Beagle Dog breed Information, Health & Characteristics

“Beagle” is a breed of small hound dogs. It is almost similar to the larger foxhound with the abilities of excellent smell sensing and superior tracking instincts. Further, the breed is famous all over the world for its even temperament. 

 In the early times, they were used for beagling (hunting hare). Some also used them for detecting agricultural imports and foodstuffs.  The beagles we see today were bred to help their owners for hunting. Now it’s time to learn more about them.

How to distinguish Beagle Dog Breed?

Beagle Dog Breed

The Beagle dog breed is quite famous all over the world. They have high adaptive power and are America’s highest registered breed. Even for obedience and field trials, these dogs are a perfect match. As a unique breed, their characteristics must be retained so that we don’t lose their value. 

HeightThe height of a male Beagle is 37-41 cm.
The height of a female Beagle is 33-38 cm.
WeightThe weight of a male Beagle dog breed is 9-11 kg.
The weight of a female Beagle dog breed is 8-10 kg.
Coat TypeBeagles have a short coat that is dense and waterproof.
You may also find some coarse guard hairs on the top of their back.
Their skin is tough and fits well with the body.
UndercoatYes
SheddingThe Beagle dog breed shed moderately most time of the year.
However, they start shedding heavily during the warm season.
Coat ColourThe Beagle dog breed has a coat colour similar to any other hound colour. These colours include:
Tri-colour (black, tan and white)
Tri-colour mottle
Black and white
Blue Tan and white
Blue mottle
White
Lemon and white
Red and white
Lemon pied
Hare pied
Badger pied.
The coat colour of a beagle starts to change right after they are born. They develop several shades which gradually fade away once they reach their old age.
Coat Pattern1. The Tricolour Beagle has a brown body along with white markings on its feet, tail tip, neck and face. This pattern is called the Irish spotting pattern.
2. Those having two tones do not have a definite pattern.
3. Breeds with pied coat colour have large patches on the fur. These patches appear on the back or side of the breed.
4. The Beagle dog breed also has a ticked coat where black hairs are found on small isolated white grounds.
Eye colourBeagles have two eye colours-hazel and brown.
Life ExpectancyThe Beagle dog breed has a life expectancy of 13-16 years.
PriceUSA: $450-$550
United Kingdom: £950-£ 2,200
India: ₹20,000-₹35,000
Bite Force100-200 PSI
SpeedThese dogs have a speed of 22-36 miles per hour. 

The appearance of a Beagle dog breed

The Beagle dog breed has a balanced outline along with a square built and a levelled back. It is known to be a cousin of foxhounds. This curious breed will always make a run to the end of its quarry to satisfy itself. Also, the physique of this dog helps it to stay active in the field all day long.  

Identifying a Beagle
  1. Build up: The Beagle is a compact hound. It has a proportionate square built along with a short straight topline.  The shoulders of the breed are properly angulated. Further, the breed has powerful rear and a long rib cage for the lungs and heart. 
  2. Head: The breed has a powerful head of a fair length. The cranium is full and broad.  Even the texture is fine and free of wrinkles. The skull is slightly doomed and wide with a moderate peak. Also, the difference between the occiput and the tip of the nose is equally divided. A purebred Beagle will always have a white streak on its head.
  3. Face: The Beagle dog breed has a black nose with wide nostrils. Also, its lips are well-flewed. 
  4. Muzzle: The muzzle of this breed is long, square and straight. Its strong jaws have a perfect scissors bite. The upper teeth lie very close to the lower teeth, forming a square set of jaws.   
  5. Eyes: The beagle breed has a large set of eyes that are either hazel or brown in colour. They are not very deep but prominent features of the breed and are set well-apart, providing a mild and gentle expression. 
  6. Ears: The Beagle dog breed can be identified easily from its long droopy ears. The length of the ears is long enough so that it can reach the end of its nose. These ears are round and do not stand up.
  7. Tail: They have a moderately long and sturdy tail that is always set high. The tail is curled over the back and is covered properly with hair, especially on the underside. A pure bred beagle will always have a white tipped tail.
  8. Forequarters: The front legs of the breed are straight and in proportion to the size of the dog’s body. Its feet are round and hard and have pads to protect them from wear.   
  9. Hindquarters: The hind legs of a beagle dog breed have well-muscled hips and thighs that help the breed is chasing its prey. The knees are not as long as the forelegs. The hocks are firm and symmetrical and bend slightly. A purebred Beagle will always have all its paws white in color.
  10. Markings: With growing age, the markings of a Beagle dog breed change. While small white markings may fade over time, the black markings turn tan and tan markings get deeper.
Suggested article: Top 10 Interesting and Fun Facts about Beagles

