The Beagle: thinking about getting a Beagle?

Place of origin: Brought to England from Greece during the Middle Ages

How big do Beagles get? 33 – 41cm

How heavy are Beagles? 9 – 11kg

Life Expectancy: 12 – 15 years

Colour: Lemon & White, Chocolate Tri, Tri-colour, Brown & White, Red & White, Orange & White, White & Tan

Please note: A dog’s exercise, training/stimulation and grooming requirements can depend on several factors such as age and health. The same goes for ongoing costs of ownership. For advice on one specific dog, we always advise chatting with a vet.

How much exercise does a Beagle need?

Beagles were bred for stamina. If your main reason for getting a dog is that it gives you an excuse to get up and about doing some exercise, a Beagle could be the breed for you! Likewise, if you’re humming a hawing about whether two big walks a day is a good fit for your lifestyle, you should probably steer clear of a Beagle.

Beagles love to exercise their keen sense of smell so make sure that during a walk, they’re able to roam off the lead safely.

Training: how to train a Beagle

Beagles are highly intelligent, inquisitive dogs that respond well to training and are eager to please.

They have a highly developed sense of smell and enjoy games where they can use their nose – seeking out their favourite toy, for example. The flipside of this is that they might wander off a little too far when walking off the lead, especially if they pick up an exciting new scent! Owners can prevent this by training their young Beagle using positive reinforcement.

Beagles are prone to barking and howling, especially if left alone for long periods. They’re not ideally suited for urban environments or owners who spend lots of time away. They may appreciate canine company!

Grooming: do Beagles shed?

Although they do shed fur, Beagles are relatively low maintenance when it comes to grooming. Their short fur is easy to brush and what’s more, most Beagles enjoy being groomed so will happily cooperate.

Bath your Beagle whenever needed and treat them regularly for fleas and worms. Complete their grooming regime with regular tooth brushing, nail clips and ear checks. – Beagles’ long floppy ears can be prone to infection.

Beagle temperament, socialising and ideal home environment

Beagles are loyal, affectionate dogs that like to be at the centre of whatever you’re doing. They love their owners and can suffer from separation anxiety when they’re gone, often howling and barking loudly for long periods. For this reason, Beagles are not well suited to households where the occupants spend long hours at work or away from home. However, there are ways to you can ease their seperation anxiety through training.

Well-exercised Beagles make great family pets and are typically good with young children – providing the children know how to handle dogs correctly and safely.

Cost of owning a Beagle

When you’re considering the lifetime cost of owning a Beagle, remember to take into account:

• Breed-specific food
• Veterinary care
• Pet insurance
• Kennels or dog sitters
• Regular grooming costs
• Toys and equipment
• Preventative healthcare

As a rough guide, allow between £80 and £100 a month to cover the ongoing costs of owning a Beagle. Our vets have drawn up this handy guide to save dog owners money.

Costs of the above can differ based on a number of lifestyle factors.

Need more info?

For more info on finding the best dog breed for you and your lifestyle, have a chat with your vet.

Find your nearest vet using our Find a Vet page, or speak to a vet online using Online Vets.