Beagle Dogs Information

Written by: Debbie Moore and Shawna L. Krautheim

Copyright 1997 to 2010 Dogs and Puppies Central
All rights reserved.

Alternate Names: Peanuts Dog

Common Misspellings:  Beegle, Beagel, Beegel

Learn all about Beagle Dogs and Puppies through our indepth guide to the Beagle dog breed. You'll find solid information about Beagle dog history, Beagle life expectancy Beagle dog appearance, Beagle temperament and personality, Beagle health problems, Beagle puppy care, training Beagle puppy dogs and more. Also includes important information about choosing a responsible Beagle dog breeder.

Immortalized in many movies and television shows, such as "Shiloh" and "Underdog," the Beagle has always been an American favorite. Perhaps the best known Beagle of all time was "Snoopy" from the popular Peanuts cartoons.

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Beagle Facts

The Beagle Dog Breed In Brief

Country of Origin: United States of America

Beagle Height: 15 inches or less at the shoulder

Beagle Weight: 18-25 pounds on average

Beagle Color Variations: All the known hound colors and varieties

Beagle Size Variations: Standard size only though there are also individuals out there, known as Pocket Beagles

Beagle Exercise Needs: Demanding

Beagle Grooming Demands: Minimal

Beagle Trainability: Medium Difficult

Beagle Life Expectancy: 12-14 years

Average Beagle Prices: $750 to $2500, depending on Pedigree

Good With Children: Yes

Good With Other Pets: With caution - see below.

Breed Group: Hound

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Beagle Dog History

Like so many other dogs, the history of the Beagle has been obscured by the hands of time, leaving many to speculate and guess as to the origins of this magnificent canine. Records of keen sight and scent hounds have been found to predate even the Roman Empire and it is believed that the wonderful little Beagle may have dated as far back or, at the very least, is descended from these noble dogs. It is known that this breed was firmly established prior to the 18th century and, in fact, it was by cross-breeding the Beagle with a buck hound that they came by the popular Foxhounds, which were used for pack hunting. From this cross, two separate varieties of dog were developed, one of which was known as the Southern Hound and the other which became the North Country Beagle.

Meanwhile, hunters in the United States were relying upon Dachshunds and Bassets for their canine needs. While quick and seemingly tireless, these dogs were not a suitable type for their job. In 1860, the European dogs would be introduced to the line and it would succeed in combining the tenacious qualities of the American Beagle with the beautiful type and correctness of the European strain. By 1888, the National Beagle Club was formed and the Beagles have been an American favorite ever since.

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Beagle Dog Appearance

One of the most distinctive breeds of dog in the world, the Beagle appears to best resemble a miniature Foxhound, though he is a solid and sturdily built dog for his short height. Shown in two classes, 13-15 inches and the 13 inches and under divisions, he is still a very big and powerful dog for his little size. Possessing an incredible amount of stamina and speed, he is more than capable of driving his quarry to the trees, the ground, or to the death if need be.

Beagles come in all the regular hound colors, which means they can be black and tan, black tan and blue tick, black tan and white, black tan and redtick, blue tan and white, tan and white, black red and white, brown and white, red and white, lemon and white, black and white, black, black fawn and white, blue, blue and white, lemon, brown, red, tan, or even white. In addition to this diverse color variety, they can also be ticked, spotted, or can have black, brown, tan, or white markings. In a nutshell, the Beagle can come in just about any color and style you can imagine.

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Beagle Grooming

Grooming the Beagle is relatively easy - a good brushing with a soft bristled brush will take care of any of those itchy spots, as well as loosening up any dander or loose fur, and a bath once or twice a month will keep your Beagle's coat simply glowing. Keeping the toenails trimmed short will help to prevent sore paws, as well as risking them catching them on the carpet, and the Beagle, like any floppy-eared dog, should have his ears checked regularly for any signs of dirt or infection.

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Beagle Exercise Needs

While most tend to see the hound as a lazy dog, envisioning old-time Plantation movies with lazy loafers lounging on the porch, the Beagle is anything but lazy and inactive. In fact, quite the opposite is true - a very active and enthusiastic individual, he will tirelessly play fetch, tug of war, and 'hound' the cat until there is no tomorrow. If not kept busy enough, he will even turn to your shoes or the furniture as a source of amusement - and that's never a good thing.

It's very important to remember that this particular breed has been bred, for centuries, to hunt down their quarry and chase after them as long as the prey will run. Even when not hunting, they are a very active, very high exercise individual. At the very least, the Beagle needs several long brisk walks a day or a chance to run off steam within a fenced-in area. Never, however, let your Beagle off the leash unless he's in an enclosure and supervised - Beagles are notorious for "catching a scent" and running off, often ignoring cars and other dangers.

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Beagle Temperament

The Beagle dog is a popular dog breed with a tendency to be loving and good natured if given proper training and socialization. If you have kids, you may be considering adding a Beagle to your family. Is the Beagle a child friendly dog?

Although Beagles love interacting with children and are quite playful and tolerant of the antics of a child, caution may be in order if you have children younger than age six. In order for a Beagle dog to interact safely with a small child, he needs to understand that the child ranks above him in the pack hierarchy. This is sometimes difficult to reinforce in the case of a young child since they are of such small stature, the Beagle may continually challenge them for pack position. The normally child friendly Beagle may exert signs of dominance and even aggression if left alone with a small child they consider small and non-threatening.

The normally gregarious, affectionate Beagle may become a less child friendly dog when it comes to the issue of food. Beagles love food and have a very advanced sense of smell due to their scent tracking skills. If a small child whom a Beagle considers to be non-threatening playfully reaches for his food, the dog may respond with aggressive action such as biting which could cause serious injury to a small child.

