Beagle

Gentle, affectionate, cheerful and playful

Ranking

30 th

Most popular breed

Origin

United Kingdom

Group

Size

Medium

Activity

Hunting dog

Coat

No hair

breeds.lifeSpan

12+

Weight

22 to 44lbs

Origins of the Beagle

The first Beagles

The first trace of the small hound dates back to the 5th century BC and when were used for hunting hares. These dogs were very similar to the Beagles that we know today. According to researchers, these dogs were imported to Roman Britain (today’s Great Britain) by the Romans, however, no records have yet been found attesting to this fact.

In the 3rd century, descriptions of a dog strongly resembling the Beagle were recorded in a poem by Ossian, a Scottish bard.

There are also mentions of this small dog in the Laws of the Royal Forest, which are the laws for lands reserved for hunting. These laws, written during the reign of Canute the Great (1016-1034) put an end to an order requiring the mutilation of the legs of a dog capable of running after a deer.

The Beagle is thought to be a descendant of the Foxhound, a much larger dog.

The Beagle and England

The English created the Beagle breed that we know today. They wished to create a breed that would be a perfect miniature of the hound but also bring all of the qualities of a dog in a smaller size. Thus, the Beagle was born. Because of its size, it was especially used for fox and hare hunting.

King Henri VIII (1491-1547) loved this breed of dog. Some historians even believe that he was more affectionate with his Beagles than with his wives and mistresses. His passion for Beagles was transmitted to his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, and she even gave her name to a type of Beagle, the “Elizabeth Beagles” which were smaller than the currently existing Beagles. The breed has, however, disappeared.

Beagle sat down

By the seventeenth century, there were thus three types of Beagles:

  • The Northern Beagle, which was a fast dog of medium size.
  • The Southern Beagle, which was called the “Kerry Beagle” since it could measure 45 cm or more at the withers.
  • The “Cat Beagle” which was a dog reserved for hunting hares and which did not exceed 35 cm at the withers.

The true uniformization of the breed began in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Two clubs were thus created: the Beagle Club in 1890 and the Beagles and Harriers Masters’ Association in 1891.

It was the Beagle Club that established the very first breed standard and conducted the first exhibition in 1896.

In the early 1920s, the breed seemed to be in jeopardy when the First World War dispersed the majority of Beagle packs. It was through Nina Elms’ kennel, which won numerous awards in the 1930s, that Beagle Kennels were able to grow once again.

The Beagle in England and the US

Beagles reached the United States in the 1840s, but varied wildly in quality and differed greatly from the standard. A quality bloodline was established in the 1870s when General Richard Rowett from Illinois imported dogs from England to breed. The Beagle was accepted as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1885.

Characteristics of the Beagle

beagle walking

Did you know that the character of Snoopy is a Beagle?

The Beagle’s qualities

Although it essentially remains a hunting dog, the Beagle has become a pet suitable for the whole family. It is a very loving and cheerful dog that will prove itself to be sweet and playful with children.

Lively and intelligent, it is a dog that keeps a steady temperament. It will be ready to follow you anywhere, since it is a sporty and vigorous dog.

The Beagle’s shortcomings

Although the Beagle is intelligent, it can sometimes be stubborn. As such, training it is not easy. It is important to be firm with it and not to be taken in by its beautiful eyes.

It is also somewhat of a glutton. Its weight should thus be watched quite regularly.

Physical Characteristics of the Beagle

The first standard for the Beagle was created in 1896. Before that date, the type of Beagle could vary by region and hunting ground.

General appearance of the Beagle

The Beagle is a sturdy, compact and silky-haired hound that in terms of proportions must have a very precise size. The length of the skull, from the occiput to the tip of the nose, interrupted by the stop, must be as equal as possible. The height of the elbow to the ground must be approximately half the height of the ground to the withers.

HEAD

  • Skull: slightly dome-shaped, moderately wide, with a slight occipital crest.
  • Stop: well-marked, dividing the head along its length between the occiput and the tip of the nose as equally as possible.
  • Nose: wide, preferably black, but less pigmentation is permissible in lighter-colored dogs. The nostrils should be wide open.
  • Muzzle: Stripey muzzles are not acceptable.
  • Lips: reasonably well let-down.
  • Jaws and teeth: the jaws must be strong and have a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, that is to say that the upper incisors overlap the lower incisors in close contact and are fully implanted in the jaw.
  • Eyes: dark brown or hazel, fairly large, they should not be sunken deeply in their orbits or be prominent. They should be well set apart with a soft and appealing expression.
  • Ears: long with rounded tips. If they are stretched they should reach almost to the end of the nose. They should be set low and have a fine texture. They should land gracefully against the cheeks.

NECK

Of sufficient length to allow the dog to easily put its nose to the ground. It is slightly curved and has little dewlap.

BODY

  • Back: horizontal and firm.
  • Loins: powerful and flexible.
  • Chest: extended below the elbow. The ribs should be well-sprung and extend rearward.
  • Belly: not overly tucked in.
  • Tail: it is strong and of moderate length. High set and carried gaily, it should not be curved above the back nor inclined to the front. It should be covered with hair, especially on its lower part.
  • Shoulders: diagonal and clearly visible shoulder blades.
  • Elbows: solid. Turning neither inward nor outward.
  • Thighs: muscular
  • Hocks: firm, well let down and parallel.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Non-disqualifying
Any deviation from the above will be considered a defect which will be penalized according to its gravity and its consequences on the health and well-being of the dog.

Disqualifying
Males should have two testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

beagle de cara

I'm very hyperactive! I love going to the park, to the beach, and running with my mommy!

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Coat, Color and Care for the Beagle

Coat of the Beagle

The coat of the Beagle is short, dense, and water resistant.

Color of the Beagle

The Beagle’s hair is tricolored. It can be black, brown or white but also appears in other colors, such as blue, white and brown, dark brown, lemon, lemon and white, red and white, crimson and white, black and white, or even fully white.

Apart from the all-white color, all of the above colors may also appear as specks. Other colors are not permitted.

The end of the tail is white.

Care for the Beagle

Check your Beagle’s ears. Some parasites and foreign bodies can become lodged there and cause problems, such as inflammations or ear infections. As such, remember to clean them regularly.

Give your Beagle a bath from time to time with a shampoo designed specifically for dogs.

Give your Beagle a bath from time to time with a shampoo designed specifically for dogs.

beagle ojo

Did you know that ex-president Lyndon B. Johnson owned several Beagles?

Size and weight of the Beagle

Size: 33 to 40 cm
Weight : between 8 and 14 kg

Health

White the Beagle is a fairly robust breed, it is prone to some diseases, such as glaucoma or hypothyroidism.

A dog for children?

The Beagle is a good companion for children thanks to its gentle and playful character.

Is the Beagle easy to train?

Although it is intelligent, the Beagle is also very stubborn. It is important to be firm and patient when training it, but it will eventually learn to listen to its master.

Pictures of Beagle

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4 Questions about this breed

2

New member here!

Leigh S. | 25/07/2023
Last reply 6 months ago
Last reply 6 months ago
1

What to eat if there is a rash?

Jossy B. | 21/05/2021
Last reply 3 years ago
Last reply 3 years ago
1

how can I stop my puppy to eat excrements?

Samaris O. | 12/09/2013
Last reply 11 years ago
Last reply 11 years ago