Beagle

Height: up to 13 inches at shoulder; or 13 to 15 inches at shoulder

Weight: 18 to 30 pounds

Coat: short

Life span: 10 to 15 years




Small, compact, and hardy, Beagles are active companions for kids and adults alike. They are merry and fun loving, but being hound,they can also be stubborn and require patient, creative training techniques . Their noses guide them through life, and they're never happier than when following an interesting scent. The Beagle originally was bred as a scenthound to track small game, mostly rabbits and hare. He is still used for this purpose in many countries, including the United States.

It's difficult to resist the appeal of a Beagle's dark brown or hazel eyes, with his soft, pleading expression. They're happy, outgoing and loving--characteristics more than balanced out by their hound nature, which is inquisitive, determined, and focused on food.

They aren't yappy dogs, but they do have three distinct vocalizations--a bark/growl, a baying howl, and a half-baying howl (a cross between a frantic bark and a bay).The most important thing to know about the Beagle is that he is a scenthound. His nose is the most important part of his anatomy and his head is always down to the ground, searching for an interesting trail to follow. Beagles have approximately 220 million scent receptors compared to the paltry 5 million or so in people, which makes them very good at picking up scents. Humorist Dave Barry once described his in-laws' Beagle as "a nose with feet."