Beagle vs Bloodhound
Compare two breeds
Pick two breeds to see them compared side by side.
Beagle
The Beagle is one of the oldest and most popular hound breeds in the world, tracing back to England, where small hunting dogs used for hare were already documented at Queen Elizabeth I's court in the sixteenth century. Its nose ranks among the strongest of any breed, which is why Beagles are widely used at airports to detect food or contraband. An adult male weighs around 11 kilograms, compact yet tireless, built to follow a scent for hours on end. The short, dense coat needs little more than regular brushing. Its baying voice is among the loudest of any small breed and can go on at length once it catches an interesting scent. Once locked onto a smell, a Beagle often tunes out its owner entirely, making off-leash walks risky. Temperament is friendly and sociable with other dogs, a legacy of working in packs. A tendency to overeat is a well-known trait in the breed. Life expectancy runs 12 to 15 years.
Bloodhound
One of the oldest and most scent-sensitive breeds in existence, its ancestry traces to medieval monasteries in Belgium, which is where the breed's other name, Saint-Hubert, comes from. The long, drooping ears and loose facial skin help trap scent particles in the air, a design that's kept the breed in active use for law enforcement trailing work for decades. The body is large, up to 50 kilograms, and the gait is slow but relentless, capable of following a trail for hours. Drooling comes with the territory given the loose lips. The temperament is calm and friendly despite the imposing look. Once it locks onto a scent, pulling it off that trail is genuinely difficult. Life expectancy runs 10 to 12 years.
At a glance
| Beagle | Bloodhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Height (male) | 36.0–41.0 cm | 63.0–69.0 cm |
| Weight (male) | 10.0–11.0 kg | 41.0–50.0 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 yrs | 10–12 yrs |
| Coat | short, dense, weatherproof | short, dense |
Temperament & Family Life
| Beagle | Bloodhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Family friendly | ||
| Good with children | ||
| Good with other dogs | ||
| Friendly with strangers | ||
| Intelligence | ||
| Trainability |
Exercise, Energy & Space
| Beagle | Bloodhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy level | ||
| Exercise need | ||
| Apartment friendly | ||
| Prey drive | ||
| Hunting instinct |
Guarding & Alertness
| Beagle | Bloodhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Guarding instinct | ||
| Watchfulness | ||
| Barking level |
Grooming & Care
| Beagle | Bloodhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Shedding | ||
| Drooling | ||
| Grooming need |
Temperament and care scores (1-5) are a general guide based on the breed standard — every individual dog is different.