Thanks to its gentle temperament, fun-loving nature, and loyal companionship, the Beagle is a great house pet. Its most distinguishing features are a smooth, dense coat, floppy ears, short legs, and a large, powerful nose for sniffing out nearby prey. Some people love the fact that they are on the smaller side of dog breeds. In fact, the Beagle is a miniature version of its larger relative, the foxhound (both scent hounds). If the size of a dog is a big concern to you, probably due to limited space, having a puppy can be challenging to predict how big it will become when it’s full-grown. So, let’s discuss what you can expect from a Beagle in terms of sizing.
How big do Beagles get? The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes two different sizes of this dog breed: the 13-inch Beagle that weighs around 18-20 pounds and the 15-inch Beagle that weighs 20-30 pounds. Beagles can also vary in size based on gender, with males slightly larger than their female counterparts. Then there are Beagle mixes that come in different sizes, as we’re going to see later on.
No one can argue that the Beagle is one of the cutest dogs around. But caring for your pup goes beyond adoring them. You need to understand their growth to know whether or not your dog is on track for healthy adulthood. As you monitor their height and weight, you’ll be more in tune with your dog’s needs so you can set them up for long and healthy life. Are you planning to buy a Beagle or Beagle mix and don’t know if they are the right size for you? Or do you already have one and are wondering how to keep them at their best height and weight? Have no fear because this blog post has the information you need on all things Beagle size.
Is A Beagle A Small or Medium Dog
The Beagle belongs to the group of small to medium-sized dogs due to its final height and weight, which tend to be in the medium size range. Knowing what size your Beagle pup is expected to be once they’re adults is important, but you should also know the appropriate size at each stage of their life. This will help you know how many calories they should eat daily. Plus, overfeeding or underfeeding your dog can have lasting effects. Since Beagles are prone to obesity, it’s important to watch what and how much they eat to ensure optimal health and lifespan. Knowing your Beagle’s size will also help you identify any signs of serious health issues early on while ensuring they maintain a healthy weight throughout their lives.
Growth Chart for Beagle (Height & Weight)
A Beagle chart is meant to give you guidance on what you should expect to see from your puppy during his growth. Keep in mind that different dogs grow at different speeds. Your dog might not follow these sizes precisely, but you can use them as a general guide to show what the ideal progress looks like.
Newborn beagles are as light as 5-10 ounces, about the size of an average smartphone. As is typical with other puppies, a Beagle puppy’s weight decreases in the first 24 hours because they excrete fluids faster than they can replenish them. However, the weight lost rarely exceeds 10% of their initial birth weight. After 24 hours, the puppy will start adding weight with each passing day.
Here’s a typical growth pattern of an average larger Beagle
| Age | 1-2 Months | 3-4 Months | 5-9 Months | 10-18 Months |
| Height | 5-7 inches | 7-10 inches | 10-13 inches | 11-15 inches |
| Weight | 3-7 lbs | 8-12 lbs | 10-20lbs | 20-30 lbs |
The growth pattern for an average smaller Beagle will be slightly lower. For instance, their weight will be as follows:
- 1-2 months: 2-5 lbs
- 3-4 months: 7-11 lbs
- 5-9 months: 9-16 lbs
- 10-18 months: 16-20 lbs
As mentioned earlier, the Beagle comes in various sizes, and there will always be some that are either lighter/heavier or taller than the AKC standard range. Your Beagle’s size will depend on various factors such as the parents’ size, grandparents’ size, breeding conditions, gender, and nutrition, among other things.
Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth
While it’s okay for your Beagle to be slightly ahead or behind the above numbers, watch out for too fast or slow growth patterns. If a Beagle is growing too quickly, it can easily become overweight or obese. This is commonly caused by overfeeding due to their current size. In that case, adjust the amount of food you give according to the dog’s age and activity levels.
On the other hand, stunted growth could be a case of genetics or caused by worms or intestinal parasites. This is not a common problem in Beagles and will require tests to confirm. We recommend consulting with your vet, who will paint a clearer picture of where your Beagle should be.
