Beagles are known for being great family pets, full of character, and providing endless amounts of funny stories to tell around the dinner table.
However, there are a few things you may not know about them. Here’s a list of 25 beagle facts and what you can expect from this adorable and loveable dog breed.
25 Beagle Facts and Things To Know About Beagles
Having owned beagles for what seems like a lifetime, we know a thing or two about them when it comes to their character, mischievous state of mind, and generally what to expect as a beagle parent.
One thing is for sure – you’ll never have a dull day with a beagle at home!
1. Beagles Were Bred for Hunting
Beagles are a popular dog breed that have been favored as pets by many over the years, however, they were originally bred as hunting dogs in England to hunt hares and rabbits.
These days, beagles are more commonly kept as family pets due to their small size and active, playful nature.
2. Beagles Have a Distinctive Bay
Beagles have a very distinctive bay, which makes it super easy for hunters to follow the sound of their baying as they lose sight of the hounds through the woods during hunts.
As the intensity of the baying increases, it draws the attention of the rest of the pack and hunters toward the prey that is being cornered.
Most beagle owners today will cite their baying and howling as one of their funniest quirks!
3. Beagle’s Ears Help Their Noses
Beagles have an excellent sense of smell and their long, floppy ears help to concentrate and funnel scents towards their noses.
This aids them in their tracking and helps to reduce other distractions (such as long-distance sound), which explains why they regularly suffer from ‘selective hearing!’
4. Beagle’s Tails are White-Tipped for a Reason
Beagle’s tails typically have a white tip on the end to help hunters see their location and spot movement more easily when following them through thick undergrowth.
Throughout hunting grounds, this white tail tip stands out against the natural background.
5. Real Pocket Beagles are now Extinct
In Medieval times, a smaller variant of the beagle called the ‘Pocket Beagle’ was bred in England. This beagle stood at 8 to 9 inches tall and was small enough to fit into the ‘pocket’ or saddlebag of hunters.
However, by the late 1800s, pocket beagles had become extinct.
This was widely due to the fact that pocket beagles were prone to genetic health problems and many of them died prematurely as a result.
6. Snoopy is the World’s Most Famous Beagle
Although beagles have been around for centuries, Snoopy from the comic strip Peanuts is often considered to be the world’s most famous beagle.
He was created by Charles Schultz in 1950 and his image has been used on merchandise and advertising campaigns around the world ever since.
7. Beagles Love to Bark and Howl
Beagles are naturally highly vocal dogs and love to bark and howl, which can be bothersome if you live in close quarters with neighbors.
Although it can be quite a challenge, beagles can be taught not to bark or howl so much, although it does require some extensive training!
8. Beagles are the Most Commonly Used Dogs for Animal Testing
A lesser-known beagle fact is that they are one of the most commonly used dog breeds for animal testing in labs around the world because they’re friendly, incredibly trusting of humans, and have calm temperaments without putting up a fight.
Beagles are known to be submissive when threatened with stress or danger, sadly making them the perfect target for laboratory tests.
9. Beagles have a Lifespan of 12 – 15 years
Beagles have a long lifespan compared to other breeds, typically living between 12 and 15 years on average.
As with most dogs, however, beagles can suffer from some age and weight-related health problems that could shorten their lifespan, such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. Learn more about beagle health problems.
10. Beagles are Totally Food-Obsessed
You’ll be hard pushed to find another dog breed that is more food-obsessed than a beagle.
There is not much they will not eat, aside from lemons, and perhaps green leaves (unless it’s fallen out of a burger!)
This high food drive generally means they are willing to accept any consequence of stealing food off the side of tables and counters. It is also the number 1 cause of excessive beagle slobber around the home!
11. Beagles are Prone to Being Overweight
The beagle’s obsession with food makes them extremely prone to being overweight if they’re not given enough exercise along with a watchful eye over what they are consuming.
They will pick up bits of food (and trash) wherever the opportunity presents itself, so regular meals should be adjusted accordingly and they should be sufficiently exercised to prevent obesity.
Getting your beagle used to eating fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks can go a long way in helping to prevent excessive weight gain.
Here are some of our favorite ways to sneak vegetables into our dog’s diet!
12. Beagles Need Lots of Mental Stimulation
Beagles are intelligent, active dogs that need to be stimulated mentally as well as physically.
This means you should always provide your beagle with lots of toys, puzzles, and jobs to do – otherwise, when they get bored, they’ll find their own way to amuse themselves!
Here’s a fantastic list of 13 Ways to Keep a Beagle Mentally Stimulated
13. Beagles Shed More Than You Think
Another lesser-known beagle fact is that they shed a lot more fur than most people first realize – and not only during the summer and winter months!
Beagles shed year-round thanks to their double coat, and their tri-color fur means that it noticeably stands out against different colors of clothing and materials.
