How Big Do Beagles Get? A Breed Average
Are you considering adding a Beagle to your family, and would like to know how big these delightful dogs will typically get?
Maybe you are short on space, or already have a dog or another pet. Perhaps you have small children and don’t want to take on a pooch that’s too big for them to enjoy. Whatever your reasons, knowing how big a Beagle will become is a reasonable and responsible question to ask before committing to bringing one home.
How big are Beagles?
A male Beagle will typically grow to 22 – 25 pounds and 13-16 inches in height, while a female Beagle will weigh around 15 – 18 pounds and stand 11-13 inches when grown. Factors that affect your Beagle’s size are genetics, their post-birth environment, and the quality of care you provide them.
Just like humans, where a Beagle pup starts and where they end up can have a lot to do with their genetics, but can also be affected by how they are cared for after birth and beyond. Knowing what to look for in a Beagle before you bring them home, as well as knowing what you can do to keep them at their healthiest size will ensure a long and happy relationship for both of you.
Beagles have always fascinated me, as I think they are one of the sweetest, smartest, and fun-loving breeds out there. The more you know about them, the better pets they will be.
Dive deeper with me into learning more about their healthiest size and how to help them maintain it.
How Big Will a Beagle Get?
Beagles are a popular breed in the United States, as they are smart, curious, fun to be around, and make great companions. Their sweet nature makes them great with kids and other pets alike, and their small to medium stature means they’ll be an excellent family member, regardless of your living condition.
Beagles originated in England and were originally bred to be hunting dogs. In fact, it is said that the beginning Beagles used to be quite small, and hunters could carry them in their knapsacks.
Today’s Beagles tend to be between 15-25 pounds and 13-16 inches in height, depending on several variables.
Genetics
Your Beagle’s bloodline and breeding will have a lot to do with her final size.
Just like humans, dogs receive dominant and recessive genes from both parents.
Depending on which genes are dominant will determine what your Beagle looks like, acts like and how big it will get. If your Beagle pup came from a partnership between two large-sized parents, there’s a good chance she’s going to be a bit bigger than average.
If, on the other hand, both Beagle parents were smaller in stature, your new family friend probably will be too.
Genetics is complicated, and I don’t claim to be an expert at them. But, it stands to reason that predicting your Beagle’s size will be easier if both mom and dad were similar in size.
If they were significantly different from each other in their weight and/or height, it may be harder to know how big your pooch is going to get, just by looking at where they came from.
Post-Birth Environment
Though it may be hard to determine how a Beagle’s genetic makeup is going to play out in the long run, knowing what her post-birth environment was like can help you have a better idea of how big she is going to get during her life with you.
Breeders have a lot of impact on a litter’s long-term health and size. The age at which they breed the mother, the overall health of the mother at the time of conception, complications during birth, and post-birth medical care of the mother and pups can all be factors that will contribute to your Beagle’s ultimate size.
Knowing, too, if your Beagle was the runt of the litter will give you a good sense of how big they will eventually be.
Not every person who brings a Beagle into their home will know how their new pet’s life began, or what kind of conditions were present at the time of its conception. Many of you will adopt a Beagle from an animal shelter, and your dog’s origin and backstory will never be known.
But, if you are thinking of getting a Beagle from a breeder, making sure they have a good reputation, and knowing the environment in which they are bringing puppies into the world will help you have a better idea of how large your Beagle may grow to be.
Quality of Care
Here is the good news…though there are other factors you have no control over that decide the size of your Beagle, the type of care you plan on giving her once she’s part of your pack can have a huge influence on her final size and overall health.
Your decisions on how to care for your dog are endless, and each one can have long-term, lasting effects on her.
What type of food you choose to feed her, whether you take her for regular veterinary care, what sort of environment she lives in, how much exercise and family time she gets…all of these variables will have an impact on her final size.
Again, if you got your Beagle long after her growth stage is over, the way you care for her now may not have as much of a long-term effect on her size.
But, making sure she has a healthy diet, adequate veterinary care, a safe and comfortable place to live and lots of playtime will all help ensure that she is happy and healthy for the years she is part of your family.
How Do I Help My Beagle Reach Her Full Potential?
As I mentioned earlier, there are lots of things that go into your Beagle’s ultimate size that you can’t control. Her genetics, her breeding, and how she was cared for before she came to you all play into how big she’s going to get. Luckily, though, there are lots of things you can do to help her thrive when she is in your care.
We Are What We Eat
Making sure your Beagle pup gets adequate and the right kind of nutrition will be one of the biggest factors in her growth. Feed her what she needs at different stages of her life and she will have a great chance to thrive and grow.
Her diet will change as she does, and a puppy chow won’t have the same nutritional ingredients that an adult dog food will.
There are lots of resources out there to help you determine what to feed your Beagle and when, but here’s a good place to start.
What’s Up, Doc?
Just like humans, our pets need regular visits to the doctor to make sure they are growing properly, have had the necessary shots, and are not at risk for any problems that could be eliminated with proper medical intervention.
It’s also nice to have a good veterinarian in your corner when you bring home a new pet. Having a vet who knows you and your Beagle from early on will help guarantee that when and if a problem does arise, your dog already has an established relationship with a medical provider.
Home Sweet Home
Where you live probably won’t matter much to your Beagle. These dogs are very adaptable and can live in an apartment, in the country, in a neighborhood, or anything in between.
Though where you live won’t affect your Beagle’s overall growth and size, how they live will. Beagles are very social and like to be with their pack. Giving them a spot in the home, where they can interact with the rest of the family will go a long way in their overall development and happiness.
Additionally, it would not be good for your Beagle’s long-term growth if they were to be kept outside to live, or spend lots of time by themselves outdoors. Not only do they like to be around their packmates, but Beagles are also inherently curious and are hunters by nature. They could get themselves into a lot of trouble unattended – trouble that may even result in life-threatening injuries.
We All Need Hugs and Play
Finally, I can’t stress this enough – your Beagle will have the best chance of reaching her full growth potential if exercise and play are a regular part of her day.
Beagles are prone to weight gain if not given a chance to burn some calories every day. They are stocky by nature, and extra weight will not benefit them. If you want your Beagle to stay at a healthy size and weight, make sure she gets consistent time to romp and roam, while being supervised, of course.
Playing and exercising with your pup will help her grow and help you both bond in the best of ways.
