Both Dachshunds and Beagles are extremely popular breeds, but everyone has different criteria when it comes to choosing a four-legged friend so it’s important to do your research so you know what exactly you are getting yourself and your family in for, and most importantly if the breed is going to be the right match.
If you have landed on this article, then it looks like you have narrowed down your dog search to the beautiful dachshund and beagle breed and need some help making a final decision.
Here is a full summary and side-by-side comparison of the two breeds, covering all the essentials from temperament, size, exercise needs, and pretty much everything you need to know to make an informed decision on which breed is better suited to your family.
| Dachshund | Beagle | |
| Temperament | Loyal, energetic, happy go lucky, and stubborn. | Gentle, affectionate, and dependent. Can be a bit stubborn. |
| Size & Weight | 11lb (miniature) – 32lb | 15 – 30lb (depends on type) |
| Lifespan | 12 – 16 years | 12 – 15 years |
| Shedding | Light to moderate shedders | moderate shedders |
| Puppy Price | $1500 – $2000+ | $500 – $2000+ |
| Suitable With Kids | 7/10 (with training they can be) | 9/10 (very good with kids) |
| Suitable For Elderly | 6/10 (other breeds are better suited to elderly owners) | 7/10 (assuming they can be given the needed walks/exercise) |
| Trainability | 5/10 (very stubborn) | 6/10 (stubborn) |
| Barking | 6/10 (known for being barkers) | 2/10 (not a barking breed for the most part) |
| Exercise Needs | 30 to 60 minutes per day | 60 to 120 minutes per day |
| Health Problems | 5/10 (prone to health problems) | 7/10 (generally a healthy breed) |
| Grooming Needs | Minimal | Low/Medium |
Contents
Beagle Summary
Where exactly the word beagle comes from is not actually known, although beagles as we know them did not really come about until the 19th century.
It is thought that the Greeks had beagle-like dogs as far back as 400 BC, although this is a bit of a mystery.
We do know that beagles became quite popular in England during the 14th century.
They were originally used as hunting dogs, but were too small, so they fell out of favor, until they were bred to be larger, and were then once again used as hunting dogs.
The American Kennel Club did not officially recognize the beagle as a breed until 1884.
There are technically two varieties of beagles, those that are smaller than 13 inches and the shoulders, and those that reach up to 15 inches, and depending on the size, can weigh between 18 and 30 pounds.
Do keep in mind that beagles are hunting dogs, so they do have quite the prey drive.
Beagles have very smooth and dense double coats, and they usually always have smooth and short fur.
In terms of colors, they are usually tricolor, complete with a black saddle, a tan head, and tan around the saddle, along with white legs, chest, belly, and a white tail tip. There are also other color patterns available.
Beagles are very fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, curious, and adventurous dogs, and they may also have a bit of a stubborn and disobedient streak, especially if they get a scent in their nose.
Remember, these are hounds and scent tracking dogs at heart. They can be a challenge to train, although obedience is often easily earned with a bit of food.
They also tend to be fairly avid escape artists too.
Dachshund Summary
The dachshund is a German hunting dog that has its origins in the 1500s. Dachshund, literally translated from German, means badger dog.
Yes, these dogs were used to hunt badgers and other such animals, as their slim and long bodies can easily fit into narrow tunnels and burrows.
The dachshund stands at a maximum of 10 or 12 inches at the shoulders, and can weigh between 16 and 32 pounds, with miniature versions being substantially smaller.
The dachshund comes in three different coat types, including smooth haired, long haired, and wire haired. They can also come in a wide variety of patterns and color combinations too.
This is a hunting dog, so it does have quite a strong prey drive. It will give chase to rabbits, squirrels, and everything in between.
This is a courageous and curious dog, and although it is small, it is very feisty. They have rather big personalities, and they can be somewhat vocal too. Dachshunds are loving dogs, and very loyal too.
They love being with their family members, and they tend to get along well with most people, plus they’re quite playful too.
They might not always love young kids or large dogs, but with some socialization, it should not be a problem.
In terms of trainability and obedience, they can take a while to train, and they can be a bit stubborn and disobedient too, but they can be trained with a good bit of dedication, patience, and repetition.
Dachshund Vs Beagle Comparison
Now that we have done a short summary of both the dachshund and the beagle, let’s move on and compare the two on a side-by-side basis.
We want to look at all of the most important factors that will determine just how ideal these dog breeds are for you.
Temperament
In terms of temperament, the beagle is well known for being a very sweet and loving family dog.
These dogs are extremely gentle, and they tend to get along well with their family, with children, with strangers, and other dogs too.
Although they are hunting dogs at heart, they generally are not aggressive or territorial per say, but they can be a bit vocal and will bark when they see things they aren’t familiar with.