14. Beagles Can Get Quite Smelly
It’s not a commonly known beagle fact, but they do tend to get rather smelly thanks to the high oil content in their fur, along with a few other reasons.
This means that beagles can often start to smell bad after a few days of not being bathed, and their body odor can be fairly strong, transferring the stink to their bedding and other soft furniture around the home.
15. Beagles Are Low Maintenance When It Comes To Grooming
Beagles don’t require a lot of grooming, a good brushing once or twice a week, along with a monthly bath will do.
They will need their nails trimmed and ears checked regularly for any issues such as yeast infection, but other than that they don’t require an awful lot of grooming to remain healthy.
16. Beagles are Known to Eat Poop
Beagles are notorious for eating their own and other dogs’ poop, which is probably one of the worst things about them!
While most tend to find this habit disgusting, it’s actually quite common in dogs and isn’t considered to be a health hazard so long as dogs are regularly wormed.
Find out more about why beagles eat poop and what you can do about it.
17. Beagles are Classed as Aggressive Chewers
Beagles are classed as aggressive chewers, which basically means that once they have something in their mouths, they won’t give up until it has been completely demolished.
Whilst most dogs may take 20 minutes to chew through something – for a beagle, it’ll probably take 2 minutes!
That’s why it’s incredibly important to supervise beagles with anything that can be bitten off in chunks and swallowed whole.
Here are our top recommended 15 Longest Lasting Chews for Beagles
18. Beagles are Prone to Anal Gland Issues
Due to beagles’ tendencies to eat almost anything they come into contact with, it’s likely they will regularly develop soft stools and weight gain, potentially leading to issues with their anal glands.
Regular (professional) expression of their glands can help prevent anal abscesses and ruptures from developing.
19. Beagles are Known for Their Good Nature
Beagles are one of the most popular dog breeds in America for a reason – they have an excellent temperament.
They’re typically good with kids, other animals, and even strangers, making them a great choice for families or anyone looking for a friendly dog.
They’re an excellent choice for people who want an active hound that is easy to train.
20. Beagles are Easy to Train
Yep, you heard that beagle fact right!
Contrary to popular belief, beagles are easier to train than most people think, thanks to their high intelligence and food drive.
Using high-reward treats, you can train a beagle to do almost anything you want. So long as you use consistent and well-organized training methods from the start, training a beagle can be very straightforward.
This Free Training Workshop is a great place to start for all beagle owners.
21. Beagles are Not the Best Guard Dogs
Due to their overtly friendly nature, beagles are not considered the best guard dogs as they are typically too trusting of strangers and can be easily fooled.
For example, a burglar armed with sausages is all it takes to make a beagle go weak at the knees!
If you’re looking for a dog that will protect your home, a beagle may not be the best choice for you!
22. Beagles are Great with Children
Beagles are one of the best breeds of dogs for children because they are gentle, playful, and extremely tolerant if accidentally handled roughly.
They are also relatively small, which makes them a good choice for families with young children.
As with any breed of dog, it’s important to supervise all interactions between beagles and children to prevent mishandling from taking place.
23. Beagle Puppies Should Be Crate Trained
Properly crate training a beagle puppy is the first step to reducing many of the issues and frustrations experienced by new beagle owners.
Beagle puppies can be very destructive when extremely young, and are likely to suffer from anxiety-induced destruction when left alone in large spaces or big rooms.
Crate training teaches a beagle puppy to be calm and relaxed in a familiar environment, and makes it far easier for someone else to look after them in their home should the need arise, making crate training one of our top tips for beagle owners.
Read our Beagle Puppy Crate Training Guide for full benefits and details.
24. Beagles are Prone to Separation Anxiety
A sad beagle fact is that they are incredibly prone to developing separation anxiety for a variety of reasons.
One reason is due to the fact that they are such social dogs and want to be with their ‘pack’ at all times. The other main reason is that they are often mistreated and left alone for long periods of time without proper training or exercise beforehand.
The good news is there are lots that can be done to prevent beagles from developing separation anxiety.
25. Beagles Cope Better with other Beagles Around
Our last beagle fact is a fairly well-known one, and that is that beagles always enjoy life better with another beagle in tow!
You’ll probably see many owners with more than one beagle in their household, and it’s because beagles understand each other’s quirks so well!
They are more likely to snuggle up together and play ‘bitey face’ than any other dog breed, and make the ultimate play dates.
If another beagle is out of the question, they certainly won’t turn their noses up at other dog breeds for companionship!
Wrapping Up Our Fun Beagle Facts
Beagles are a friendly and playful breed of dog that are easy to train and make great pets for active people. Although they come with a unique set of characteristics, they’ll leave you with plenty of stories to tell for years to come!
Are there any beagle facts that were a complete surprise to you? Let us know in the comment section below, we’d love to hear from you!
