How long does a Beagle live?

The listed lifespan for a Beagle is 10–15 years.

How tall is a Beagle?

The listed height for a Beagle is 13–16 in.

Is a Beagle good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Beagle is 5 out of 5.

When is a Beagle full grown?

The growth size band for a Beagle is 8–12 months.

Hound Group

Beagle

Beagle is a small dog in the Hound Group. Adult weight is 22–25 lb (male), 20–23 lb (female), height is 13–16 in, and the listed lifespan is 10–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Curious, Friendly, Merry.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Beagle dog — Photo: Slyronit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan10–15 years

Weight22–25 lb (male), 20–23 lb (female)

SizeSmall GroupHound Group

Height

13–16 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12.5 years is about 1.1 years shorter than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 22.5 lb is about 6.5 lb heavier than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is England. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.3 points above the group average of 3.7 for the Hound Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 7 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, Thyroid Evaluation, and Musladin-Lueke Syndrome (MLS) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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