Beagles also tend to be super affectionate and dependent, or in other words, they want to be with people, and they will follow you around the house.
The beagle can be a bit stubborn and difficult to train, but not overly so, especially when there is food involved.
However, they can be very energetic and rambunctious, and downright trouble makers too. They have a tendency to go where they shouldn’t, to chew stuff apart, and they make for great escape artists too.
When it comes to the temperament of the dachshund, they are usually always loving and loyal, as well as quite playful and affectionate, particularly with their family members.
They are for the most part quite friendly and loving, although they don’t always love large dogs, as they may feel threatened, and they will get annoyed by young children who harass them.
That said, a bit of socialization from a young age goes a long way.
Doxies can also be very stubborn and disobedient. Their strong hunting genes make them quite independent and single minded at times, and if they get a scent, they will forget everything else in favor of the hunt.
Due to their stubbornness, they can be quite difficult to train, and they aren’t rated as the smartest dogs out there, so a good bit of repetition will be needed.
They need a fair amount of discipline, but training with food certainly helps. All in all, they are loving and playful dogs that can show a good amount of affection, but you will have to deal with a bit of stubbornness, plus they can be quite the trouble makers too.
Size & Weight
Beagles generally come in two different sizes. The smaller of the two will stand at no more than 13 inches at the shoulders and will weigh somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds.
The larger of the two will stand at up to 15 inches at the shoulders and weigh anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds. In terms of their proportions, they are fairly average. They are relatively small, but they don’t have those classic short legs that a doxie has.
Dachshunds come in two standard sizes. First, we have the standard dachshund, which will stand anywhere from 8 to 10 inches at the shoulders (sometimes 12 inches if they are very large), and can weigh anywhere from 16 to 32 pounds.
There is also the miniature dachshund, which will usually top out at 6 inches high at the shoulders, and will usually never weigh more than 11 pounds.
If we are talking about the larger variety of both breeds, doxies tend to be on the heavier side when compared to beagles, yet usually not quite as tall.
There are also some other size variations of dachshunds, like tweenie but these are not officially recognized breed types in most parts of the world.
Lifespan
Beagles are generally fairly healthy dogs, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will live for 12 to 15 years on average, which is pretty standard for this size of dog.
On the other hand, we have the dachshund, which is not quite as healthy, at least not in the grand scheme of things, but that said, they do on average live anywhere from 12 to 16 years.
Generally speaking, you can expect both the dachshund and the beagle to reach roughly the same age, as long as they are healthy.
Shedding
In terms of shedding, beagles do have that thick double coat, so yes, they are prone to a bit of shedding.
They generally shed moderate amounts throughout the year, although their fur is very short, so it’s usually not all too noticeable.
Their coats get much thicker in the winter, so they will have a very heavy shed in the early spring.
Dachshunds on the other hand do not have that thick double coat, and no matter which of the three coat types they have, the doxie is considered a moderate shedder.
If you do have one of the long haired types, the shedding will be a bit more noticeable, but due to a lack of a double coat, it’s still not too bad.
They do go through a fairly heavy shed twice per year when the seasons change, but nothing too bad.
Puppy Price
Depending on where you get your beagle, it could cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
At this time, the average price that most people pay is somewhere around $1,150 for a beagle puppy.
When it comes to the dachshund, depending on who you get it from, it may cost anywhere from $300 to $3,500 (especially for puppies that come from show winning lines).
With the average cost being between $500 and $1,000, and between $1,500 and $2,000 for one that is registered with the American Kennel Club.
Suitable For Families with Young Kids
In terms of suitability for families with young kids, the beagle is definitely one of the best options out there.
This is a very friendly, loyal, loving, and playful dog with minimal aggressive and territorial tendencies.
They are super energetic and absolutely love to play with kids, even to the point of being overly rambunctious.
They can be a bit mouthy in the sense that they do like to gently nip and gnaw at fingers, although they know their strength too well, so they won’t bite down hard.
Also, this behavior can be easily trained out of them. In the grand scheme of things, they are very tolerant of kids.
Dachshunds are also fairly playful, loving, and energetic. They should usually get along well with kids that have been taught not to harass them.
That said, dachshunds do not appreciate young kids poking them, pulling at their ears, or just generally harassing them.
They may lightly snap at kids who don’t leave them alone for prolonged periods of time.
It is possible to socialize and train this behavior out of them, but generally speaking, the beagle is the more family and child friendly of the two.
However, let’s keep in mind that it really does also depend on how well behaved your children are, as they should be taught not to harass any dog.
Suitable For Elderly Owners
This is a bit of a double edged sword. This is because in terms of lovingness and friendliness, the beagle is probably the better option to go with.
Moreover, beagles also tend to be slightly easier to train than doxies, although not overly so.
