The Beagle is a breed of small hound that is similar in appearance to the much larger foxhound.

The beagle is intelligent but single-minded. It is a popular pet due to its size, good temper, and lack of inherited health problems.

The beagle is a scent hound, developed primarily for hunting hares, in an activity known as beagling. With one of the best senses of smell of any dog, and very good tracking instinct, the beagle is also often employed as a detection dog to prevent certain items from being smuggled across country borders.

It is not known why the black and tan "Kerry Beagle", present in Ireland since Celtic times, has the beagle description, since it is significantly taller than the modern day beagle, and in earlier times was even larger, being capable of hunting stags.

Snoopy, Courage the Cowardly Dog and the Beagle Boys are examples of famous beagles.

See also

• canine
• dog
• foxhound