The Beagle is a small dog measuring no more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder. The Beagle shares similarities to the larger-sized Foxhound. The Beagle's hunting instincts to smell and track prey like hare and rabbit are features found in other similar hound dogs.
In the 1500s, the first Beagles were used by English men to hunt rabbits. English nobility from King Edward II, Henry VII, and Queen Elizabeth I have owned Beagles as their shorter stature made it easier to fit inside saddlebags during a hunting trip that they're commonly referred to as the "Pocket Beagle", a breed that is now extinct.
The Beagles' true origins are not well understood. The modern-day Beagle we know today was developed from several other breeds as far back as the 11th century during the reigns of the English Norman King, William the Conqueror.
The Beagles didn't make it to the United States until the mid-1800s. By the 1870s, General Richard Rowett from Illinois started a Beagle breeding program, and breed standards for the Beagle were established. In 1885, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Beagle as an accepted breed.
Since its introduction to the United States, the Beagle's popularity has been unwavering and admired. The Beagle has been owned by Former US President Lyndon Johnson, portrayed in comic strips and animated cartoons as Snoopy, and won awards in 2008 and 2015 Westminster Kennel Dog Shows.
Beagles have hound-like behaviors that can get them in trouble due in part to their highly adaptive noses and attraction to particular smells. At times, training Beagles can be challenging as they are known to be as determined and single-minded. But, if you're looking for happy-go-lucky and friendly dogs, Beagles can make wonderful family pets. Their compact size and short coat make them easy to care for without too much fuss or upkeep.