That said, beagles require a good deal of exercise, as they are energetic and love to run around, plus they make for good escape artists too, so owners do need to keep an eye on them.
As an elderly person, if you are willing to put up with a dog that runs around a lot, likes to play, and gets into trouble a fair bit, then a beagle is a fine dog to go with.
They are certainly friendly, loving, and affectionate. They do however require a good bit of energy and patience to handle.
Now, when it comes to doxies, they are ideal for elderly people in the sense that they don’t require too much exercise, which is good for those with mobility issues.
Moreover, although they can be energetic and playful, they aren’t as much as beagles, so in this sense, they don’t require quite as much energy.
That said, doxies can be super disobedient and stubborn, which makes training them quite the task.
Behaviour With Other Dogs?
Beagles make for great pack dogs with other breeds. They do well in so-called community settings, are usually not aggressive, and not really territorial either.
In the grand scheme of things, they get along well just fine with all other dogs.
Dachshunds are a bit different on this front. They get along fine with their own kind, and they do well with other similar size and smaller dogs.
However, doxies often have issues with other much larger dogs. They may feel threatened by larger dogs and try to assert their dominance.
Trainability
When it comes to trainability, the beagle is a somewhat stubborn dog. It will require somewhat patient and creative training methods, but that said, food is always a big motivator.
Beagles are generally fairly smart, so they won’t need too much repetition to learn something, at least not due to a lack of intelligence.
But yes, they can be stubborn, and if they get a scent in their nose, they will forget everything but the hunt.
You definitely want to provide them with a good bit of obedience training, with food rewards being key.
In terms of training, dachshunds are roughly the same, although maybe slightly less intelligent and a bit more stubborn yet.
Dachshund make for great hunting dogs, but this also tends to mean that they are independent, single minded, stubborn, and often disobedient.
Luckily, these are also greedy and hungry dogs, so training them with food does work well.
Just remember that it can take up to 40 repetitions to teach a doxie something, and even if it knows a command, whether or not it will obey will depend on its mood.
Barking
Beagles are not the biggest barkers around and most would certainly not call them yappers.
That said, they can be vocal when they want something, but they often make an assortment of sounds, and will do lot of baying, yowling, and make other such noises. They will of course bark if they see a prey animal.
That said, beagles are not nearly as vocal and don’t bark as much as dachshund do.
Doxies are much more vocal, they bark to show their emotions, they bark at things they don’t know and people who walk past the house, and just to be a little noisy in this sense.
They may also bark if they feel threatened, and yes, they can be territorial too.
Exercise Needs
Beagles are quite active and energetic, and moreover, if they get bored or don’t burn off enough steam, they will get destructive, attempt to escape, and get into trouble.
Beagles need at least 60 minutes of exercise per day, with 90 minutes being better, and 120 minutes being best.
In this sense, the doxie is a much easier dog to deal with, as it needs only 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day, with 45 minutes often being more than enough.
Health
Beagles are generally fairly healthy dogs for the most part. There are some diseases and conditions that they may be susceptible to, although they are generally healthy.
Some of the conditions they may suffer from include;
- Intervertebral disc disease.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Cherry eye.
- Glaucoma.
- Progressive retinal atrophy.
- Distichiasis.
- Epilepsy.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Breagle dwarfism.
- Chinese beagle syndrome.
- Patellar luxation.
Dachshunds on the other hand tend to be less healthy than the beagle. They are more susceptible to developing or being born with a variety of conditions.
These can include but are not limited to;
- Invertebreal disc disease.
- Epilepsy.
- Progressive retinal atrophy.
- Gastic dilation-volvulus.
- Crushing’s disease.
- Obesity.
- Canine diabetes.
- Deafness.
- Food allergies.
- Skin issues.
- Dental hygiene issues.
Grooming Needs
A beagle’s grooming needs are not huge. Using a medium long and medium stiff brush, once weekly brushing will do just fine.
They have short fur, so they aren’t much at risk of developing matts or tangles. They also rarely need baths.
Dachshunds are about the same as far as the smooth hair variety is concerned.
However, the long haired and the wire haired dachshund, because the longer hair can matt and tangle, will require a bit more grooming. They should be groomed twice per week.
Other than that, their grooming needs are about the same. They should have their ears cleaned every few weeks, their claws clipped about once per month, and you should also aim to brush their teeth a few times per week.
Which Is A Better Guard Dog: Beagle vs Dachshund?
Both dogs make for alright guard dogs, although doxies are more vocal, more territorial of their property, and more suspicious of strangers.
Therefore, the dachshund is the better guard dog of the two.
There you have it folks, everything that you need to know when it comes to choosing between a dachshund and a beagle. Now that you know everything about these two breeds, you can make your own informed decision between them
