Types of Beagles: Guide to Purebred and Beagle Mixes

Beagles are a dog breed belonging to the hound family. They’re small dogs with high energy and keen hunting instincts. Their playful and loyal temperament makes them excellent family pets and attentive watchdogs, though they do burrow and can be strong-willed (which means they need a lot of training). Beagles sport a wide variety of coat colors. The most common beagle color combination is a tricolor blend of black, tan, and white. Beagles have a thick double coat that’s prone to year-round shedding. Beagles have dark, round eyes and floppy ears.

Purebred Beagles are thirteen to fifteen inches tall and weigh between twenty and thirty pounds. A miniature Beagle, called a Pocket Beagle, is any Beagle smaller than thirteen inches tall. Many purebred Beagles (both miniature and regular-sized) have a white-tipped tail. There are also a number of Beagle mixes, including Puggles and Poogles (Beagles crossbred with Pugs and Poodles, respectively).

Beagles typically inherit very few health problems, although they can be susceptible to obesity, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and hip dysplasia. Additionally, their floppy ears make them more susceptible to ear infections. Beagle owners can help keep their dogs healthy by giving them plenty of exercise and only feeding them the recommended daily serving size of dog food.

Beagles were initially bred in the sixteenth century in England for hunting rabbits and other small prey. Queen Elizabeth I was especially fond of Pocket Beagles, which she could conveniently carry around. Beagles gained popularity in North America in the nineteenth century, and their popularity has since spread worldwide.

There are two main types of beagles: those who stand between thirteen and fifteen inches tall and those shorter than thirteen inches tall (known as Pocket Beagles). In addition, there are several hybrid beagle breeds. Here’s a closer look at the different types of Beagles:

1. 1. Beagle: Purebred Beagles measure between thirteen and fifteen inches tall and weigh between twenty and thirty pounds. They have an average lifespan of ten to fifteen years. Beagles are scent hounds. Their incredible sense of smell makes them excellent hunting dogs. In appearance, Beagles look like a smaller version of the Foxhound. Their coat colors come in a wide array of hound dog hues, including tri-color and bluetick (blue dots over a base color).
2. 2. Pocket Beagle: Pocket Beagles are miniature beagles. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes these dogs as a separate breed due to their smaller size. Pocket Beagles are smaller than thirteen inches tall and weigh twenty pounds or less.
3. 3. Beagle mixes: Over the years, breeders have crossbred Beagles with several other popular dog breeds to combine their desirable characteristics. Some popular Beagle mixes include Puggles (Pug and Beagle), Poogles (Poodle and Beagle), and Peagles (Pekinese and Beagle). Breeders have also crossbred Beagles with Labradors, Harriers, Spaniels, Yorkies, Pitbulls, Golden Retrievers, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, Bulldogs, and Chihuahuas.

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