become inflamed.
- Hypothyroidism where the thyroid gland is underactive and does not product enough thyroid hormone, and can result in low energy levels, weight gain and skin problems.
- Intervertebral disc disease a condition where there us abnormality in the discs which act to cushion the bones in the spine.
- Ear infections
- Cherry eye which is where a gland within the third eyelid pops up in the corner of the eye.
- Musladin-Lueke Syndrome which is a genetic condition which can affect development of puppies.
- Neonatal cerebellar cortical degeneration which is a disease affecting the brain that causes neurological signs.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- DNA test for Musladin-Leuke Syndrome and Lafora's epilepsy which tests whether or not a dog has the potential to be affected by these conditions.
These sturdy and bold little scent hounds have kindly expressions and are compact and athletic. They have short coats that are dense and weather-resistant, and come in a range of different patterns. The Beagle colours are also as varied as they can include blue, black, lemon, white, red, brown, tan, or black.
This is a happy, easy-going dog who is full of life and fun to be around. The Beagle personality is very good-natured and, as they were bred to be pack animals, will get along with most other dogs. They love children, but need to be exposed to cats at an early age in order to develop good relationships with them, and may never be safe with strange cats or small furries.
The Beagle is a good watchdog, barking at anything unusual, although once the burglar is indoors, the Beagle may prefer a game with him! The Beagle suits an owner or family who want an active, affectionate, cheerful dog who loves getting involved in games and activities but who are able to cope with their selective attitude to obedience and lack of reliable recall.
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 4/5 |
| Easy to train: | 1/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 1/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 3/5 |
| Energy level: | 4/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 1/5 |
| Shedding: | 3/5 |
Around the mid-16th century, hounds began to be classified according to their purpose, i.e. sight hounds, scent hounds, etc. Around this time a small hound, bred to kill rabbit and hare, was assigned the name 'Begles', a French term meaning 'gape throat.' This referred to the animals' tendency to 'tongue', i.e. bay as a pack. The anglicised version where these dogs have their origins of course, is 'Beagle'. The breed owes its ancestry to the Foxhound, the Harrier and a small bloodhound known as a 'Kerry Beagle.'
The ideal Beagle person is home all day, likes walks, enjoys positive reinforcement-based training, and particularly takes part in scent-based games or sports such as man-trailing or tracking. They may be a family with older children or a child-free family, but long, interesting country walks should feature heavily in their lives – along with a love of physically affectionate dogs.
The Beagle dog breed needs a great deal of exercise – around two hours a day. For many Beagles, this will be on-lead, and because of his strong hunting instinct, he should not be let off-lead until owners are confident he will return when called, or else only in a safe enclosed area. One of the best ways to keep your Beagle happy and well-exercised is to play scenting games and give him a chance to use his exceptional nose.
Like most hounds, Beagles are happiest in the countryside as they love the scents and open spaces of the great outdoors, and need a lot of exercise. A medium house with a decent sized, well-fenced garden is a must, and with lots of close-by walks. They enjoy living with other Beagles too.
Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food. Proper nutrition along with care can contribute to a Beagle lifespan reaching 15 years.
This breed is easy to keep as the Beagle grooming process only requires a quick brush once a week, to remove dead and loose hairs. One slight problem is that Beagles do love to roll in foul smelling material. Luckily, they are quite easy to bathe. The ears should be checked on a regular basis to ensure they are clean and free from infection.
The Beagle dog breed is a challenge to train because of their natural scent hound instincts. Scenthounds were developed to find a trail, and then to follow it to the exclusion of everything else, and not be distracted no matter what might happen. This means that your Beagle is likely to tune you out totally if their mind is occupied with an interesting sniff! This isn’t them being ‘disobedient’, it is them doing what they were bred for.
Recall is a real challenge for Beagles, and while you should spend as much time as possible teaching your Beagle to come back when you call them, it’s wise not to rely on that! They are an escape artist too so good fencing is vital.
What a Beagle can do is sniff. So, find a reward-based training class who can teach you how to play scent games, and exercises with your dog, as this will improve the bond between you and give you both something you can excel at.
Happy and friendly, but still solid and robust, the Beagle makes a great family dog. They are gentle enough not to frighten smaller children, and active enough to join in games and family activities. Just watch out for children leaving doors and gates open as the Beagle is an expert escape artist!
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
The heavy, velvety earflaps actually improve a Beagle’s ability to pick up a scent, as when their nose is pointed to the ground, the long ears create micro-air currents which help better conduct the scent to their nose.
As the Beagle is such a manageable size, and has such an incredible nose, they have found work around the world as a drugs and food sniffer dog in many airports. They are extremely successful in this work — and their appealing look means they don't frighten the passengers.
Is a Beagle a good first dog?
Beagles can be the perfect choice for a first-time dog owner as they are small-sized, loving, and playful. However, they can be more difficult to train, which for a first-time owner might result challenging.
What are the disadvantages of owning a Beagle?
Although they come with plenty of good qualities, Beagles can also be quite vocal and require plenty of training, which can be seen as disadvantages by many potential owners.
Are Beagles okay to be left alone?
It’s recommended that Beagles not be left alone for more than 4-6 hours a day, as they can get anxious and bored easily, and are prone to becoming destructive.
Is it better to get a boy or a girl Beagle?
Both male and female Beagles make great pets, but depending on what you’re looking for in a pet, male Beagles can be more laid back and predictable, while female Beagles can be more energetic and demanding.
