When someone mentions “puppy dog eyes,” there’s a good chance they’re picturing a Beagle.  Beagles are hounds, and they have sweet faces and eyes that can make your heart melt.  You’ve probably seen more than one Beagle and have a good idea of what they look like, but you might not know many actual specifics about these small to medium sized dogs.

Appearance

A standard sized Beagle weighs 22 to 35 pounds and stands between 13 and 16 inches tall at the withers.  Female Beagles are usually slightly smaller than males.  Squarely built, Beagles are very sturdy dogs.  The skull is fairly long and slightly domed.  Beagles are known for their long pendant ears which feel very soft and silky.  Their tails are straight, and their noses are black.  Beagles have big brown or hazel eyes that make you want to give them a big hug.  Their flat, medium-length coat requires minimal grooming.

Many Beagles are tri-colored (brown, black and white) but any other hound color is also possible.  You might see Beagles in several colors, including chocolate, lemon, shades of red and a dilute shade of black known as “lilac.”

Temperament

Beagles are loaded with personality and are cheerful, affectionate, energetic dogs with gentle dispositions.  They are, however, as courageous as much larger dogs.  Although Beagles are very intelligent, they’re also known to be stubborn, so when you’re training a Beagle you must be very patient and consistent.

These dogs are scent hounds, and some people think this characteristic makes them seem a little flighty.  It’s not uncommon for a Beagle to be listening to his owner one minute but suddenly nose off to follow some scent he picks up.  That doesn’t mean Beagles are not intelligent, however.  Under the right conditions and with the right training techniques they can be very highly trained.

Their energetic nature means Beagles requires plenty of exercise.  A Beagle must be walked (on a leash) and allowed to play freely inside a fenced area at least once a day.  Playing scent games and chasing balls are two of their favorite activities, and they’ll play until they drop from exhaustion if you don’t make them stop and rest.

Originally bred as hunting dogs, Beagles make great family dogs because they get along so well with children and other dogs.  When raised in a family situation, a Beagle will be very affectionate and happy to give puppy kisses whenever possible.  Always friendly and sometimes comical while they’re playing, Beagles are extremely enjoyable canine companions.

If someone is energetic enough to keep up with a Beagle’s activity level and patient and consistent during training sessions, one of these delightful dogs would be a great pet.  A Beagle will keep you laughing with his comic antics, and anyone who has ever owned one would say it’s next to impossible not to love a Beagle, despite the breed’s tendency to be a bit on the stubborn side.