If you love dogs, then you probably already know about the Beagle dog breed. The Beagle is a dog breed that belongs to the hound family.
In terms of appearance, a Beagle resembles a foxhound but is significantly smaller in stature.
It is classified as a scent hound, and it was bred by humans originally to hunt hares, which is also known as 'beagling'. The fact that the Beagle is a playful and lovable hound breed has seen it become popular across human homes all around the world.
However, it is most popular in England, the breed's country of origin, as well as across the United States and Canada.
It's also a dog breed that continues to be heavily used as detection dogs to check for prohibited imports of banned foodstuffs and agricultural products. Today, variations of the Beagle breed are known to exist, and you can even find super small Beagles, such as the Pocket Beagle.
In this article, we'll take you through everything you need to know about the Beagle, from the average Beagle lifespan and the issues affecting the breed's health to the most common Beagle colors and the average Beagle size! So for all the dog lovers out there, we hope that you find these Beagle facts informative and enjoyable.
If you like the Beagle facts here, do share this article with your loved ones and check out our guides to the Miki dog and the Kunming wolfdog too.
Beagle Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Beagle?
A Beagle is a dog breed.
What class of animal does a Beagle belong to?
Beagles belong to the Mammalia class.
How many Beagles are there in the world?
It's not exactly known how many Beagles there are in the world. However, the fact that they're among the most popular domestic dog breeds ensures that their numbers are healthy. As of now, there's no worry regarding the global Beagle population.
Where does a Beagle live?
Beagles are one of many dog breeds that live in houses with humans. They are one of the most popular pet breeds and they can be found In England, America, and Canada, as well as in many other countries all around the world.
What is a Beagle's habitat?
The Beagle dog breed originated from a dog type known as hounds and the initial breeding of Beagles was done by humans with the main purpose of creating a hunting hound.
However, due to the lovable nature of Beagle dogs, humans have given shelter to Beagle dogs in domestic environments for many years. A loving home is the best place for any Beagle to be today.
The evolution of Beagle dogs has been such that they can adapt to almost any domestic environment as long as sufficient efforts are made by their owners to maintain the health of these dogs and give them plenty of love and care.
Who do Beagles live with?
Beagle dogs live with people in our homes. They form an important family member for many people around the world and are one of the most popular dog breeds to keep as a pet.
How long does a Beagle live?
On average for this dog breed, the Beagle life span ranges from 12 to 15 years.
How do they reproduce?
Beagles reproduce sexually, like all other dogs. After the gestation period, mother Beagles typically give birth to six puppies. At birth, each Beagle puppy weighs only a few ounces.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of Beagles is currently Not Listed. However, judging by the popularity of this dog breed among human populations around the world, it's safe to say that these dogs aren't in any danger of going extinct any time soon.
If humans continue to love Beagle dogs the way they have done in years gone by, as a species, they are sure to last a long time.
Beagle Fun Facts
What do Beagles look like?
At first glance, Beagles look a lot like foxhounds, however, their size is much smaller. The average adult Beagle is still bigger than the Pocket Beagle though.
Apart from the difference in size with foxhounds, some other differences include the Beagle's unique expression, shorter legs, broader head, and shorter muzzle. Their medium-length skull has a domed shape and their muzzles are square-cut.
Their noses are a black gumdrop color and their large eyes make them appear incredibly cute in their typical brown or hazel color. Their long and low-set ears also contribute to their overall lovable appearance.
They have a medium-length neck that is quite strong and flexible and allows them to easily get down to sniff out an interesting scent in their environment. From their chests to their abdomens, Beagles bear a tapered look and their tail is white-tipped and slightly curved.
When Beagles are active, they hold their tails upright, and overall, their body is quite muscular.
Their straight front legs are carried by Beagles under their bodies while their rear legs feature well-defined bends at the stifles and are quite muscular.
The color of Beagles varies from one dog to the next. However, typically, most Beagles have a lot of white furs, mixed with large black areas and some light to dark brown shades.
How cute are they?
Beagles are regarded as one of the cutest dog breeds in the world. From their large eyes and their dome-shaped heads to their sizeable ears and their compact structure, several visual factors add to the cuteness factor in Beagles.
