Beagle

This article is about the dog breed. For other uses, see Beagle (disambiguation).

Beagle
Beagle image
Tricolour Beagle
Other namesEnglish Beagle
OriginEngland
Traits
Height 13–16 in (33–41 cm)
Weight Males 22–25 lb (10.0–11.3 kg)
Females 20–23 lb (9.1–10.4 kg)
Coat Short haired, hard coat of medium length
Colour Tricolour or white in combination with black & tan/brown or brown/tan or yellow/white
Kennel club standards
The Kennel Club standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The beagle is a breed of small scent hound, similar in appearance to the much larger foxhound. The beagle was developed primarily for hunting rabbit or hare, known as beagling. Possessing a great sense of smell and superior tracking instincts, the beagle is the primary breed used as a detection dog for prohibited agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine around the world. The beagle is a popular pet due to its size and good temper.

The modern breed was developed in Great Britain around the 1830s from several breeds, including the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier.

Beagles have been depicted in popular culture since Elizabethan times in literature and paintings and more recently in film, television, and comic books.