Breeds / Small
Beagle puppies
Amiable and alert, showing no aggression or timidity, a merry hound with great activity, stamina and determination.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 9.1 to 13.6 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 20 to 30 lb
- Adult height 33 to 38 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 10 to 15 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the Beagle
The Beagle was refined in Britain as a pack hound for hunting hare on foot, and almost everything about them follows from that. Expect a compact, sturdy dog of 33 to 38cm and 9.1 to 13.6kg, with a short weatherproof coat, low set ears and a nose that outranks most of what else is in their head. Beagles are merry, sociable and persistent, comfortable with other dogs and rated at the top of the scale with children, which still assumes supervision and early socialisation.
A Beagle needs at least an hour of exercise a day and company while they get it, since one left alone for long stretches becomes destructive and loud. Fencing has to be tall and dug in, and walks stay on the lead, because a compelling scent beats any recall. Grooming is easy, a weekly brush with a hound glove and heavier work in spring. The thing owners underestimate is appetite. Beagles will eat until they are round, so measure meals, count treats and put a lid on the bin.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Beagle puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Lafora's disease, detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Neonatal cerebellar cortical degeneration (NCCD), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Musladin-Lueke syndrome (MLS), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Obesity, as the breed readily overeats
Your Beagle puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Beagle.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 9.1 to 13.6 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 13.6 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Beagle
Previous: Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound · Next: Beaglier
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Beagle breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/beagle/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Jonatan De Geest, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.