Dog Breed Guide

Beagle

Profile

Size

Small - Medium

Country of origin

United Kingdom

Origin

19th century (ancestors are older)

Bred for

Rabbit hunting

Height

33 - 40cm (13 - 16in)

Weight

9 - 14kg (20 - 31lb)

Life span

12 - 15 years

A hound with large drop ears, gentle eyes and an upright tail with a white tip. The classic color is tricolor (white, black and tan). The white tail tip is said to have helped hunters spot the dog in tall grass.

Bright, cheerful and fond of people and dogs alike, the Beagle hunted in packs, so it gets along well with other dogs and plays happily with children. However, once it starts following a scent it becomes completely absorbed and stubbornly refuses to come when called.

Its sense of smell is superb and it is a glutton, so managing food and weight is important. It has a loud, carrying voice, so in apartments it needs training to curb excessive barking. Its exercise needs are high.

Good to know

The most famous Beagle in the world is surely Snoopy of the comic strip Peanuts. Charlie Brown's dog, lounging on the roof of his doghouse, is loved all over the world.

Beagles also put their excellent noses and friendly nature to work at airports. In the United States, the Department of Agriculture's detector dog team, the "Beagle Brigade," began in 1984 with a single Beagle at Los Angeles International Airport. The dogs sniff out meat, fruit and other farm products hidden in travelers' luggage that could carry diseases or pests, and when they find something they sit down neatly beside the bag to signal it. Today more than 100 Beagles work at over 20 international airports across the country.

A Beagle's nose is said to have about 220 million scent receptors, more than 40 times as many as a human's. Its small size and unthreatening look also make it well suited to working in crowded airports.