At What Age Is A Beagle Fully Grown?
Beagle puppies go through a rapid growth period early in their lives, both in their general physical and mental development. It’s amazing to watch your pup grow bigger and more confident with each passing day, but how do you know when it’s finished growing and has reached full adult size? On average, a regular Beagle reaches their full height at around eight months and its adult weight at 18 months old. The skeletal system of a Beagle is fully developed at the age of 1.5 years. And once all of the growth plates in bones are closed up, your Beagle cannot effectively get any taller or bigger.
This is not to say that he can’t get heavier. This breed loves to eat and can quickly become obese, which makes them vulnerable to all kinds of life-threatening diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Puppies release incredible amounts of energy playing and also require extra calories and nutrients to facilitate rapid growth.
Once they are fully developed, they tend to stop being hyper. They will likely show signs of inactivity in the months after 1.5 years of age, which, if combined with overeating or consuming too many calories and a lack of exercise, can lead to obesity. Another change that is likely to occur after the age of 1.5 years is loss of weight, which is also dependent on feeding and the dog’s general health.
The typical age of becoming fully grown at 18 months applies to Beagles that weigh over 25 pounds in weight when they’re mature. The smaller Beagle, i.e., those whose weight at maturity is 20-25 pounds, becomes fully grown when they are about 14 months old. The smaller the dog, the earlier its body will stop growing!
Factors That Influence the Final Size of Your Beagle
Genetics – Beagles and all dogs, in general, are predisposed to a certain size, depending on their parents’ size. If the parents are large, the puppy is more likely to become large, and vice versa. Some go as far as taking their grandparents’ genes.
General health – A healthy pup will have average growth, while a continually sick one will experience a slower growth rate. Additionally, Beagles are predisposed to many genetic diseases that can influence their growth patterns. The good news is you can take care of some of these diseases early on with proper medical attention.
Feeding and physical activity – Food plays a vital part in the growth and development of a dog. When they can eat a well-balanced and nutrient-rich diet, they’re more likely to be larger and stronger. Beagles are prone to obesity, so ensure their food is carefully portioned out with just the right amount of calories. Physical activity is also important for maintaining a healthy weight. Beware of the amount of exercise your dog needs. Too much of it can affect a pup’s growth plates and put a strain on the older ones’ bones and joints.
Neutering/Spaying – Neutering/Spaying eliminates unwanted puppies, increases life expectancy, and helps to eliminate behavioral issues, but doing it at an early age may not be in the dog’s best interest. Sex hormones let the body know when to stop growing; therefore, neutering/spaying early can affect the growth plates, causing your Beagle to become larger and taller than usual.
How Big Is A Full-Grown Beagle?
Full-grown Beagles generally weigh from 15-30 pounds with a height of 13-16 inches, which is a fairly wide estimate. To be more specific, Beagles come in two main sizes. The smaller Beagle includes those not taller than 13 inches and weighing less than 20 pounds, while the larger variety stands around 13-15 inches and weighs 20-30 pounds as per the AKC standards but can go up to 35 pounds.
There’s also the Pocket Beagle, who’s even smaller than the average Beagle. They usually weigh 7-15 pounds at the height of 7-12 inches. Though the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize the Pocket Beagle, technically, it still qualifies as a 13-inch Beagle, defined as one that doesn’t exceed 13 inches in height at the shoulder. When looking at these measurements, note that a dog’s height is measured from its withers. This is the point between its shoulder blades and not from the top of its head.
As mentioned earlier, genetics play an important role in determining the size of a puppy. So when Beagles and other dog breeds come together to create mixes, you can expect them to be sized differently from the pure breed of Beagle. Here are some mixed breeds of Beagle and their sizes
Malteagle (Beagle + Maltese) – The Maltese is an even smaller animal than Beagle. As a result, the Malteagle stands at 12 inches but can get just as heavy as the standard Beagle with a full-grown weight of 15-22 pounds.