Once a child reaches the age of seven or eight, a Beagle can be an excellent pet. Energetic and curious, a Beagle is the ideal dog to form a strong bond with an active and inquisitive child. Once the pack hierarchy is established and the child is deemed to be a higher up pack member, Beagles can be a remarkably child friendly dog who is both gentle and tolerant. It’s important that the child be taught how to respect the Beagle dog and not pull at his ears or aggravate him repeatedly as Beagles will sometimes snap as a protective mechanism if he feels threatened.

Many of the problems associated with the interaction between children and Beagles can be solved by early training and by exposing the dog to children at a young age. Children should also be taught to interact effectively with the Beagle. In addition to being taught not to taunt the Beagle with food, they should learn to keep doors and fence gates closed as Beagles are natural wanderers and can quickly escape if they detect a scent worth tracking.

By undertaking early training and adopting a Beagle only after the children reach a certain age, the happy-go-lucky, good natured Beagle can be a very child friendly dog and a real asset to the family.

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Beagle Training

If you are challenged with the task of training a Beagle, be ready to put your patience to the test. Fun-loving and stubborn as a bull, most Beagles simply can't be bothered with learning tricks and such mundane tasks as lay down and roll over. Lay down? Shyeah-right - only after he's finished making the cat run for cover and making sure there isn’t a bird traipsing about in his back yard. If you want to train a Beagle, chances are it will all come down to a battle of wits.

In order to train one of these rebels, you will want to use a technique known as "positive reinforcement." This means that, rather than scolding your dog when he does something you don’t like, you simply ignore him and, when he does something that you want, you reward him with a treat and lots of excitement, happiness, and praise. Making a big production of the desired behavior encourages your Beagle to continue doing this action in hopes of getting more goodies and attention.

Beagle Health

Beagle Dogs can be prone to certain hereditary health problems. That is why choosing a responsible breeder from which to purchase your Beagle puppy is very important. Responsible Beagle breeders will be well educated about the breed and carefully screen their breeding dogs for disorders that can affect these dogs.

Some health issues that may affect the Beagle include, but are not limited to:

Patellar luxation

Hypothyroidism

Intervertebral disc disease

Epilepsy

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Is the Beagle Right For You?

While films like "Shiloh" endear the Beagle to us, and he is known as a wonderful family dog, it doesn't necessarily mean that the Beagle puppy that you're so fixated on is the right dog for you. Before considering a pile of cute Beagle puppies, take a few moments to answer whether or not that the Beagle is the right breed for you - notoriously noisy, they can be extremely vocal and are not well-suited for apartment living. Additionally, the Beagle sheds profusely and it's important to know if you're a "neat freak." Additionally, the Beagle is a runner and cannot be trusted off the leash. This can make for a bit of trouble, particularly for those who do not have the time or the ability to maintain the Beagles need for a high activity level.

There are bonuses to the Beagle, however. They are generally a very healthy and hearty breed, and have a great friendly love for children. The Beagle can make the perfect pet for the right family.

A word of extreme caution about "Pocket Beagles" and "Teacup Beagles" though!

Be very wary of what is known as the Pocket Beagle or Teacup Beagle, as these can prove to either be dwarf specimens, the results of heavy inbreeding (with lots of health problems) or can be the offspring of Beagles crossed with toy terriers. Always do your research and purchase a Beagle only from a responsible, knowledgeable breeder in whom you can place your trust.

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Beagle Prices

Average Beagle Price: $750 - $1000

Price always varies when it comes to the purchase of a quality, home-raised healthy Beagle dog or puppy. It's of utmost importance that you place the most weight on acquiring a great Beagle puppy from a highly responsible, reputable breeder, and put the price as a secondary concern in making your decision.

Buying a Beagle dog or puppy at a cheap price from a breeder of questionable reputation can be a one-way ticket to heartbreak and great additional expense throughout the dog's life, should your Beagle puppy have hereditary health problems or behavior and temperament issues (which very often is the case with cheap-priced puppies). Buying from a highly reputable Beagle breeder is your best insurance for acquiring a well socialized, healthy puppy of stable temperament.

Beagle prices also will vary according to the puppy's conformation; puppies placed as pets and companions will generally be less expensive as show-quality Beagle puppies intended to be shown in conformation.

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Finding Beagle Puppies For Sale By Reputable Breeders

If you are ready to add an adorable Beagle puppy to your family, be sure to check out Dogs and Puppies Central's directory of Beagle Puppies For Sale, where you will find photos and information posted by reputable Beagle breeders. We actively screen Beagle breeders who wish to advertise on our service by asking that they meet and follow our Guidelines For Responsible Dog Breeders. We also ask for - and check - three references from each breeder.

By performing an initial dog breeder screening, it is our hope that we can help put you in touch with a caring, responsible Beagle breeder near you. We cannot physically inspect the premises and dogs owned by breeders advertising with us, so you need to be responsible for doing the final inspection and interview.

Let's stop the cruelty of puppy mills. Please help us keep money out of the hands of puppy mills, back yard breeders and pet stores. Buy your Beagle puppy only from a responsible, caring hobby breeder that raises their dogs and puppies in a loving home environment.

When you locate that perfect Beagle puppy - please be sure to send us some photos to be included in our growing gallery of Beagle dog and puppy pictures!

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Additional Beagle Resources:

• Beagle Wikipedia Profile
• AKC Beagle Breed Profile
• Beagle Pictures
• Beagle Videos

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