Let's talk Beagles

Among the world’s most popular dogs, Beagles are loyal, affectionate and intelligent animals. With their big brown eyes, floppy ears and ‘pleading’ expression, these handsome hounds are also hard to resist. Their background as hunting animals can make training a little bit of a challenge, and they tend to bark rather more than average, but the Beagle breed is absolutely worth the extra effort. With a bit of time and patience, you’ll soon have your very own ‘Snoopy’ by your side.

Official name: Beagle

Other names: Hound, English Beagle

Origins: United Kingdom

Beagle standing looking at camera in black and white

Drooling tendencies		Warm weather?
Grooming needs		Cold weather?
Shedding level		Suited to apartment living
Barking tendencies	High	Can stay alone?*
Energy level (high, low, medium)*	Medium	Family pet?*
Compatibility with other pets

* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behaviour. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.

Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed specifics should be taken as an indication.

For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socializing your pet as well as covering their basic welfare needs (and their social and behavioral needs.

Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.

Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.

All domestic pets are sociable and prefer company.However, they can be taught to cope with solitude from an early age. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or trainer to help you do this.

Illustration of black, beige and white beagle

33 cm - 38 cm Height

9 kg - 13 kg Weight

31 cm - 33 cm Height

9 kg - 10 kg Weight

Baby age	Birth to 2 months
Puppy age	2 to 12 months
Adult age	12 months to 7 years
Mature age	7 to 10 years
Senior age	10 to 20 years

Beagle puppy running with pink ball in his mouth

1/7

Get to know the Beagles

All you need to know about the breed

With their hangdog expression, droopy ears and expressive eyes, it’s no wonder that Beagles are one of the best-loved dog breeds around. Gentle and easy-going, they also have a lovely temperament – and, with a bit of training, Beagles are great with children and other animals too.

Although the origins of the Beagle are not precisely known, they are thought to have been with us for many hundreds of years. Believed to descend originally from the hunting hounds of the Romans, they became popular in Britain during the 1800’s. In 1890, The Beagle Club was established and the standard followed soon after.

Today, the Beagle is one of the top 10 most popular dogs in the world, according to the American Kennel Club. Also a regular fixture on our screens, they’ve had a starring role in everything from the claymation series Wallace and Gromit and hit TV show The Wonder Years to children’s movie Shiloh. Notably, there was also Snoopy, the most famous Beagle of all, who appeared in the comic strip Peanuts.

With their russet, black and white coat, the Beagle is similar in appearance to the Foxhound – though the latter is much larger. Also, within the Beagle breed itself, there are two different varieties. The American Kennel Club makes the distinction between those under 13 inches at the shoulder and those between 13 and 15 inches – though in the UK they can be slightly larger.

With a fairly robust constitution, the Maltese is a healthy breed of dog with a good lifespan. Indeed, many Malteses live well into their teens –and, occasionally, even beyond.

Active and energetic, Beagles will require at least an hour of exercise every day, but ideally more. Bred to hunt in packs, they also do better with company and are not good at being left alone.

One other word of warning before choosing a Beagle: they like the sound of their own voice and can be known to bark and bay quite frequently. They also tend to be a little more challenging to train than some breeds, but nothing that can’t be overcome with a few treats and a bit of patience.

Overall, these faithful animals make a marvellous companion. In fact, with a bit of effort invested, you’ll soon be rewarded with a new best friend.

2/7

2 facts about Beagles

1. On the scent

Along with the Bloodhound and the Basset Hound, the Beagle has one of the best-developed senses of smell of any dog breed. In fact, they have some 220 million scent receptors in their nose.

1. On the scent

Along with the Bloodhound and the Basset Hound, the Beagle has one of the best-developed senses of smell of any dog breed. In fact, they have some 220 million scent receptors in their nose.

3/7

History of the breed

Despite much conjecture among dog-lovers, the origins of the Beagle remain somewhat shrouded in mystery. In all likelihood, though, they probably descended from Roman hunting dogs who were used to catch rabbits and the like. Latterly, they have popped up in paintings and literature ever since Elizabethan times.

Back then, there were smaller, wire-haired Beagles – some of which were so small they could be carried in the pocket of a hunting jacket. The Beagle size has increased over the years but smaller versions of the breed, known as ‘Pocket Beagles’, still exist today.

While the exact origins of the Beagle name are lost in time, many believe the word derives from the Gaelic term ‘beag’ (little). Others suggest it comes from the French term for the blast of hunting horns (‘be’geule’).

In any event, the modern breed of Beagle is thought to have emerged in Great Britain around the 1830’s. Believed to be a cross between several breeds – including possibly the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle and the Southern Hound – the Beagle personality seems to combine the best features in one.

In 1890, The Beagle Club was founded in the UK and the breed standard followed soon after. Today, the Beagle appears regularly in lists of favourite breeds all over the world.

Given the Beagle’s good behavioural characteristics, their size and docile temperament, they are also the favoured breed for laboratories. Luckily, many charities work on offering them a home. Thinking of getting a Beagle? Why not turn a lab dog into a lap dog?

4/7

From head to tail

Physical characteristics of Beagles

1. Head

Domed skull with long droopy ears and squarish muzzle.

2. Face

Large, expressive eyes, either brown or hazel in colour.

3. Fur

Coat is short, smooth and dense in a variety of colours including white, tan and black.

4. Body

Muscular and solid in the body with straight, level topline and shortish legs.

5. Tail

Long, raised tail often has a white tip on the end.

