Beagle

Beagles are affectionate, smart and energetic.

Beagles not only have an adorable face, but they are also generally loving and loveable, happy and companionable, making them great family dogs.

The Beagle is an intelligent pack dog who loves the company of other dogs and people. In fact, it was bred to work in packs, so they are happiest when they have company. A Beagle left alone for too long may get restless and destructive.

Although energetic, your Beagle's specific exercise needs will depend on their age and health. Over time, you'll get to know your dog and whether they prefer lots of exercise or lounging on the couch. They are known escape artists, so watch them outside. When on walks, it's important to keep him on a leash, as his instincts are to run off and track if he catches a compelling scent.

As trackers, they love to follow their nose and chase balls or their favorite people. They also love to play, so teaching tricks and playing games are always hit with this breed.

10 to 15 years

Beagles are commonly tri-color (black, tan and white), but their coats also come in combinations of black, tan, red, white, brown, lemon, blue and redtick.

The Beagle's smooth, dense double coat gets heavier during the winter and sheds in the summer. They also shed moderately throughout the year.

Responsible breeders screen the Beagle breed for conditions like hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, luxating patella and eye disorders.

When it comes to choosing the best dog food for your Beagle, it’s important to take his or her unique breed traits into consideration. As an active breed, they may benefit from sport performance formula, but provided their food is completed and balanced, they'll get the nutrition they need to be healthy.

Beagles may be one of the oldest dog breeds, but their origin is a bit of a mystery, as is their name. Some experts speculate “Beagle” comes from the Gaelic word “beag” which means "little". Others presume the breed was named after the sound they make while hunting: “be’geule” in French.

Small pack-hounds were employed to hunt rabbit and hare in England before 55 B.C. By the 1500s, most English gentlemen had Beagles as hunting companions. They used larger hounds to track deer and smaller hounds to track hares. The modern-day Beagle is an ancestor of the smaller version of the breed.

Beagles are known as “foot hounds,” meaning they track on foot without needing a horse, making them popular among those who couldn’t afford to feed and stable horses or had difficulties riding horseback.

The breed was imported to America after the Civil War and was popular amongst U.S. rabbit hunters. Beagles were registered with the American Kennel Club in 1885.

President Lyndon B. Johnson owned three Beagles named “Him,” “Her” and “Edgar.”

The National Beagle Club was formed in 1888.

One of the most famous Beagles in U.S. popular culture is Snoopy.

Beagles are scent hounds used primarily for hunting rabbits to larger hares.