
Why Beagles are one of the best dogs to own
Did you know Beagles are ranked in the top ten of the most popular dog breeds in the world?
It’s not surprising, given these dogs are well-tempered, loyal…and much more!
Keep reading below to discover more interesting facts about this beautiful dog breed.
Beagle Stats:
- Size: Medium dogs
- Weight: Females 9-10kg, Males 10-11kg
- Height: Female 33-41cm
- Lifespan: Average 12 – 15 years
- Coat: short, smooth coat, usually black/tan and yellow/white mix of colours
Beagle History:
Although the true origin of Beagles is not known, the modern Beagles we know and love can be traced back to Britain.
Originally, Beagle-type dogs were also available in a miniature “pocket bag” version that was favoured by aristocracy and royals like Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth I.
The Beagle breed was initially primarily bred for hunting due to their incredible sense of smell and stamina.
Their heritage is believed to be a cross between the Foxhound, Harrier and ‘Kerry Beagle’ dog breeds and you will notice how similar these breeds look and the many traits they share!
It is believed the name Beagle is taken from the French word begueule which means “gate throat”.
Temperament & Traits:
Beagles are known for being friendly, well-natured dogs, so they are great for families but probably won’t make a good guard dog!
They do however make excellent watch dogs because they’ll alert you to unfamiliar noises or danger.
It will come as no surprise that Beagles seriously love sniffing and will happily spend the day with their nose exploring the home and sensory toys.
Here are some of their key traits:
- Gentle, happy disposition
- Rarely aggressive or scared
- High energy
- Excellent with children (including young children)
- Most Beagles are great with other animals, especially when introduced early
- As pack dogs they are incredibly loyal
- Sweet, yet sensitive
- Responsive to training, but best when started young and consistently reinforced
Most Interesting, Memorable Beagle Facts:
- Almost every Beagle has a “white tipped tail”
- Beagles have one of the best developed senses of smell of any dog! They also use their soft, floppy ears to help them sniff – their ears can reach their noses and deliver scent particles
- A research study in the 1950s revealed that it took the average Beagle less than a minute to find a mouse in a one-acre field (compared to other breeds, like the Fox Terrier, which took around 15 minutes)
- One of the most famous Beagles in the world is Snoopy from the popular cartoon “Peanuts”
- In Australia, Beagles are used as sniffer dogs for termite detection
- Due to their gentle temperament, they are often used in pet therapy in hospitals
Health Concerns:
Compared to some dog breeds, Beagles are actually very active and healthy dogs
The main health conditions they face can include:
- Obesity
- Heart and joint problems
- Arthritis
- Eye/ear infections
- Separation anxiety
Some of the above issues are due to general ageing, and many of the others can be controlled with the appropriate medication/treatment response.
A few of the conditions above are linked; for example, obesity can accelerate heart and joint problems by putting more pressure on a Beagle’s organs and legs.
Thankfully, if you are a Beagle owner you can help avoid this by regulating their treats and diet and providing regular exercise and active play to maintain a healthy weight.
For the best dog food and diet to feed them see our raw food based dog food here which is rated 5 stars by owners
In terms of separation anxiety, stimulating toys, white-noise machines, treats (and so on) can be used to ease this.
Do Beagles Make Great Pets?
The answer is yes! However, do note they do like their exercise/walks and exploring so are not well suited to apartment/city life.
Beagles are also an excellent dog choice because:
- They are easy to keep and not prone to major illnesses (compared to some other breeds)
- Being short haired dogs, it doesn’t take long to groom them
- Their gentle nature makes them fantastic family dogs, especially around children (their gentle, active and energetic nature is ideal here)
- With a little patience they can learn to obey commands
- Beagles are affectionate and will show you unconditional love
We hope you’ve learnt something new or interesting about this wonderful dog breed, and if you were considering adopting a Beagle, now you know the great things in store