Beagle
Originally bred as scent hounds, beagles are popular companion dogs, noted for their adorable “pleading” expression.
Genus, Species & Subspecies – Canis lupus familiaris
Common Names – Beagle
Even-tempered and gentle, the beagle is usually non-aggressive and often displays a happy-go-lucky disposition. Bred as pack animals, they enjoy the company of others. Beagles are good with children, which has increased their popular standing as a family and companion dog.
Beagle litters can vary in size from one to ten pups per litter.
The beagle is a small breed, measuring about 15 inches to the top of the shoulder and weighing up to 35 pounds.
They have large, floppy ears and a short, square muzzle. Their large eyes give them a “pleading” look that endears them to many a prospective dog owner.
The most common coat coloration is the tricolor – white, with large areas of black and brown blotches.
The beagle’s origins are mysterious, but they were originally bred as hunting dogs, and the modern dog known as the “beagle” is thought to be traced back to a pack belonging to Reverend Phillip Honeywood in the 1830s.
Bred for hunting hare, beagles have a keenly developed sense of smell.
Beagles tend to be more popular in North America than they are in England, where the breed originated. The beagle is the 8th most popular dog breed in the United States as of 2022 according to the American Kennel Club.