Temperament and Personality of a Beagle dog breed

  • As a breed that was meant to be a part of a pack, the personality of beagles has led them through generations. As a friendly and willful breed, they were mostly selected by sociable personalities.
  • Owners consider Beagles to be, ‘full of energy, loving and gentle, but, at the same time, stubborn and selective listeners.’ Besides being a smart canine, Beagles also have selective hearing. Thus, they will always do things their way. However, you can make them do your work if you find a ‘point of motivation’.  
  • As owners, you can never doubt the loyalty of the beagle breed towards their human family members. They are pack dogs. Even with other breeds, they share an even temperament. But, they mostly prefer being with their own kind. 
  • Beagles have an outgoing personality and were bred to extended periods of work. Therefore, they are good for hard-running exercises. Daily exercise not only keeps them free of obesity, it also helps them release the pent up energy.  
  • The breed isn’t quite friendly when it comes to hamsters or rabbits. Their super smell tracking instinct forces them to chase such small animals in an attempt to grab them. Thus, it is better not to pet them with other animals except dogs. However, they get well-accustomed to cats if both are brought up in the same place.
  • They love using their smelling organ in almost every activity, in a hope that it might be food. Their habit to dig things is a deep rooted natural instinct. As curious breeds, they might dig places in search of food or to create a cool place for resting.
  • Beagles also have a habit of snoring. While lying on their back, they tend to snore more. This is mostly the result of their bedding or the position in which they are sleeping.
  • They are also vocal breeds, compared to any other dog. They can express various feelings by making different sounds. They howl, bark or whine to show various expressions such as boredom, pain or when they want your attention.

Health Issues of the Beagle dog breed

Beagles are a versatile breed. Yet, they are still affected by health problems. There are simple methods that can tell you if your beagle is sick or not.

  • Temperature: Dogs have a minimum temperature of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a digital plastic thermometer to measure the temperature. Once the body reaches the point, you will hear a beep. In case there is a reduction in the breed’s temperature, it means that the breed needs immediate veterinary care. 
  • Pulse rate: The normal canine pulse rate is 75/120 bpm. Owners can press their fingers alongside the blood vessels and count them for 10 seconds. Finally, dividing the number will give the exact bpm of the breed.
  • Respiratory rate: Since the respiratory rate for Beagles is 15-20 breathes per minute, signs of rapid or extended breathing can be a factor of concern. In such cases, you must always contact your vet immediately.  

Still, there are some problems that cannot be identified by the above-given steps. These include genetic problems. But, by keeping your Beagle under constant exercise and training, you can develop it into a healthy dog.

Other health issues of the Beagle dog breed include:

1. Beagle pain syndrome:

This is a syndrome where meningitis is formed due to inflammation of blood vessels. This is called polyarteritis. This disease is more common in young beagles (5-10 months old).

Symptoms: 

  • Depression
  • Neck pain
  • Fever

2. Hyperadrenocorticism:

Hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing’s disease refers to the malfunctioning of adrenal glands that produce a lot of steroid hormones. Several dog breeds including Beagle are likely to be affected by this disease.

Symptoms:   

  • Urinating more than normal
  • Drinking a lot of water
  • Increase in appetite
  • Hair loss

3. Amyloidosis: 

Here, the protein characteristics change and get deposited in unwanted places. Further, this can cause kidney or pancreatic diseases in Beagles. Some can also be affected with high fever and swollen joints.

Symptoms:

  • Poor appetite
  • Increased urination
  • Weight loss
  • vomiting

4. Bladder or Kidney Stones:  

In this disease, different types of stones start accumulating in the bladder. Unfortunately, it is common in beagles. Such stones can be very painful for your canine. 

Symptoms:

Beagles may have a problem with urination. If you find your pet facing difficulty in urinating, contact your vet.  

5. Cherry eye: 

In this disease, the tear-producing glands of the breed weakens, resulting in a popped out gland being visible at the corner of the eye. This disorder is not painful at the initial level, but after some time, it will start irritating the dog.

Symptoms:

  • Swollen tear gland
  • Bulge becoming reddish
  • Dog starts squinting
  • The eye becomes dry due to a lack of lubrication

Grooming and Shedding of the Beagle dog breed

“Beagles are conveniently-sized, handsome and easy-to-groom”. These dogs stay peacefully both with humans and other pets. 

