Beagles are some of the most unique small dog breeds. They might be small but don’t their looks fool you because they are full of surprises. Beagles are full of spunk and energy, and they are highly intelligent.

They originate from Great Britain back to the 1830s, and in the past they were mainly used for hunting, especially hare (beagling). These excellent hunters are full of rich history not just in Great Britain but all over the world. It didn’t take too long for the breed to be used as hunter-dogs everywhere else. The development of the breed is said to have come from dog breeds like Harrier, Southern Hound, Tablot Hound and North Country Beagle. Their appearance is most commonly said to be reminiscent of that of the larger foxhounds.

For the past few years, the appearance and population of the breed has increased immensely. The beagles can live from 12 to 15 years. The male can weigh a little more (22 to 25 lb) than the female (20 to 23 lb). They can be seen in many combinations of colors with the main ones being black, brown, and white.

However not all hunting dogs are necessarily good guard dogs for home security. So how do beagles compare to other more conventional types of dog breeds? In this article, I’ll break down the pros and cons for considering a beagle to protect your home and family. 

Are Beagles Good Guard Dogs?

There are many dogs that are spectacular guards but are the beagles one of them?

Generally, no beagles aren’t commercially used as guard dogs, but they do have protective tendencies that can benefit your family. Because of they way that they’ve been bred, beagles are great family dogs, and great for hunting, but aren’t usually what you’d need in the face of a home intruder.

Obviously the answer also depends on your own circumstances. Beagles are very loud and aggressive, so if you’re looking for a dog simply to help alert you if someone’s on your property, beagles can definitely be up to the task in their department.

Where they fall short most is due to their size, which just isn’t large enough to combat most types of attackers. If you’re looking for some serious top of the line security in a dog, you’ll probably want to go with a much larger breed like a doberman, great dane, or german shepherd.

Are Beagles Widely Used as Guard Dogs?

Mainly because of their personality, talent, and size, beagles are not used widely as guard dogs.

They are very compassionate and loyal to their human family members and they can be a wonderful pet for the entire family. Most of the beagles, if not all of them, still have the hunting instinct inside of them that can be seen every now and then. Even though they are not guard dogs, the beagles can be very protective of their owners. They tend to do great with children, especially as puppies.

Beagle puppies are hyper and full of energy, which is why they always love running around, especially with young children. Their protective side is what could make them guard dogs but only in cases when they feel like their owners are in danger.

Some of the many characteristics about the beagle is that it has a gentle disposition and even temper. It’s mostly described as merry by pet-owners but that really depends on the individual. They are intelligent, stubborn and hard to train. Full of determination and wit, beagles can focus on something for a very long time, which comes in handy in the hunting world for example

Because of their impressive sense of smell, beagles are often used as drug sniffing dogs, and can be great detectors of potential threats to your home, but because of their size, they’re not popularly used for home security.

How to Train a Beagle for Home Security?

Just because they aren’t viewed as commonplace guard dogs doesn’t mean it isn’t possible to train beagles to help protect you and your family.

But at first, beagles will require a lot of time to go through obedience training. Beagles are notoriously stubborn, so if you want them to behave like proper guard dogs, it will take some extra effort on that front.

Additionally they can have a pretty active temperament and show signs of aggression like biting, snarling and growling. This can be a challenge for a lot of pet owners, but it also shows some signs of potential to their guarding abilities.

If you do decide to train your beagle for protection, you’ll want to start as early as possible while they’re still forming associations. And depending on the type of guard dog you want, you may want to consider more heightened training classes with a professional.

One thing that’s important with guard dog training is socialization. You’ll want to make sure that you don’t just turn them into an aggressive dog against all types of people and animals. It’s good to socialize beagles early with friends, family, and especially other dogs. This will help them greatly when they need to know the distinction between a friend, a safe stranger, and a potential threat.

On top of obedience and socialization, you’ll want to familiarize your dog with the perimeters of the area that they’d be guarding. If you’re teaching your beagle to help to protect your house, you should take time to walk your beagle along the gates of the yard or walls of the house to establish this perimeter.

Every time your beagle barks out the window or at the door, instead of yelling at them to stop (they just view this as nonsensical barking back), you should actively look out the window or door, assess the situation, and praise your dog for doing such a good job at alerting you. This will give your dog a sense of accomplishment, and will foster a healthy association to help them protect you in the future.

Additionally, you can look into educated barking. This teaches your dog to make different types of barks, depending on the type of situation. You should encourage your beagle to bark at strangers that approach your house, and reward the dog when this happens.

If you’d like a more specific set of instructions or path to go down when it comes to beagle security training, I’d recommend this quick video from K9-1:

Best Breeds for Home Security

While beagles do have a lot of home security potential, if keeping your home and children safe is a first priority before dog breed choice, you can always consider some of these top tier security dogs:

• Rottweiler

Rottweilers are some of the most frequently used guard dogs for home securities. This breed was originally bred to herd cattle and accompany soldiers in battle, making them extremely intelligent, tough, and trainable to be safe around families, yet aggressive when the situation calls for it.

They do take quite a bit of training, and are only recommended for seasoned dog trainers, especially if expected to sufficiently defend one’s home and family. This dog breed requires a lot of attention and exercise, beyond that of your simple daily walk routine. However if given the right care, these dogs will absolutely make you feel a lot safer in your home.

• German Shepherd

I’m sure you’ve noticed German shepherds are some of the most commonly used dogs by the police, military, and airport security – and that’s no coincidence. These dogs are brave, cunning, and trainable to protect their pack and sniff out anything suspicious.

While they’re not the heaviest of all guard dog breeds, what they lack in body mass they make up for in agility and wit, which can help them best any potential threat to your household.

Furthermore, they’re great family dogs, and with the right training, they can be perfect for families with young children.

• Bull Mastiff

While beagles can be loud, brave, and aggressive, sometimes size simply does matter. And there are few guard dogs breeds that get much bigger in terms of body mass than that of bull mastiffs. These dogs are extremely loving, protective, and brave.

Like Rottweilers, they’re also extremely independent, so they do require a lot of training. But with the right help, they can be a valuable asset to your home’s security.

Final Thoughts

Whether you go with a beagle or a much larger dog breed, the fundamentals of using dogs for security comes down to compassion and patience in training. As long as you show your dog respect, while maintaining dominance and command over it, you’ll end up having a fruitful relationship that will help you rest assured that your home and family are taken care of to the best of your dog’s ability.