Beagle vs English Foxhound
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.
English Foxhound
The English Foxhound was bred for centuries not as an individual family dog but as a pack animal, hunting fox alongside mounted riders in a tradition that stretches back to the sixteenth century. That history is why the breed still does best in a large group rather than alone at home. The short, dense coat needs minimal grooming, but the breed is a poor fit for apartment life given its very high exercise needs. An adult male can reach 34 kilograms, built for stamina, able to run for hours alongside horses across open country. Its voice is loud and far-carrying, meant to be heard by a mounted rider during a hunt. Temperament is friendly but independent, hard to manage without firm training, since the breed is conditioned to follow its own instincts rather than human commands. Genuine Foxhound pets remain rare today; most still work with hunting packs. Life expectancy runs 10 to 13 years.
At a glance
| Beagle | English Foxhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Height (male) | 36.0–41.0 cm | 58.0–64.0 cm |
| Weight (male) | 10.0–11.0 kg | 29.0–34.0 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 yrs | 10–13 yrs |
| Coat | short, dense, weatherproof | short, dense |
Temperament & Family Life
| Beagle | English Foxhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Family friendly | ||
| Good with children | ||
| Good with other dogs | ||
| Friendly with strangers | ||
| Intelligence | ||
| Trainability |
Exercise, Energy & Space
| Beagle | English Foxhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy level | ||
| Exercise need | ||
| Apartment friendly | ||
| Prey drive | ||
| Hunting instinct |
Guarding & Alertness
| Beagle | English Foxhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Guarding instinct | ||
| Watchfulness | ||
| Barking level |
Grooming & Care
| Beagle | English Foxhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Shedding | ||
| Drooling | ||
| Grooming need |
Temperament and care scores (1-5) are a general guide based on the breed standard — every individual dog is different.