What is a Beagle?

The Beagle is an old and traditional hunting dog breed from Great Britain, which likely has its origins in Normandy. Since there are breeding records of this breed dating back to the first millennium AD, it is not surprising that the Beagle is one of the oldest recognized (hunting) dog breeds.

The Beagle was originally used in packs and performed the typical work of a scent hound during hunts. Its distinctive baying, which resembles a kind of shrill "screaming," is particularly notable. This trait is highly valued by hunters during moving hunts, as it allows them to recognize early on that the Beagle is on the trail of game.

Beagle Profile:

What is the temperament & character of the Beagle?

The Beagle is considered an alert, empathetic, and friendly hunting and family companion dog.
However, it can also be quite stubborn at times and often tries to assert its own will.

It has a naturally strong hunting instinct, which it enjoys expressing. With proper training, this can be healthily moderated or balanced, allowing the Beagle to also be a fantastic yard or family companion dog.

The Beagle is also quite affectionate and prefers to live in the midst of its family or pack.

What does a Beagle look like?

The Beagle is a medium-sized dog with a robust build, straight back line, and strong legs. It has a broad head in the classic shape of a hunting dog, framed by "floppy ears." Additionally, most representatives of the breed have a friendly and alert expression. The Beagle's tail is usually not docked and typically has a white tip.

The Beagle's coat is typically close-fitting, smooth, and very dense. It has a soft texture, which can be somewhat harder in some areas. The fur on the ears and face is fluffy and also close-fitting. The dense coat has a water-repellent effect, which has developed due to its long use as a hunting dog and through selective breeding. According to the standard, the coat can appear in various color combinations. Mainly, Beagles are found in the following color variants:

• tan and white (two-colored brown and white)
• red and white (two-colored red and white)
• lemon and white (two-colored lemon yellow and white)
• tricolored (three-colored black/brown/white)

How do you train a Beagle?

The Beagle is generally considered a very trainable and eager-to-learn dog. However, it can act stubbornly at times, and its proper training requires a high degree of patience and consistency. Nevertheless, the dog owner should not be too harsh with their Beagle. A rough training approach can disrupt the relationship between human and dog, and the dog can also become long-term disturbed due to improper training.

Due to its breeding, the Beagle possesses pronounced hunting instincts and traits in most lines. Nevertheless, the Beagle is also very popular as a house, yard, and family companion dog among non-hunters. With patient and consistent training and sufficient alternative activities, its hunting instincts can also be healthily countered.

It is advisable to attend a puppy school and later a dog school with the puppy. Here, the dog owner can learn how to train the young dog to meet their expectations. Dog schools also offer great opportunities for socialization and interaction with other dogs.

What diet is suitable for a Beagle?

Like all hunting dogs, the Beagle's diet should be designed to provide it with the proteins and vitamins its body needs to meet the physically demanding challenges of hunting and leisure activities. It should also be fed as naturally as possible, meaning meat-based and balanced, to maintain its athletic build.
A good method to provide the dog with large portions of meat is raw feeding (BARF). This food consists of raw meat from cattle, sheep, horses, and other slaughter animals, excluding pigs. Raw pork poses health risks for dogs, e.g., due to the Aujeszky's disease.

Regarding a varied and balanced diet, it is also advisable to offer the dog cooked vegetables along with fresh meat, etc.

Grains such as wheat, corn, etc., are simply not needed by hunting dogs, and when feeding dry food, it should always be ensured that such grains are processed in minimal amounts.

Some cooked rice is fine from time to time, and rice porridge can work wonders for gastrointestinal diseases.

In general, an adult Beagle should receive 2-3 meals a day, ideally at regular times, to establish a routine for a structured daily schedule.
Puppies require three to four meals a day. Small treats or pieces of sausage are suitable as rewards during training. Rewards and snacks in between should be considered in the total food amount. It is also important to ensure a constant availability of water for the dog. Practical water bottles with integrated bowls are available for on-the-go.

How do you care for a Beagle?

Caring for a Beagle is very straightforward due to the structure of its coat. With its thick, smooth, and short fur, the Beagle is not particularly prone to dirt during normal outdoor activities.

If the Beagle does get dirty, it is sufficient to quickly remove dirt and debris using a brush with natural bristles and a comb with coarse teeth. 

A bath or shower is only necessary in cases of severe dirt and is therefore quite rare. However, if the Beagle enjoys it, it can be bathed occasionally with dog shampoo.

What are the disadvantages of a Beagle?

The Beagle has many positive traits and is very popular as both a hunting and family companion dog. This is mainly due to its sociability regarding its temperament as well as its size, etc.

It is important for the dog owner to know what they want to do with the dog and for what purpose they want to keep it. Accordingly, they must shape the training and address the dog's needs.

Real disadvantages only arise with a Beagle if it has been improperly trained or is under-exercised. The latter can become very unpleasant for both the humans and the dog.

Does a Beagle fit me?

The question of whether a dog breed is suitable for someone cannot be definitively and generally answered for the Beagle either. However, it is clear:

If you are considering acquiring a Beagle, you should seriously familiarize yourself with the breed profile beforehand and carefully consider whether you can meet the dog's needs and training requirements and whether you have sufficient time and patience for this. The family circumstances of the coming years should also be taken into account.

The most important question to answer is: Does a Beagle fit my lifestyle?