Beagle
Beagles are happy, sweet and outgoing dogs. They have approximately 220 million scent receptors compared to the paltry 5 million or so in people. They are hounds, so they require plenty of long walks to get their scents going.
They require daily exercise as Beagles love nothing more than having their noses to the floor sniffing out the latest happenings and animals. They are used in airports for their excellent sniffing abilities, and their sweet nature doesn’t intimidate people. They don’t require as much exercise as some of the other hound lines and can adapt to flat/apartment living if needed.
They are bred to hunt in packs, so they are great with other dogs. Small animals and cats should be fine if brought up with them. Neighbourhood cats, on the other hand, will probably be fair game. They are fantastic with children and will play out in the garden with them for hours.
They are OK as watchdogs, but they love strangers as much as they love their family, so if this is high on your list, you had better look elsewhere. They do love to bark and howl. This is a common trait with hounds. If you live in a close neighbourhood, this could become a problem.
As with most dogs, they can become destructive and dig if not adequately exercised. You will need to be able to commit to at least one long walk per day.
Beagles can be well trained, but you will need to identify their reward motivation early for the best results. You will need plenty of patience and enjoy a challenge. They are difficult to let off the lead; once they get a scent, they suffer from command deafness, and you might have your work cut out getting them back.
They have short hair but still shed all year round, they are easy to groom, and weekly brushing will keep the hairs under control.
Beagle Dog Stats
Of course, the most famous Beagle is Snoopy, created by Charles M. Schulz.
- Size – 33cm – 38cm
- Weight – 10kg -15kg
- They live for 13-16 years
