A strong, robust little hound dog, the Beagle looks like a mini Foxhound. Their body is square-shaped, with fairly long skull and brown eyes. Their weight averages from 33-44 pounds, with the height of 13-15.7 inches.

Coat

The coat of a Beagle is medium to short in length (about a half to 3/4 inch), hard, and fairly thick coat. They usually have white spots or white collie producing a tri-color. Beagle standard states that "any true hound color" is acceptable. Brindle is typically not seen.

Activity

Highly energetic and agile, Beagles need a lot of exercise, plus brisk walking on a daily basis. They should have a secured yard of sufficient size to prance in. In walking this breed, leash should be applied all the time as they tend to depart with their leaders searching for a wild amusement.

Temperament

The Beagle is genial, kind little breed with the drive to scent trail. Bred to work independently when hunting, these dogs are fairly independent yet get along with other dogs. It should be known, however, that cats and other small animals might be a quick prey for this breed, and may not mingle with these animals.

Beagles are lively, highly devoted, and may need extra training to ensure that they are well-mannered. They thrive on social interaction; they do not like being left alone for extended periods of time. This breed is bubbly, sharp, and ready to learn. They quickly adapt to their surroundings. The Beagles are generally good-tempered, with a naturally gentle state.

Overview

Bred solely for hunting purposes, the Beagle is inclined to follow his nose and ignore everything. So, obedience training at the earliest is needed. This breed is a cross between Harrier and other hounds in England. They do best in hunting quails, hares, and pheasants.

Care

The coat of a Beagle is easy to care for. With smooth, short-haired coat, the Beagle needs brushing with a firm bristle brush, and bathing with wild soap only if necessary, with occasional dry shampooing. Always check their ears gently for signs of infection and trim the nails regularly.

Training

Training the Beagle is delightful since this breed is very intelligent, and eager to please. But they are known to lose interest relatively quick as they are inclined to pick up a scent and go after it. Beagles are known to have their own minds. They are highly devoted, watchful, and require firm and consistent training. It is important that the trainers are their pack's leader, and provides sufficient amount of physical and mental exercise. Beagles who are permitted to be pack leaders may develop various degrees of behavioral problems such as obsessive barking, snapping, guarding, biting, and vicious behaviors when left alone. Although these are not the qualities of a Beagle, these are behaviors that are brought about by lack of leadership, and/or exercise from their masters. These behaviors can be fixed when dog instincts are met.

Character

The Beagle is highly energetic, and is great with a family environment. They are very spirited, bubbly making them an excellent companion if socialized properly. This breed is sharp, and well-tempered, never showing signs of aggressiveness or fearfulness. The Beagle tends to be mischievous, and bold at times, so appropriate precautions should be taken if training this playful breed.