Beagle Temperament & Personality

What Makes the Beagle Temperament?

The ancestors of the Beagle dogs were seasoned hunting dogs – and Beagles were also bred for this purpose.

In those days, packs of dogs were used for hunting in England.

Some of these pack dog characteristics can still be found in the temperament of the Beagles today – even if they are only rarely used for hunting.

Beagle Dog Breed

• A Beagle is by nature a very sociable dog. Basically, he reacts curiously/friendly to small and larger conspecifics and – after a short phase of restraint – also to people.
• In addition to its pronounced sense of smell, which allows it to pick up even the finest traces, the beagle dog is characterized by immense determination and perseverance. Once he has set his mind on something, he will do everything in his power to achieve his goal. Everything learned pales in comparison to this hunting instinct: For a Beagle, the scent of “hare!” means the greatest delight and an irresistible challenge that he simply has to face – in defiance of all the commands of his human.
• A Beagle’s hearing is of the very highest quality, even if he sometimes pretends to be deaf.
  Pack dogs don’t have it easy. If there is food, only those who devour the food as quickly as possible will be satisfied.
• Life in a pack is not only sociable but also demands adaptability from the individual animals: a characteristic that is positively noticeable when living together with a Beagle.
• A Beagle is only happy if there are clear structures in “his pack” in which he has his place.
• Otherwise, he will try to make himself the leader of the pack. This can then drive strange flowers.
• Beagle dogs are scent hounds – they need exercise and like to cover long distances.
• Beagles are very intelligent. Which does not mean that they are obedient. As hunting dogs, they are shaped in such a way that they act independently in the open field.
• It takes a consistent/loving upbringing to tame these idiosyncrasies to some extent.
• Last, but not least – this dog needs exercise. He likes it when there is always something going on.

What does this mean for living with a Beagle?

Where something is going on, the Beagle feels “beagle at home” – especially if he has his home in a family with children.

There’s always something moving – there’s playing and wrangling and cuddling. The happy/bright beagle temperament fits perfectly into a lively family atmosphere.

This friendly little dog wants to be everywhere, and he will enforce that if you don’t give him clear boundaries.

Eating cookies while lying on your stomach? You can try that. But you won’t get much of the pastry. A Beagle is lightning fast and insatiable when it comes to grabbing food. This is the character of a pack dog. And he’s not picky about it. Packaging and similar knick-knacks can’t spoil the deliciously fragrant interior. He just swallows them. As a rule, such escapades remain without consequences – but sometimes it becomes dangerous:

For example, a roulade studded with needles can become life-threatening if your beagle wolfs it down in one piece. In such cases, only the immediate consultation of a veterinarian remains.

The fact that your Beagle turns up in the kitchen as soon as you open the fridge door can also be taken as an indicator of his fine hearing.

It also works through closed doors and even across floors. However, the fact that your beagle sometimes ignores you when you want something from him is another matter.

Since Beagles have a fairly pronounced tendency to be overweight, you should make sure that the little rascal doesn’t eat too many treats. This brings us to the next topic.

Prejudice or reality – are beagles difficult to train?

To make it short: That’s true and it’s not true. Even if the nature of the Beagle is geared towards independent action when hunting – his desire for treats makes this character trait vulnerable.

If you are consistent, don’t give in to the pleading, upward look from brown eyes, and reward carrying out your commands with treats, you can record good training successes with your Beagle.

At least, as long as your beagle’s attention isn’t occupied by a rabbit’s trail. This special case triggers the state of emergency in many Beagles. In any case, Beagles are capable of learning, because they are very intelligent.

How should a true-breed beagle be designed?

The breed standard of the Beagle

• The Beagle is a sturdy, compact dog without appearing coarse. The Beagle has been recognized as a dog breed since 1890.
• He impresses with his fearless, happy, balanced nature, shows no signs of fear or aggressiveness, and is an eager and enthusiastic hunter in the pack: The tail with the (always) white tip of the tail stretched high – therefore clearly visible in the area – the head in the Track. His sense of smell is excellent.
• The size of the Beagle ranges from 33 to 40 cm at the withers. It can weigh up to 18 kg. In earlier times, Beagles were so small that they could fit in a hunting jacket pocket.
• The following colors are common: brown/white, red/white, or yellow/white, as well as tricolor – brown/black/white. In addition, there are 3 different paid versions of the Beagle.
• The physique of this breed of dog is compact, the legs are short and powerful without being thick, the head is moderately long and finely shaped – with the low set, rounded ears lying close to the head. The Beagle has a perfectly formed scissor bite. His muzzle is always white and the beagle’s oval-shaped brown eyes are softly shining.
• A Beagle’s coat is short, dense, and shiny.
• The Beagle breed was bred for centuries as a hunting dog, but due to its cheerful, gentle nature, it is also well suited as a family dog ​​and therapy dog.
• Unfortunately, because of their gentle nature, beagles are also bred and “used” commercially as experimental animals.

The Beagle – a Lively, Active Companion

This breed of dog makes a wonderful addition to people who like to exercise. A Beagle loves long trips through nature and also runs alongside the bike.

You have to try whether you can let him run free – without a leash: In many Beagles, the hunting instinct breaks through when they pick up a scent and then they disappear from the scene.

In this case, registering your dog with “Tasso” is almost a “must” so that you can get it back if it is found.

Conclusion: If you want a happy dog ​​with character – one that the family can romp around with without any unpleasant incidents – you are on the safe side with a Beagle.

But he is also a crosshead and you will always have to lovingly show him who is the master of the house, otherwise, he will take over the scepter.

However, anyone who has ever lived with a Beagle has fallen head over heels for the loyal gaze and dazzling charm of this special dog. He will annoy you and make you happy: Just like it is with a real friend.