Beagleman (Beagle + Doberman Pinscher) – The Doberman pinscher is quite a large dog, and crossing it with a Beagle produces a relatively large dog that weighs 40-55 pounds with a height of 16-22 inches.
Jack-A-Bee (Beagle + Jack Russell Terrier) – Both dogs are about the same size, which makes the Jack-A-Bee 13-16 inches tall with a weight of 15-30 pounds.
Peagle (Beagle + Pekingese) – The Pekingese is a bit smaller, and their mix with a Beagle produces a six to 16-Inch Peagle who can weigh 14-15 pounds.
Beagi (Beagle + Corgi) – The combination of these adorable dogs produces a 10-16 inch dog. However, the Beagi weighs a lot less than both dogs, with a full-grown weight of 10-20 pounds.
Raggle (Beagle + Rat Terrier) – Although both dogs are medium-sized, their combination results in a surprisingly tall dog. A Raggle is 18-22 inches tall and weighs 10-20 pounds.
Beabull (Beagle + English Bulldog) – Both dogs have the same height but different weights, which makes for an exciting combination. The Beabull can grow as tall as 12-16 inches while weighing 30-50 pounds.
Beagador (Beagle + Labrador) – Labradors are huge dogs, so when bred with Beagles, they produce a 19-24 inch dog with 25-45 pounds full-grown weight.
Cheagle (Beagle + Chihuahua) – Chihuahuas are tiny, adorable dogs and bring those genes to the table. Expect a Cheagle to stand at 9 to 14 inches with a weight of 9 to 20 pounds.
Pomeagle (Beagle + Pomeranian) – These are among the smallest Beagle mixes, standing at 6-11 inches and weighing 5-25 pounds.
Poogle (Beagle + Poodle) – On average, the Poogle mix stands 9-16 inches tall and weighs 11-25 pounds. These estimations are based on normal Poodles, so expect different results if you mix a Beagle with medium or toy Poodles.
Puggle (Beagle + Pug) – The puggle turns out to be more of a Beagle than a pug, weighing 18-30 pounds with a height of 13-15 inches.
How to Keep a Beagle within a Good Weight Range
The Beagle is extremely food-motivated and is known for its love of treats. Your Beagle will always act hungry, but it’s important not to overfeed him. This breed is prone to obesity, and most owners struggle to keep their dogs healthy. Being overweight is not something you want for your dog as it makes them vulnerable to all kinds of life-threatening diseases.
Seeing as you see your dog daily, you tend to adjust to gradual changes, which makes it difficult to realize if there’s a problem with their sizing. But before you panic whether your dog is the right weight or not, measure them regularly against the Beagle size chart. Your puppy should have a constant upward trajectory of growth and development. For adult Beagles, watch out for serious fluctuations in weight as it can be a sign of an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.
Another way to assess their weight is by running your fingers along his rib cage. A healthy beagle will have a layer of skin with thin fats over them, allowing you to feel the ribs. But with an overweight dog, you’ll feel a good amount of fat before you can feel the ribs. Overweight Beagles also look chubby, are not flexible, and get tired quickly.
Dogs gain weight the same way we do, by overeating or consuming more calories without exercising. So, all you have to do to help your adult Beagle lose those extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight is:
Watch what they eat – First, you need to ensure your dog is eating high-quality foods that provide the right balance of nutrients to keep them healthy for life. Then, pay attention to how much they are eating. Since this breed seems to have little control over its appetite, portion control goes a long way towards preventing obesity. It can be difficult to cut down on food when your female Beagle always seems hungry. In that case, aim to lower calories. Start by swapping the high-calorie manufactured treats for fruits and vegetables.
Exercise your Beagle – Exercising the dog will help burn off those extra calories so they can meet their weight loss goals. Keep in mind that excessive physical stress can cause health issues with the bones and joints, affecting effective growth and development. Start slowly with a walk around the block and gradually increase to more intense exercises like running and hiking. It would be best if you also increased the duration of the daily exercise slowly.