The best thing about this dog breed is that their behavior is among the most measured too, so they're not too timid but neither are they too aggressive. If Beagle puppies undergo proper training, they can grow up to be among the most loving and loyal dogs.
How do they communicate?
A full-grown Beagle dog, like most other dogs, relies on forms of communication such as barking, howling, and wagging its tail.
When Beagle dogs are happy and merry, they are known for continually wagging their tails and many of them also display physical excitement when they are happy in other ways. The Beagle bark and Beagle howling are both noisy behaviors that this dog displays when it is in the presence of strangers.
The ability of Beagles to identify a unique scent can come in handy in terms of preventing thefts and burglary.
How big is a Beagle?
A Beagle is 13- 15 in (33 - 38 cm) tall. The height of an English foxhound is 21-25 in (53-64 cm), which makes a Beagle approximately half the size of a foxhound.
How fast can a Beagle run?
The top speed of Beagles is somewhere around 20 mph (32.2 kph). This is an impressive speed that shows why the Beagle dog breed has been popularly used as hunting dogs.
How much does a Beagle weigh?
Male beagles weigh around 22 - 25 lb (10 - 11.3 kg) while females weigh approximately 20 - 23 lb (9.1 - 10.4 kg).
What are the male and female names of the species?
The male and female names of beagle dogs are 'dogs' and 'bitches' respectively.
What would you call a baby Beagle?
You can call a baby Beagle a puppy. Beagle puppies are exceptionally cute, even cuter than adult Beagles! Have you ever been lucky enough to meet one, or even have one as a pet?
What do they eat?
Beagles are omnivores and are best known for having voracious appetites. In domestic environments, they use their excellent sense of smell to sniff out food and they will eat almost everything that's classified as edible for humans!
A typical pet Beagle is given dry Beagle food twice a day. However, this usually varies from one Beagle to another depending on its size. For example, a mini Beagle like Pocket Beagle will require less food than the breed's standard size.
If your Beagle has unrestricted access to human food in your home, it will overeat and gain weight. To maintain the health of your pet Beagle, you should take appropriate action if you see it gaining weight rapidly.
Are they hypoallergenic?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions by prospective Beagle owners, and the answer to this question is no, Beagles aren't hypoallergenic. You can expect moderate-high levels of Beagle shedding.
Would they make a good pet?
Yes, after all the Beagle facts that you've read so far, this doesn't come as a surprise does it? Beagle breeds make for excellent pets (especially for first-time dog owners) but Beagles without training can be destructive so it is important to train your pet Beagle from a young age.
Through training, your pet Beagle will be much more than just a friendly domestic dog.
It can even use its excellent scent hound abilities to use to detect intruders. They're also one of the more affordable companion dogs around as the average Beagle price in the USA for a puppy starts from $400.
Did you know...
The American Kennel Club (AKC), along with other kennel clubs, has recommended several breed standards for Beagle breeders to keep in mind to ensure the optimum health of all Beagles. While most reputed breeders comply with these standards, Beagles are still prone to certain medical conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hypothyroidism, intervertebral disc disease, and epilepsy.
What were Beagles bred for?
The exact origin of beagles still isn't known. However, during the 16th century, hound-owning Englishmen often used these smaller hounds for hunting small prey such as hares and rabbits because of their high energy level.
They were also deployed as gun dogs that were responsible for sniffing out any game for hunters. Over time, these small hounds came to be known as Beagles and eventually created great variety within the Beagle breed. For example, there are Pocket Beagles and mini Beagles that are much smaller than regular Beagles.
How do a Beagle's ears help it to smell?
One of the most amazing facts about Beagle dogs is that their sense of smell isn't just down to their noses, their long and floppy ears contribute to it as well. Here's how!
Micro-air currents are created by their ears when Beagles' heads are down with their noses to the ground. These micro-air currents generate a very light breeze that stirs up scent molecules, making it easy for their noses to smell them.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the Corgi Beagle Mix or the Dachshund Beagle Mix.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our beagle coloring pages.