A small English scent hound bred to hunt hare in packs on foot, the Beagle is compact, tireless and governed almost entirely by its nose.
Small hare-hunting hounds are recorded in England from the medieval period, and by the sixteenth century "beagles" small enough to be carried in a saddlebag — the so-called pocket beagles — were kept at court.2 The modern breed was consolidated in the nineteenth century, principally by Reverend Phillip Honeywood in Essex, whose pack formed the basis of the type, and by Thomas Johnson, who bred for looks as well as function.
American imports from the 1860s were refined into the smaller, more uniform dog familiar today, and the AKC recognised the Beagle in 1885.1 The breed's docility and consistent size later made it the most widely used dog in laboratory research, a role that has attracted increasing regulation and rehoming programmes.2
The likeliest derivation is from the Old French beegueule — "gape-throat," a reference to the hound's baying voice — or from Old English begele, of uncertain meaning. Middle English and Gaelic words meaning "small" have also been proposed. All the candidate origins point to either size or voice.2
| Life expectancy | 10–15 years |
|---|---|
| Height — male | 13–15 in (33–38 cm) |
| Height — female | 13–15 in (33–38 cm) |
| Weight — male | 20–30 lb (9–14 kg) |
| Weight — female | 20–30 lb (9–14 kg) |
| Coat type & colors | Short, dense, weatherproof; typically tricolour or any true hound colour |
| Shedding | Moderate, year-round |
| Exercise needs | Moderate to high — long scent-led walks |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| AKC group | Hound Group (AKC) |
| Prestige Breed size class | Medium Breed · 25 – 60 lbs |
The AKC describes the Beagle as friendly, curious and merry.1 Bred to work in packs, the breed is sociable with dogs and people alike and rarely shows guarding behaviour or aggression.
The nose governs everything. A Beagle on a scent will ignore recall entirely, and the breed is a determined escape artist and opportunistic scavenger. It is also loud: Beagles bay, and the sound carries. Training requires patience and food, and rarely produces a reliably off-leash dog.
Beagles are used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as the "Beagle Brigade," detecting prohibited agricultural products in passenger baggage — chosen for their nose, their size and their non-threatening appearance in crowds.1
Beagles dig under, squeeze through and follow scent lines out of gardens. Check fencing thoroughly before the dog arrives.
Food motivation plus a compact frame makes obesity extremely common. Measure meals and count treats used in training.
Scatter feeding, scent games and tracking satisfy the breed in a way that walking on pavement does not.
Long drop ears restrict airflow and predispose the breed to infection. Inspect and clean routinely.3
This guide is educational and is not veterinary advice. Breed standards, measurements and health information are drawn from the sources listed above; consult your veterinarian for guidance specific to your dog.
Prestige Breed makes a medium breed multivitamin designed for breeds like the Beagle — see the Beagle Multivitamin.