Beagles are one of the smallest of the hunting hounds. These small, muscular dogs have a short, dense coat that is weather-resistant. Their head are fairly long with a slight dome. They have droopy ears and widely set soft brown eyes. They have kindly expressions and are compact and athletic. The tail is set moderately high, with a slight curve and a definite brush.

Beagles are friendly, playful and energetic dogs. These very social animal needs company. They are used today as gundogs and family pets. Beagles are good natured dogs and will get along with most other dogs. These breeds love children but need to be exposed to cats at an early age in order to develop good relationships. Most of the time, pet Beagles will be found cruising around the house nose down. They are making an olfactory map of their territory. They will check the area periodically and if something is wrong, they will give voice. In this way, Beagles are good watchdogs.

Average size

Beagles are usually about 13-15 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh from 9-18 kg.

Coat colour

These breeds are most commonly seen as tricolours like black, tan and white.

Intelligence

Beagles must be trained at an early age to get rid of their favourite habits like overeating and making a mess. Beagles can be noisy and difficult to train. They have a basic drive to chase animals. Beagles do like to please their masters but must clearly be shown what is required and the owner must be firm and consistent. If one does not begin early and continue with firm commands, then this breed can be very hard to tame and will bark to an annoying degree.

Food requirements

Beagles are not picky eaters and could be fed dry or tinned food once or twice a day. They do have a tendency to become overweight, so one has to be careful about the amount of food they eat.

Lifespan

Beagles have a life span of about 12-15 years.

Pet grooming

Beagles need grooming every day. But these breeds are easy to keep. The only grooming it takes is a quick, daily brush to remove dead and loose hairs. They are also quite easy to bath though they love to roll in foul smelling material. Their tendency to eat foul matter is not as easily dealt with. It is recommended to use the doggie toothpaste regularly. The ears should be checked on a regular basis to ensure they are clean and free from infection.