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Foxhound vs. Beagle: What Are the Differences?

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Foxhound vs Beagle

At first glance, it may seem impossible to distinguish the Foxhound from the Beagle. Both dogs look remarkably similar, which makes sense given that they were both bred for similar purposes.

Both breeds have short coats that grow in similar patterns and were designed for hunting small game. Beyond that, there are quite a few differences worth highlighting. In the brief guide below, we’ll walk you through what to expect from the Foxhound and Beagle so you can pick the right one for your family.

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Visual Differences

Foxhound vs Beagle side by side
Image Credit: (L) Mary Swift, Shutterstock | (R) Jumpstory

A Quick Overview

Foxhound
  • Average height (adult): 19–25 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 45–75 pounds
  • Lifespan: 10–12 years
  • Exercise: 1–2 hours per day
  • Grooming Needs: Minimal
  • Family-friendly: Yes
  • Dog-friendly: Yes
  • Trainability: Moderate; they are intelligent but also independent and hardheaded
Beagle
  • Average height (adult): 13–16 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 20–25 pounds
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Exercise: 1–2 hours per day
  • Grooming Needs: Minimal
  • Family-friendly: Yes
  • Dog-friendly: Yes
  • Trainability: Easy, but they can be stubborn

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Foxhound Overview

Foxhounds are genial and easygoing dogs, but they’re also quite energetic. They need a great deal of exercise and don’t do well alone. After all, they were bred to hunt in packs, so they thrive around people and other dogs.

If you’re buying a Foxhound puppy, you can expect to pay between $500 and $1,000 on average. The price can go up substantially if you want to enter them in dog shows or take them hunting. If you only care about having a companion for your family, there’s no reason to pay too much.

English foxhound tilted head
Image credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock

Foxhound Personality

Foxhounds are simultaneously laidback and excitable, which sounds contradictory but also encapsulates the job they were bred to accomplish. They needed to preserve their energy until they hit upon a scent trail, at which point they needed to operate at full speed until the job was done.

Since they were bred to hunt in packs, Foxhounds don’t handle solitude well. They need to be in the company of others, and it would be a good idea to get them a canine brother or sister. Be careful about bringing smaller pets into the house because you can’t simply turn off centuries of programming that compels them to hunt.

They handle small children with patience and forgiveness and can be excellent family pets. Be aware that they view strangers suspiciously; aggressiveness toward non-family members can be problematic. Foxhounds can also become fixated on scent trails. That makes them accomplished escape artists, so if you leave them in the backyard, you’ll need an incredibly sturdy fence.

As long as you understand that most of a Foxhound’s actions are dictated by their predisposition toward hunting in packs, you’ll know how best to relate to your dog.

Foxhound Training

Like most hunting dogs, Foxhounds are intelligent and capable of learning commands. However, they’re not necessarily easy to train. They can be stubborn, so you’ll need to be firm during training sessions. First-time dog owners may not be equipped to handle them.

You should understand that whenever a Foxhound encounters a new scent, everything else in their brain shuts off, including the part that was paying attention to you. As a result, you’ll want to hold training sessions in areas where enticing aromas are less common.

That can work to your advantage in training. Many owners struggle to train their Foxhounds because they try to relate to them visually, but Foxhounds primarily interact with the world through their noses.

Any commands you can give that allow them to use their powerful snouts will be much easier to follow than commands that require them to look around.

American Foxhound
Photo credit: giovannistrapazzon, Pixabay

Foxhound Health and Care

Foxhounds are bred to run, and they have boundless amounts of stamina. As a result, as long as you feed them properly and give them plenty of exercise, they’re generally a hearty breed.

Hip dysplasia can be a problem later in life, especially if the dog is overweight. They can also be prone to ear infections, so you’ll need to clean out their ears regularly and dry them thoroughly after bathing.

Foxhounds are low-maintenance animals regarding grooming. In addition to cleaning out their ears, you must trim their nails and brush their teeth regularly. If they run around as much as they’d like, the nail trimming may not even be necessary.

You should only bathe them when they’re visibly dirty, and they only need to be brushed about once a week. Brushing their coat redistributes their natural oils and reduces shedding.

Foxhound Suitability

Foxhounds can make excellent pets if you’re willing and able to meet their prodigious exercise requirements. If they don’t get all the physical and mental stimulation they need, they can become destructive or start trying to escape.

Hunters should consider adding a Foxhound to their packs since they’re tireless in pursuit of their quarry. If you don’t take them hunting, you’ll need to find other ways to tucker them out.

