Beagles are a compact, sturdy little hound whose essential function is to hunt by following a scent. If you cannot provide a well fenced escape proof backyard for your dog then a Beagle is not for you.

Beagles are most commonly tricoloured, black, tan and white, however they do come in a range of colours including lemon and white, tan and white and hare pied to name a few. Some hallmarks of the breed include the white tip on the tail, or stern, a sweet and appealing expression and the moderately long, low set, pendulous ears. The coat of the Beagle is short, dense and weatherproof, making them a no fuss, easy care dog. The Beagle is considered to be a medium sized dog ranging in height from 13" (33 cm) to 16" (40 cm) and the weight of an adult Beagle should be between 12 to 15 kg. Beagles have a very strong food drive and they will constantly plead with you for just one more snack, do not be tempted to give in as you will soon be the owner of a very obese and quite unhealthy dog. It is important to stick to one meal a day with an adult Beagle and follow the advice of your breeder in this regard.

One of the greatest attributes of the Beagle is their excellent temperament. The Beagle is generally described as a merry little hound which is both bold and intelligent and they have great determination to see a task to the end, hence their great hunting abilities. The personality traits of the Beagle make them an excellent family pet and they are one of the few breeds that can be recommended for young children. Beagles enjoy the company and energy of young children and they will keep each other entertained for hours.

The Beagle was bred as a pack animal and it is one of few breeds that will happily assimilate into an environment with strange dogs, in fact they prefer to have company. It is important that Beagles receive plenty of company, whether it be human or dog (preferably Beagle, of course). If your lifestyle is such that nobody is at home for extended periods of time then you should seriously consider having more than one dog. A Beagle on its own may become very unsettled and will probably make its own fun to relieve the boredom, often in a destructive way.

Beagles are a fairly active dog and they are inclined to have bursts of high level activity (followed by long naps). Beagles enjoy walks both as a means to meet their activity  needs and also to fulfill their natural instinct to follow a scent . For this reason it is essential to always have your Beagle on a lead when walking or you may just lose your dog to a particularly interesting smell, and they are highly unlikely to respond to any calls to return. Although they can be very stubborn, Beagles are intelligent and can be trained to do almost anything, particularly with the aid of food. A firm and patient hand is required to train a Beagle and consistency is a key to success.

Beagles are an extremely sound and healthy breed, usually only requiring veterinary attention when their annual vaccinations are due. Of course they are not competely free of problems and unexpected complaints can occur, however reputable breeders will not breed with animals with known problems and if something does arise then you are advised to contact your breeder. Beagles are a fairly long lived breed with an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years and they will remain quite active throughout this period so purchasing a Beagle is a long term commitment.

Beagles are loving little dogs with huge personalities and once they worm their way into you life you will be rewarded with the joy that they can bring. You will also be provided with lots of tales to tell your friends of their antics and escapades, which never cease to amaze.