While cuteness may be your first impression of Beagles, these little dogs are actually part of a noble hound history. Hounds were used for scent hunting by the ancient Greeks. In the time of King Arthur, the Prince of Wales had his own special kind of hound, a white dog. And by the time of Queen Elizabeth I in the 1500s, most country gentlemen had packs of hounds.

The larger hounds tracked down deer, while the smaller ones went after rabbits. These were the first Beagles. Even today, there are Beagles that are trained in groups, or packs, to hunt rabbits. “Beagling” makes for an exciting afternoon outing.

Because Beagles lived in packs for so many hundreds of years, they just naturally like being together with people and other animals. They are gentle, happy companions, as loving as they are lovable. They are also clever, quick, and, most of all, curious. They need plenty of active exercise.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: Solid and sturdy, with a gentle, pleading expression. They can be any hound color, but are usually tan, black, and white.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: There are two types of Beagles—those under 13 inches high (at the withers) and those over 13 inches high but no higher than 15 inches. Size is the only difference.

Fun Facts

The most famous Beagle, of course, is Snoopy. Charles Schulz got the idea for Snoopy from his own childhood dog, Spike. Soon Snoopy became a regular part of the “Peanuts” comic strip. Started in 1950, “Peanuts” is the most successful comic strip ever, and Snoopy is a big reason why.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.