Beagles are one of the most popular breeds of dog and for good reason. They are a charming and upbeat breed, who love their owners. They were orginally bred for running across fields and chasing rabbits.
Key features
What size are beagles?
Beagles are a small to medium size of dog.
What kind of coat does a beagle have?
A beagle has a smooth short coat that sheds regularly.
How much do beagles weigh?
Beagles can weigh between 18 and 25 pounds.
How long do beagles live?
Beagles tend to reach an age of 10-15.
What colour are beagles?
A beagle’s colour can be black, red, gold/yellow, brown and white. They tend to feature a range of these colours.
How tall are beagles?
Beagles are 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder.
What is a beagle’s life expectancy?
A beagle will typically live for 10-15 years.
Beagle’s origin and history
The first account of a dog that was referred to as a beagle was around 8 to 9 inches tall. They were referred to as pocket beagles; a pocket beagle could fit in your pocket. Pocket beagles became less popular in the mid 18th century. At this time hunting was increasing in popularity and larger breeds became the preferred option. Due to this change in popularity pocket beagles later became extinct in 1901.
In the 1840s we saw development of the standard beagle, with four different variations. These variations include the medium beagle, dwarf/lapdog beagle, fox beagle and the terrier/rough-coated beagle. 1887 saw the beagle almost go extinct with only 18 documented packs of beagles left in England. Two groups were founded, the Beagle club and the Association of Masters of Harriers, to stop this extinction from occurring. Together they raised the number of beagle packs to 44 by 1902. From this point beagles have become one of the most popular and well known breeds.
The beagle’s name is commonly believed to have come from the French word beguleule that means open throat.
Living with a beagle
Beagles make great house pets. They are extremely friendly and will love to spend time with you. A beagle will be happy in a city or countryside as long as they are getting a healthy amount of exercise.
A beagle loves an active home where there is always something happening; they love to spend time with the whole family.
Common health problems in beagles
Due to a beagle being a purebred, they are likely to encounter health issues. These health issues can be prevented through a number of methods.
One way of preventing health issues includes buying your beagle from a Kennel Club assured breeder. A kennel Club assured breeder is someone who has been certified for using responsible dog breeding practices. These assured breeders priorities the health and welfare of their breeding stock.
Another method of preventing health issues for your beagle includes having the relevant screenings. These screenings can help to spot healthy issues before they have already had a major impact.
Health problems a beagle could develop include:
- Obesity
- Epilepsy
- Cherry Eye
- Hypothyroidism
- Meningitis
- Certain Cancers
- Intervertebral Disc Disease
- Otitis Externa
Costs of owning a beagle
A beagle will cost on average £80 per month however this heavily depends upon the foods you purchase, their insurance and many more factors.
Initially purchasing costs
A beagles initial purchasing price will depend upon where you get your beagle from.
Beagle adoption is one way of getting your beagle. Beagle adoption price can vary from £40-£400. This price will vary from shelter to shelter.
A beagle breeder is another option available. When getting a beagle from a breeder it will cost between £250 and £1500. If you see a beagle selling for an exceptionally low price from a breeder this should be a cause for worry. This tends to suggest that the beagles are not being looked after properly and will most likely have future health problems.
Initial setup
To start with you will need a bed, lead, collar, tag, food bowl, water bowl, toys, toothbrush, toothpaste,initial course of vaccinations and monthly wormers.
A dog bed can vary in price from £20 to £60 depending on the materials used and quality.
A lead will cost around £10.
A collar will cost around £7.
A tag will cost around £10.
A food and water bowl will cost around £12.
Toys will vary widely in price depending on quality and size.
A dog’s toothbrush kit will cost around £10.
To find out the price of your beagle’s vaccinations visit your local vets.
Dog wormer will cost around £8.
Feeding a beagle
It is recommended to feed an adult beagle one cup of dry food each day. A puppy should be eating a little more with two cups of dry food a day.
A beagle’s dietary needs will heavily depend upon their size and unique health. Therefore, it is important to understand your beagles’ dietary needs and react to their health accordingly.
When do beagles stop growing?
A beagle will stop growing at around 18 months of age. At this age a beagle’s bones, ligaments, cartilage and tissue will have stopped growing.
It is important to offer a beagle a balanced diet and daily exercise for them to reach a healthy size. Without a balanced and healthy diet your beagle will steadily become more prone to health issues, such as obesity.
How much exercise does a beagle need?
A beagle will on average need 1 to 2 hours of exercise per day. However this figure heavily depends on their weight, age and health.
What were beagles originally bred for?
Beagles were originally bred for hunting rabbits and hares. Beagles have a great sense of smell which made them perfect for hunting.
Why is a beagle’s tail white?
A beagle’s tail has a white tip that was bred into beagles to make them more visible when they were hunting.