Beagle

Temperament

The Beagle is a pack dog, and that explains almost everything. It loves company, both human and canine, and copes worst with loneliness, which it passes with howling and destruction. It is cheerful, gentle and usually very patient with children, which is why it so often ends up in families. Aggression is foreign to it, so it makes a poor guard dog, though it will loudly announce every arrival. The real challenge is the nose: once it catches an interesting scent, it stops hearing you call and can run for miles. It is happy to learn when food is involved, but loses interest once the reward stops being exciting. It also has the distinctive, drawn-out bay of a hound, which can cause friction with neighbors in an apartment building. It usually gets along with cats it was raised with.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Beagle for?

The Beagle suits an active family with children who enjoy long walks and where someone is almost always home. It does well with a second dog. Don't choose one if you work away from home all day, live in an apartment building with noise-sensitive neighbors, or dream of a dog that runs off leash and comes back when called.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

A Beagle needs at least an hour of exercise a day, ideally an hour and a half, and simply letting it out into the yard doesn't count. Long walks on a long line, tracking, nosework and food-searching games work best, because they use its greatest talent. Off leash it goes only in fenced areas, and the fence must be high and dug into the ground, since Beagles are excellent at tunneling under. The short, dense coat needs a weekly going-over with a grooming mitt, more often in spring when the dog drops its winter undercoat. Check the long, hanging ears every week. A Beagle will eat anything and always act starved, so weigh its food and secure the trash can. Training runs on food and patience.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Beagle is a fairly healthy breed; a 2024 UK study found a median lifespan of 12.5 years, and the AKC gives a range of 10–15 years. The American breed club recommends screening the parents for hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, luxating patella and eye disease. In the UK, responsible breeders run DNA tests for Lafora disease (a progressive myoclonic epilepsy), neonatal ataxia (NCCD), Musladin-Lueke syndrome and clotting factor VII deficiency, among others. Obesity is an everyday threat: Beagles gain weight easily, and extra pounds strain the joints and shorten life. The ears need regular checks, because they are prone to inflammation.

• epilepsyIdiopathic epilepsy is more common in the breed than average.
• hypothyroidismSigns include weight gain, lethargy and coat changes.
• Lafora diseaseA progressive, late-onset myoclonic epilepsy; there is a DNA test.
• Musladin-Lueke syndrome (MLS)A genetic connective tissue disorder causing a stiff gait and slanted eyes; a DNA test is available.
• hip dysplasia and luxating patellaBreeders check the parents' joints before mating.
• obesityBeagles gain weight very easily, because they are almost always hungry.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Beagle is the smallest of the British scent hounds and probably descends from the Foxhound, scaled down so it could hunt hares with hunters following on foot rather than on horseback. According to the Kennel Club, the breed was known in England as early as the 15th century. In the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I there were rough-coated Beagles, and some were so small they fit in a hunting jacket pocket or a saddlebag. Beagle packs still hunt in Britain today, often attached to schools and universities. In the United States the breed comes in two size varieties.

Fun facts

• In the time of Elizabeth I there were Beagles so small they were carried in saddlebags.
• In the US, Beagles compete in two size classes: up to 13 inches, and 13 to 15 inches.
• The FCI standard requires the tip of the tail to be white, whatever the dog's color.
• In Britain, some schools and universities still keep Beagle packs.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Small dog breeds
• Best dogs for kids
• Hunting dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI – wzorzec nr 161 Beaglefci.be
2. 2AKC – Beagleakc.org
3. 3The Kennel Club – Beaglethekennelclub.org.uk
4. 4McMillan i in. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reportsnature.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.