Beagle vs Otterhound
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.
Otterhound
The Otterhound was bred in England to hunt otters, once regarded as pests that damaged river fisheries, and that job explains almost everything about the breed's build. The rough double coat with its oily, water-resistant outer layer sheds water, while webbed feet let it swim nearly as efficiently as it runs on land. When otter hunting was banned in Britain in 1978, the breed lost its original purpose and is now among the rarest in the world, with fewer than a thousand living dogs. A male can weigh up to 52 kilograms, large but not clumsy, built for long swims in cold water. A deep, carrying bark was a genuine working asset, audible over noisy river currents at distance. Life expectancy runs 10 to 13 years.
At a glance
| Beagle | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Height (male) | 36.0–41.0 cm | 61.0–69.0 cm |
| Weight (male) | 10.0–11.0 kg | 30.0–52.0 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 yrs | 10–13 yrs |
| Coat | short, dense, weatherproof | rough, double, harsh outer coat |
Temperament & Family Life
| Beagle | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Family friendly | ||
| Good with children | ||
| Good with other dogs | ||
| Friendly with strangers | ||
| Intelligence | ||
| Trainability |
Exercise, Energy & Space
| Beagle | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy level | ||
| Exercise need | ||
| Apartment friendly | ||
| Prey drive | ||
| Hunting instinct |
Guarding & Alertness
| Beagle | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Guarding instinct | ||
| Watchfulness | ||
| Barking level |
Grooming & Care
| Beagle | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Shedding | ||
| Drooling | ||
| Grooming need |
Temperament and care scores (1-5) are a general guide based on the breed standard — every individual dog is different.