Foxhounds can make great family pets, and having a large household is helpful when it comes to providing them with exercise. Their exercise needs may be too much for one person, but your family can take turns walking and playing with them.

Owning a Foxhound in an apartment isn’t a good idea. Not only will they need more room to run around, but they’re also prone to baying, which is deep, sustained howling. It’s not a great way to ingratiate yourself with the neighbors.

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Beagle Overview

Beagles are similar to Foxhounds, but they’re much smaller. Like Foxhounds, they were bred to track prey with their powerful noses and contain it until their owners could arrive to finish the job.

If you buy a Beagle through a breeder, you can pay anywhere from $500 to $1,000. Given how common Beagles are, you may even find one for less, but beware of backyard breeders. You should also check your local shelter or rescue groups.

beagle
Image Credit: christinescha, Pixabay

Beagle Personality

Beagles are the definition of happy-go-lucky dogs. They have a near-constant smile on their faces, and their tails practically explode when their owners come into view.

Like Foxhounds, they are bred to hunt in packs and don’t do well on their own. They’ll likely glue themselves to your side as long as you’re around, which can be welcome or annoying, depending on your mood.

They bond quickly and easily with family members but can be aloof toward strangers. This aloofness seldom lasts long, especially if the stranger has a treat in their hands. For that reason, they don’t make particularly effective guard dogs.

They can be quite excitable, and it’s not uncommon to see a Beagle go from dead asleep to racing around the room. If you value your furniture and other possessions, you need to give them plenty of room to release their energy.

They love children and are surprisingly patient with them. However, this can work against you, as many people trust their Beagles so implicitly that they leave them alone with small children. Although Beagles aren’t known for being aggressive, no dog should ever be left unattended with a small child.

Beagle Training

Beagles can be taught to do perform tricks since they’re one of the smartest breeds around. Unfortunately, they’re also stubborn and single-minded, which can make training a chore.

As with Foxhounds and other scent hounds, Beagles will shut down everything else that’s going on in their brains the moment that they encounter a fresh scent. This can derail a training session and make going for walks a nightmare.

Once they’re locked onto a scent, pulling them away from it is next to impossible. If you own a Beagle, you need a sturdy fence because they will find and exploit any vulnerabilities in it if that allows them to chase down a scent.

The one silver lining for training Beagles is that they’re food-motivated. You can get them to do almost anything if you have a treat in your hand. However, you have to limit their treats because they’re prone to obesity.

beagle
Credit: Alexey Androsov, Shutterstock

Beagle Health and Care

Beagles have two distinct weak points: their ears and their eyes. Their ears are prone to infections and need to be cleaned regularly. If they get wet, they also need to be dried thoroughly, or you’ll likely have an infection on your hands within a few days.

They’re also predisposed to cherry eye, a condition in which the tear duct inside their third eyelid becomes inflamed. It’s not usually serious, and it’s usually treatable with prescription eye drops. In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary.

Beagles can also be prone to hip dysplasia and other joint issues, especially if they’re overweight. It’s easy for that to happen since Beagles will eat anything. Be careful about what and how much you feed them, and keep all food (yours and theirs) securely stored.

They shed moderately, and you’ll want to brush them at least once a week. You should also brush their teeth as often as possible and trim their nails as needed.

Beagle Suitability

Beagles make great family pets, but they can’t be afterthoughts. The entire family must be on board with owning and caring for them since they need a lot of exercise and companionship.

They do well in rural households, especially if they have the room to run around. It’s not a good idea to let them explore off-leash because they’ll likely find a scent trail, wander off, and never come back.

They can function in apartments, but you’ll need to regularly take them outside for vigorous exercise. Like Foxhounds, they’re prone to baying, so you’ll need to get it under control if you want to have any friends in your complex.

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Which Breed Is Right for You?

Foxhounds and Beagles are remarkably similar breeds, and the decision may ultimately hinge on how big you want your dog to be. Foxhounds outweigh their cousins by at least 20 pounds, so if you want a larger dog, they’re ideal for you.

They have similar dispositions, but Beagles are a little more affectionate. They’re both prone to separation anxiety, both are difficult to train, and both can be accomplished escape artists, so there’s not much in the way of a difference there.

Perhaps the best solution for you and the dogs is to adopt one of each. That way, they can keep each other company and run laps together.

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Featured Image Credit: (L) Olga Aniven, Shutterstock | (R) Milli, Unsplash

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