Beagle
Overview, Temperament, & Facts
Beagle, small hound dog breed popular as both a pet and a hunter. It looks like a small foxhound and has large brown eyes, hanging ears, and a short coat, usually a combination of black, tan, and white. The Beagle is a solidly built dog, heavy for its height. It generally excels as a rabbit hunter and is typically an alert, affectionate dog. There are two sizes recognized in the breed: Beagles standing 13 inches (33 cm) or less at the withers and weighing under 20 pounds (9 kg) and those standing more than 13 inches but not exceeding 15 inches (38 cm) at the withers and weighing 20 to 30 pounds (9 to 14 kg).
| Beagle breed facts | |
|---|---|
| area of origin | Great Britain |
| breed group | hound |
| height at withers | two varieties: 13 inches (33 cm) or less; more than 13 inches and not exceeding 15 inches (38 cm) |
| weight | 20–30 pounds (9–14 kg) |
| life span | 10–15 years |
| Did you know? | The U.S. Customs and Border Protection employs a “Beagle Brigade” to sniff out prohibited foods and other agricultural products in international airports. The agency uses Beagles because of their acute sense of smell as well as their ability to work effectively in crowds of people. The cartoon character Snoopy, arguably the world’s most famous Beagle, was created by Charles Schulz in 1950 and based on his own childhood dog. Snoopy became a NASA mascot in the 1960s. |
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