Beagle: Temperament, Health, and Care

Origins and size

Beagles were developed in England, where the breed was established by the 15th century as a small pack hound for hunting hare and other small game on foot. Hunters valued them for stamina, a keen sense of smell and a musical voice that carried across the fields. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885 and places it in the Hound Group.

In the United States, beagles come in two size varieties. Dogs of 13 inches and under at the shoulder usually weigh less than 20 pounds. Dogs between 13 and 15 inches usually weigh 20 to 30 pounds. Life expectancy is about 10 to 15 years. A large UK study of beagles under veterinary care found a median age at death of a little over 11 years, which is close to the average for dogs in general.

Temperament

Beagles are friendly, curious and merry. Because they were bred to hunt in packs, most enjoy company and get along well with other dogs. They are generally good with children.

That pack background has a downside. Beagles do not like being alone. A beagle left by itself for long periods, indoors or out, can become bored and destructive, and it may howl. A household where someone is home for part of the day, or where the beagle has another dog for company, often works best. If your dog struggles when you leave, our guide to separation anxiety and chewing explains what helps.

A nose-driven dog

The beagle's nose shapes almost everything about living with one. Once a beagle picks up an interesting scent, the rest of the world tends to disappear. It may ignore its name, wander off or follow a trail for a long distance. This is not disobedience in the usual sense. It is exactly what the breed was bred to do.

• Walk your beagle on a leash, or in a securely fenced area. A strong scent can override even good recall training.
• Check your fence. Beagles are known as escape artists, and the American Kennel Club advises a fence at least five feet tall that extends underground to stop digging out.
• Microchip your dog and keep the contact details up to date, in case it does slip away.
• Give the nose a job. Scent games, hiding treats around the house, snuffle mats and slow, sniffy walks tire a beagle out far better than a quick lap of the block.

Howling and barking

Beagles are vocal dogs. Besides barking, many howl or bay, a long, drawn-out call used on the trail. They are most likely to sound off when bored, left alone or following a scent, and the voice is loud enough to bother neighbors.

You cannot train the voice out of a beagle, but you can reduce how often it is used. Plenty of exercise, scent work and company help the most. Reward quiet moments, and avoid shouting, which some dogs take as joining in. For more ideas, see our guide on how to stop a dog from barking.

Training a beagle

Beagles are intelligent but independent, and they can seem stubborn. They do not respond well to harsh methods. Patience, short sessions and reward-based training work far better. Food is a powerful motivator for most beagles, so small treats make training much easier. Count training treats as part of the daily food allowance, and switch to tiny pieces or part of the regular meal to keep calories down.

Start socialization and puppy classes early. Practice recall in safe, enclosed spaces with high-value rewards, and accept that a reliable off-leash recall in open country is a tall order for this breed.

Food obsession and weight

Beagles love food, and many will eat anything they can reach. In the UK study, obesity was the most common problem recorded, affecting about a quarter of the beagles in the sample. The authors concluded that beagles appear predisposed to weight gain and that owners and vets should pay special attention to body weight. Extra weight puts more strain on the joints and back.

• Measure meals rather than filling the bowl by eye, and adjust portions to your dog's body shape rather than the bag alone.
• Keep food off counters and tables, and use a lidded or locked garbage can.
• Store pet food, snacks, medicines and bags with food in them out of reach.
• Ask visitors and children not to share their snacks.
• Check your dog's shape regularly. You should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, and see a waist from above.

A food-loving dog that raids the kitchen is also at higher risk of eating something dangerous, such as chocolate, grapes, xylitol or medicines. Our guide to common household poisons lists what to keep out of reach, and our guide to overweight dogs and cats explains how to help a dog slim down safely.

Ear care

The beagle's long, drooping ears trap warmth and moisture, and ear problems are common in the breed. Otitis externa, an inflammation of the outer ear canal, affected about one in nine beagles in the UK study. Check the ears once a week. A healthy ear is pale pink, clean and does not smell. Clean only when there is visible wax or dirt, using a cleaner your vet recommends, and never push cotton buds down the canal. Dry the ears gently after swimming or bathing.

See your vet if your beagle shakes its head often, scratches at its ears, holds its head tilted, or has red, smelly or discharging ears. Repeated ear infections can be linked to skin allergies, which also affect beagles. Our guide to ear infections in dogs covers signs and treatment.

Grooming

The beagle has a smooth, dense double coat. It sheds moderately all year and more heavily in spring, after the thicker winter coat. Weekly brushing with a rubber mitt or hound glove removes loose hair. Beagles rarely need a bath unless they get into something messy. Trim the nails regularly, and brush the teeth regularly. In the UK study, dental disease and overgrown nails were among the most common problems after obesity.

Exercise needs

Beagles are active, energetic dogs that need about an hour of exercise a day. Letting a beagle out into the yard is not enough on its own. Two good walks with plenty of time to sniff, plus play and scent games at home, keep most beagles content. A well-exercised beagle is quieter, calmer and less likely to dig, chew or howl.

Common health problems

Most beagles are healthy dogs, but some conditions are seen more often in the breed.

• Obesity and dental disease, the two most common problems in the UK study
• Ear infections and anal gland problems
• Epilepsy, which causes repeated seizures
• Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland that causes weight gain, tiredness and coat changes
• Intervertebral disc disease, where a disc in the spine bulges or ruptures and causes back pain or weakness in the legs
• Cherry eye, a prolapsed gland of the third eyelid, usually seen in young dogs
• Hip dysplasia and kneecaps that slip out of place
• An inherited form of glaucoma, a painful rise in pressure inside the eye that can lead to blindness
• Musladin-Lueke syndrome, an inherited condition seen in puppies, with thick, tight skin, stiff joints and a tiptoe walk

Cancer was the most common recorded cause of death in the UK study. Seizures and sudden back pain both need prompt veterinary care. If your beagle has a seizure, our guide to epilepsy and seizures in dogs explains what to do.

Health testing

If you are buying a beagle puppy, ask the breeder for health results for both parents. The American Kennel Club lists hip evaluation, a heart exam, an eye exam by a specialist, a thyroid evaluation and a DNA test for Musladin-Lueke syndrome. The Royal Kennel Club in the UK also recommends DNA tests for Lafora disease, a form of epilepsy, and for several other inherited conditions. A DNA test is available for the inherited glaucoma as well. These tests do not guarantee a healthy dog, but they lower the risk of the inherited problems that can be screened for.

Is a beagle right for you?

A beagle can be a wonderful companion for a household that has time for daily walks, enjoys a dog with a sense of humor and can live with some noise. It may not suit someone who is out all day, lives with close neighbors who are sensitive to howling, or wants a dog that comes back every time it is called off the leash.

Beagles and beagle mixes do end up in shelters and rescues, often through no fault of their own. An adult rescue dog has the advantage that its personality is already clear. At Paw Squadron, we rescue dogs and cats of every kind, and every animal we take in sees a vet and is dewormed after rescue. Whether you are drawn to a purebred beagle or a hound mix with a beagle's nose, adoption gives a dog a second chance. You can see the dogs waiting for homes on our Adopt page.

For more breed guides and care articles, browse PawPedia. If you have questions about adopting from us, our FAQ is a good place to start.