How to Tell the Difference between a Beagle and a Basset Hound

The Beagle and Basset Hound are both British breeds that have been used for hunting rabbits, hares, deer, and wild boars for centuries.

They are able to do this thanks to their excellent sense of smell. In fact, they are two of the breeds that have the strongest sense of smell, along with the Bloodhound, the St. Hubert and the American Foxhound. While originally used as hunting dogs, these dogs are now very popular companions that aren't restricted to hunting.

Beagles were originally bred for rabbit hunting. In 16th century England, wealthy Englishmen often owned packs of these hunting dogs. The modern breed was developed in Britain around 1830 from several breeds, including the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier. Beagles became popular hunting dogs because they were smaller and therefore used for hunting rabbits and other small prey.

The modern Basset Hound, however, is descended from French hunting dogs bred in Britain in the late 1800s. French Basset Hounds were imported into England beginning in the 19th century, and the first breed standard for what is now known as the Basset Hound was established in Britain in the 1870s. The Basset Hound was also bred for hunting rabbits and hare, with a sharp nose and short stature suitable for small game hunting on foot.

Although both dogs are popular companion dogs, the popularity of the Beagle has increased significantly in recent years, displacing the Basset Hound.

Beagles are currently ranked 6th out of 195 breeds as far as popularity in the United States, while the Basset Hound is currently ranked 28th.

This is mainly because Beagles are small to medium-sized dogs that are very intelligent, obedient and have short hair, characteristics that make them easy to accommodate in an apartment. In addition, Beagles are very resistant to diseases and usually have fewer problems with respiratory diseases and skin allergies than other dogs of similar size with short hair, such as bulldogs.

Ears

Both breeds have large and floppy ears, but while the Beagle's ears are rather thin and square, the Basset Hound's ears are much longer and can hang down into the area of the animal's limbs.

Skin folds

As with many dogs of this type, the skin of the Basset has numerous wrinkles on the body, including the head, the forehead, and the area above the eyes. This gives them a characteristic expression of sadness, although they are usually quite cheerful animals.

This fact does not occur in Beagles, and the absence of wrinkles helps to distinguish them not only from a Basset Hound, but also from most hunting dogs, such as the Spanish Hound or the San Huberto's Hound.

Body shape

One of the easiest ways to tell a Beagle from a Basset Hound is to look at the body. The Basset, also known by some as the "sausage dog," a nickname used primarily for the dachshund breed, is characterized by its elongated body and very short legs.

The beagle, on the other hand, has a more square appearance with normal length limbs, is taller than the basset and slightly less corpulent.

Coat

There is a lot of confusion between these two breeds because of their colors, as most of them have white, brown, and black coloration, although both can have a variety of hues.

In any case, Bassets are often bi-colored, that is, white and brown. In some cases, Basset Hound can also be gray, black, and white or white with reddish tones.

On the other hand, it can be difficult to find Beagles without the typical tri-color pattern. Beagles often have a predominantly white coat with black and brown patches.

Both breeds of dogs are intelligent, obedient, and very easy to train. Moreover, it is extremely difficult to find a Beagle or Basset that has problems with aggressiveness. On the contrary, they tend to be friendly even to strangers, qualities that make them incredible companions and protectors.

In any case, Basset Hounds are a bit more stubborn and calmer, while Beagles are more playful and active. On the other hand, Beagles can be a bit more intelligent than Bassets, although this very much depends on the individual.

The Beagle has an average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. Although this breed is generally healthy, it is susceptible to some specific diseases:

• Epilepsy
• Patellar luxation
• Glaucoma
• Hypothyroidism
• Distichiasis
• Chondrodysplasia

If you want to learn more about the specific diseases that beagle dogs are prone to, check out this other article on common health problems in beagles.

Basset Hounds, on the other hand, have an average life expectancy of 8 to 12 years.They are also prone to serious health disorders such as:

• Gastric torsion
• Elbow dysplasia
• Otitis
• Glaucoma
• Hip dysplasia
• Obesity

Find out what the most common health conditions for Basset Hounds are, then continue reading this other article about common health problems in Basset Hounds.

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