Beagle Breed Profile

One of the oldest purebred hounds, Beagle ancestors can be traced as far back as 400 BC in Greece.  However, their history is a little sketchy, as the Beagle that we know and love today wasn’t developed until around the 19th century.

The Beagle was originally bred as a scent hound and used for hunting small animals like hares and rabbits.

Temperament

A small to medium sized dog, the Beagle is a great family pet, as long as you understand that while they are a fairly low maintenance dogs, they are energetic and that nose of theirs can lead them into trouble.

Being hounds they have a high level of intelligence and have been bred with a mild, even temperament, so are considered a great choice for active families with children.

Physical attributes

The Beagle has a phenomenal sense of smell and a lot of stamina. They are muscular, solid dogs with a broach chest and a perky high tail.   Their long droopy ears help enhance their amazing sense of smell further by catching scent particles and keeping  them close to their nose, so they can absorb as much information as possible.

Their smooth, short coat only needs the occasional wash and brush, unless it is shedding season, then a weekly brush will help keep those floors clean.

Training

While Beagles are fairly low maintenance in general, they do need to be kept mentally and physically stimulated throughout the day, they will need good daily walks or runs and don’t cope well if left alone for long periods.

If they become bored they can be prone to excessive barking, digging or find other ways to entertain themselves, so escape proof your yard as they are good climbers and diggers.

Lifestyle considerations

Beagles are generally lively, patient with children and inquisitive, but I’ve had many a Beagle owner lament at their dog’s stubbornness and apparent deafness when it’s time to leave the park, especially when their nose is on a scent.

If you are considering this breed you will need to be committed to training, being a fair but firm leader and remember that nose was bred for hunting, so be prepared to put any food well out of their way.  Working on developing a solid recall is vital.

Keep them on lead where lots of smells or small prey might venture and be a good sprinter if they are on the other side of the park and have that nose to the ground because they certainly won’t hear your yells.

Health

The Beagle is quite a tough dog with few health problems, the average lifespan being 12-15 years.

However, they are well known for their high food drive so it isn’t uncommon to see an overweight or obese Beagle which will negatively impact on their health. Beagles can also suffer from Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) which sees the discs between the vertebrae protrude up and place pressure on the spinal cord.

Also watch out for Epilepsy, Hypothyroidism (which is due to under-active thyroid glands) and Cherry eye where the tear producing gland in the dog’s third eyelid pops out and becomes inflamed.

And, be sure to keep treats like chocolate out of reach and any other toxic foods to hep keep them safe.

And, of course, if you are considering a Beagle, or any dog, always research the breed thoroughly so you know what you might be in for from a training and lifestyle perspective.

About the Author: Lara Shannon is a certified dog behaviourist and trainer, pet food nutrition specialist, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love Your Dog