American Foxhound vs Beagle

An American Foxhound
Photo: Peter Wadsworth
A Beagle
Photo: Jonatan De Geest

Side by side

American Foxhound
Beagle
Adult weight
Males 29–32 kg (65–70 lb); females 27–29 kg (60–65 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 17.3–22.4 kg (38–49 lb); females 14.5–19 kg (32–42 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 19,906, middle 50%)2
Height
Males 55.9–63.5 cm; females 53.3–61 cm (breed club figure)1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
11–13 years3
Median 12.5 years4
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes5
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Scent hounds6
Scent hounds7
Coat
Coat of medium length6
Short coat7
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
A moderate amount
Health
No sourced figure
Dry eye (much more likely); Blood-vessel cancer (more likely)8,9
Class
Field
Family

Which suits you

Size
The American Foxhound is much larger: about 30 kg (65 lb) as an adult, against 18 kg (40 lb) for the Beagle.
Grooming
The American Foxhound needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Beagle needs a brush once a week.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the American Foxhound, and a moderate amount with the Beagle.
Temperament
They differ most on intelligence (American Foxhound: easy-going, simple routines; Beagle: learns readily, likes games) and on handler demand (American Foxhound: needs an experienced owner; Beagle: needs steady training).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

American Foxhound
Scent hounds · Large

At home it is mild, friendly and easy with other dogs, traits often credited to pack life.

Beagle
Scent hounds · Medium

Bred to work in packs, the Beagle is sociable with people and other dogs, cheerful and inquisitive.

The American Foxhound page →The Beagle page →

Breed traits

Day to day
American Foxhound
Beagle
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Differs
Easy-going, simple routines
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs an experienced owner
Needs steady training
With people
American Foxhound
Beagle
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Friendly with everyone
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
American Foxhound
Beagle
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Very vocal
Very vocal
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The American Foxhound grows to the heavier adult, about 30 kg against the Beagle's 18 kg.
American Foxhound
Beagle
0102030402m4m6m9m12m18m
0102030402m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the American Foxhound with
Beagle vs Jack Russell TerrierBasset Hound vs BeagleAmerican Foxhound vs English FoxhoundBeagle vs English FoxhoundBeagle vs English Cocker SpanielAmerican Foxhound vs Black and Tan CoonhoundAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·