5/7

Things to look out for

From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Beagle

It’s important to choose an approved breeder

While the Beagle usually tends to have a pretty good lifespan, with an average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, they can be prone to some genetic health conditions along the way – like all breeds of dog. As always, the key is to buy from a responsible and reputable breeder, as they will be screening for most inherited conditions, which will help to reduce the risks. Also, knowing if your Beagle is a carrier, or could potentially develop a health issue later on, can help you and your vet plan accordingly for their lifelong care.

Healthy diet, healthier dog

Puppy

Adult

Senior

When choosing food for a Beagle, there are many factors to consider: their age, lifestyle, activity level, physical condition, and health including potential sickness or sensitivities. Food provides energy to cover a dog’s vital functions, and a complete nutritional formula should contain an adjusted balance of nutrients to avoid any deficiency or excess in their diet, both of which could have adverse effects on the dog. Clean and fresh water should be available at all times. In hot weather and especially when out exercising, bring water along for your dog’s frequent water breaks. Energy intake will always have to be adapted to the climatic conditions. A dog that lives outdoors in winter will have increased energy requirements.
The following recommendations are for healthy animals. If your dog has health problems, please consult your veterinarian who will prescribe an exclusive veterinary diet.A Beagle puppy’s requirements, in terms of energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins, are much greater than those of an adult dog. They need energy and nutrients to maintain their body, but also to grow and build it. Until they are 12 months old, a Beagle puppies’ immune system develops gradually. A complex of antioxidants - including vitamin E - can help support their natural defences during this time of big changes, discoveries, and new encounters. Their digestive functions are different from an adult Beagle, too: their digestive system is not mature yet so it’s important to provide highly digestible proteins that will be effectively used. Prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides, support digestive health by helping balance the intestinal flora, resulting in good stool quality.
Similarly, a puppy’s teeth – starting with the milk teeth, or first teeth, then the permanent teeth – are an important factor that needs to be taken into account when choosing the size, shape, and texture of kibble. Calorie intake should be controlled as Beagles are known for their tendency to put on weight. It is recommended to split the daily allowance in three meals until they are six months old, then to switch to two meals per day.

The main nutritional goals for adult Beagles are:
Maintaining an ideal body weight by using highly digestible ingredients and keeping the fat content at a sensible level
Supporting healthy bones and joints with chondroitin, glucosamine, and EPA-DHA
Promoting optimal digestibility with high quality protein and a balanced supply of dietary fibre
Helping to preserve the health and beauty of the skin and coat with the enriched addition of essential fatty acids (especially EPA-DHA), essential amino acids, and B vitamins.
To help support their natural defences, a formula enriched with an antioxidant complex and containing mannan-oligosaccharides is recommended.

After 7 years old, Beagles start facing the first signs of ageing. A formula enriched with antioxidants will help maintain their vitality, and specific nutrients, such as chondroitin and glucosamine, will help maintain healthy bones and joints. Ageing is also accompanied by the modification of digestive capacities and particular nutritional requirements, so food for older Beagles should have the following characteristics:
Higher vitamin C and E content. These nutrients have antioxidant properties, helping to protect the body’s cells against the harmful effects of the oxidative stress linked to ageing.
High-quality protein. Contrary to a widely held misconception, lowering the protein content in food brings little benefit in limiting kidney failure. In addition, older dogs are less efficient at using dietary protein than younger dogs. Reducing the phosphorous content is a good way of slowing down the gradual deterioration of kidney function.
A higher proportion of the trace elements iron, zinc, and manganese to help maintain the good condition of the skin and coat
A higher quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids (borage oil, fish oil) to maintain the quality of the coat. Dogs normally produce these fatty acids, but ageing can affect this physiological process.
As they age, dogs increasingly suffer from teeth problems. To ensure they continue to eat in sufficient quantities, the shape, size, and hardness of their kibble needs to be tailored to their jaw.
Throughout their life, it is important to avoid feeding Beagles human foods or fatty snacks. Instead, reward them with kibble taken from their meal allowance, and strictly follow the feeding guidelines written on the package in order to prevent excessive weight gain.

Side view of three Beagles looking into distance

6/7

Caring for your Beagle

Grooming, training and exercise tips

Beagles tend to be athletic and energetic dogs who like nothing better than having a good sniff around outdoors. They should therefore have at least an hour of exercise every day – and ideally two or more. The older Beagle adult can become a bit lazy, and content to snuggle up in their basket, but as this is a breed that’s prone to obesity it’s important not to let that happen. Whatever age they are, Beagles still retain that inherent hunting instinct, with a tendency to chase a scent, so you may wish to keep them on the lead – or at least within eyeshot. Also, as they are consummate escape artists, with a knack for digging under fences, it’s important to keep a careful watch on them even at home in the garden.

One of the many positives of having a Beagle is the low maintenance required for their grooming. Although they have a dense double coat, which protects them from the elements, their short, smooth and waterproof fur is easy to clean and maintain. Brushing your Beagle once a week with a medium-bristle brush should be enough to remove any dead hair. Also, moulting is only moderate to average, though will be heavier during the Beagle’s shedding seasons. Because of their short fur, the occasional bath should more than suffice. Also, nails should be clipped regularly, teeth brushed as often as possible and the Beagle’s long ‘drop’ ears checked carefully during grooming.

When it comes to training your Beagle, it’s true that they can be a little more challenging than some breeds. Don’t let them know we told you. And, although they are gentle and devoted dogs, they have an independent streak too. Due to their history as hunters, Beagles will want to smell everything on their walks – and they can take longer than average to housetrain. But, on the flipside, Beagles also learn very quickly and will respond well to reward-based training – especially if it involves food. The key is to start your Beagle early with puppy-training classes and regular socialisation. With a little planning and patience, you’ll both reap the rewards.

7/7