Overview
The Beagle was bred in England to hunt hares in a pack, following scent for hours, and that is exactly what it will try to do with you. Beagles are cheerful, sociable and good with other dogs and people. They are also stubborn, greedy and almost impossible to call back once the nose has taken over.
They are a joy on a group walk, where the pack instinct makes them easy company, and a trial on a solo walk, where everything is a scent to be followed. Accept that the nose runs the show and plan around it.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour a day in two walks, with as much nose work as you can give. A Beagle on a long line working a hedgerow is doing what it was bred for and will come home satisfied; the same dog walked briskly on a short lead is being tolerated.
Beagles gain weight easily and many are heavier than they should be. Keep treats small and watch the ground; a Beagle will eat anything it finds, including things that make it ill.
On the walk
- Recall: The breed's weak point. A Beagle on a scent cannot hear you. Use a long line in open country and only let the dog off in enclosed areas the owner has approved.
- Pulling: Steady and persistent, always towards the next smell. A harness keeps the dog comfortable and your arm attached.
- Other dogs: Friendly and pack-minded. Beagles tend to be at their best in a group.
- Scavenging: Watch for food, carcasses and anything else edible. Beagles will swallow first and regret later.
- Noise: The baying howl is part of the breed. It happens when excited or on a scent; it is not distress.
Tips for professional walkers
- Carry a long line and use it; it is the compromise between freedom and losing the dog.
- Choose routes with hedgerows, woodland and long grass, and let the dog work them.
- Keep treats tiny and ask about the diet; many Beagles are on a weight plan.
- Check the ears after wet walks; the long ears trap moisture.
- Scatter-feeding at the end of a walk turns a greedy dog's nose into a reward.
What to ask the owner
- Is the dog ever reliable off the lead, and where is it allowed off?
- Is the dog on a diet, and what treats are allowed?
- Does the dog scavenge, and what should you do if it eats something?
- Any ear problems or a care routine after wet walks?