  • Coping with proper medication and health care is important for a healthy beagle breed. To keep their fur in check, owners can use a hound glove or curry brush. These have rubber nubs that pick up any leftover loose hair. It also helps in distributing skin oils evenly on them.
  • Beagle’s toenails grow very fast. Therefore, they must be clipped every two weeks. 
  • Their teeth must also be brushed twice a week using dog toothpaste to avoid tartar build-up and stinking breath. 
  •  Beagles can also have a bad doggy odour. This odour can be the result of many things. Bathing them a few times a year can prevent this odour.
  • Also keep their ears clean. They must also be wiped with a damp cloth to check for lumps and stinky ears.

Beagles usually shed their winter fur during the warm season. Thus, owners must bathe them with warm water and brush them regularly to control them. 

Training and Exercise of the Beagle dog breed

Active breeds like beagles require proper training and exercise to keep their health in check.

  1. A beagle will follow a scent forever once he picks it up.” Just like most dog breeds, Beagles also love to accompany their owners.
  2. Beagles have a short attention span. Therefore, they must practice at least five to ten minutes daily. Teach them the basic commands like ‘stay’, ‘come’, ‘sit’, etc. 
  3. Before the training session, ensure that you have gathered everything-leash, treats and lots of your time.
  4. Praise your pup for doing the right thing instead of yelling at it for doing the wrong. This way, the pup will start getting closer to its owner. However, you must use the ‘No’ word to let your beagle know that some of its actions are forbidden.
  5. Regular exercise is essential for the breed to remain active. Actions like playing and running together are more likely to grab the attention of your dog. 
  6. Taking them out 3-4 times a day or involving them in mental games is a great way to bond with your dog.

Feeding of the Beagle dog breed

Beagle Indian Breed

Beagles have a strong desire to eat almost anything. In fact, food acts as a motivation for this breed. It is impossible to keep them away from edible items. But, owners must try to keep fatty food out of reach or else it can cause pancreatic diseases is them. 

Beagle’s diets should contain a minimum of 5% of crude fat. Other items like vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fibre must also be present in their meal.

Living with a Beagle

Bringing home a puppy requires you to carry out several responsibilities. These pups require emotional and physical development during their early years. Therefore, the whole family should be keen towards their training.  As small dogs, they are suitable for living both in an apartment and in a small house. 

Beagles are energetic and active dogs and are mostly good with active families or families with older children. However, as multitalented breeds, they get along well with people of all ages. Although gentle, Beagle puppies are quite hyper. Thus, it is important to take care of the behaviour of young children. Make sure they don’t bother them much while they are taking a nap or eating.  For children about 8 years, keeping beagles as pets is a good choice for they are perfect at giving company. If your child is under that age, bringing home a beagle may not be the wisest decision. Beagles also have a very loud and distinct ‘bark’ which allows it to be a good watch dog, thus preventing any unwanted intruder into your house.

History of Beagle

Though the word “Beagle” came from an uncertain origin, this dog breed has existed for hundreds of years. This breed’s history is cloudy as we know “Beagle” today didn’t develop until the 19th Century. Beagle dog is one of the most common breeds in the world. Beagles

Though the word “Beagle” came from an uncertain origin, this dog breed has existed for hundreds of years.  Some say the breed developed in the pre-Christian period where the hounds tracked the scent and were followed by humans on foot.  This breed’s history is cloudy as we know “Beagle” today didn’t develop until the 19th Century. 

Back then, Beagles were used by hunters in England, Wales and France. But, in the 1700s, they were out of favour due to the introduction of the large foxhounds. However, Wales and France continued to use them for rabbit and hare hunting. Later, they were also used for hunting animals such as jackals and wild pigs.

Conclusion

There are a few points an owner must take into consideration before bringing home a beagle. These include:

  1. Consider discussing with your family first. Ensure everyone, including you is ready to deal with a new member in the house.
  2. Make it wear a collar. This collar will act as an identification tool in case your pup is lost. Besides this, you also need to microchip the dog, right after adopting it.
  3. Carry a plastic bag every time for cleaning up your dog’s poop.
  4. Regular veterinary care is also important for keeping up the health of the dog. Make sure you vaccinate it from time to time.
  5. Keep some items (water bowl, food bowl, playpen and bed) ready before the arrival of the puppy. 

FAQ:

Does spaying or neutering a Beagle bring a change in its behaviour?

Spraying or neutering one’s beagle breed can ensure better behaviour of the dog. Male dogs will have a lesser urge to mark their territory. Also, females won’t be bothered with the bloody discharge coming out on your furniture and rugs.

Can a beagle be left alone for long hours?

Beagles do not like being left alone. Staying isolated for more than 4-6 hours can cause anxiety in them and make them destructive.

Do Beagles drool?

Beagles are no natural droolers. But, sometimes they can start expelling saliva. Exercising more than required can make the canine’s body hot. As a result, they start drooling

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