Beagles and huskies are two widely popular dog breeds. With their adorable features and winning personalities, it’s no wonder they are both within the top 50 most popular dog breeds according to the American Kennel Club, but how do these breeds compare to each other?
If you are debating which breed to go with for your furry companion, you’ll want to consider things like temperament, intelligence, common health issues, and cost of ownership before committing to either one. Rest assured though, we’ve gone ahead and put together a comparison list to let you know exactly how beagles and huskies stack up to one another.
Beagle Overview
Ranking number six on the list of top dog breeds from 2018 is the beagle. Beagles belong to the hound group and are of small stature. There are two beagle varieties. The first variety is 13 inches or shorter when measured from the shoulder and under 20 pounds, and the second variety is 13 to 15 inches tall and between 20 and 30 pounds. Their common coat colors include lemon, red and white, and tricolor.
This breed is known for being happy-go-lucky, and is often described as ‘merry’, by beagle aficionados. Originally they were bred to be scent hounds, dogs used to hunt rabbits and larger hares. While some have been removed from this lifestyle, they still have high energy, requiring a lot of attention and a semi-active lifestyle. This breed is an excellent breed for families, and generally does well with other animals and children. Keep reading to learn more about how beagles compare to huskies.
Husky Overview
The Siberian husky comes in at number 14 on the list of top dog breeds from 2018. This dog breed is a member of the working group, and excels when they feel like they have a job to do.
Huskies are a medium sized dog, being anywhere from 20 to 23.5 inches tall, and they can weigh anywhere between 35 and 60 pounds. Adapted to survive in cold climates, these dogs have a thick coat that comes in a variety of colors.
Huskies are extremely high energy. Traditionally they have been used to pull sleds in snowy, northern environments, where they demonstrate determination and great endurance. As such, huskies kept as house pets will require a very active lifestyle to keep them out of trouble. Huskies are innately accustomed to being part of a pack, and do well with other dogs and as a part of the family.
Now that we have a general understanding of both breeds, let’s take a deeper look at the characteristics of each one.
Temperament
Beagles
Beagles are friendly, even tempered dogs, they are not too aggressive or too timid, making excellent companions with unique personalities. They are bred to be part of a pack, and thrive with other animal companionship. They can do well in a house without other animals as long as their human is willing to take them on plenty of outdoor adventures!
Beagles can be very stubborn though, due to their breeding as hunting dogs. They can become very determined when they set their mind to something. When they get lost in their head investigating scents they can display a trait known as select deafness, where they may ignore you out of disobedience. We will explore the implications of this trait in our next section about training ability.
Additionally, beagles can be prone to separation anxiety if they find themselves alone for long periods of time. This can lead to them acting out in ways like digging, excessive growling, and chewing up everything in sight. If you raise a beagle, you’ll want to make sure you give them proper attachment training, entertainment, and exercise.
The two main personality traits of being friendly and determined make for an excellent companion.
Huskies
Huskies are friendly, gentle dogs. They are not possessive, making them poor guard dogs, but they love their families and excel when they feel that they have a purpose. They are bred to be working animals, traditionally used to pull heavy sleds, which means that they have boundless energy.
You should never allow your husky to adventure off leash when you are outside, unless they are supervised in your yard. Their endurance will allow them to run for a seemingly endless amount of time before realizing they are lost.
Huskies are very smart, and need a structured hierarchy in order to thrive in your home. Establishing yourself as the alpha in their pack, and sticking to a consistent set of rules will allow your husky to flourish.
Intelligence and Training Ability
Beagles
Beagles are intelligent, and are able to remember scents to track them for long periods of time. This trait, common in the hound class, means that your beagle can get so caught up in ‘the hunt’ that it will not listen to your calls or commands, which can be an obstacle when training a beagle. For this reason you should always keep them on a leash when you are venturing outside your home.
To be successful in training your beagle, you should start training them when they are puppies. Beagles can learn a lot of things fairly quickly, but it can take them a little longer to accept what they are being taught due to stubbornness. When you train them as puppies, not only do they get used to being trained, but they learn to respect you as the leader of their pack, making them more accepting of your training methods. Keep the training consistent and fun and you will have a well trained pup!
Huskies
Similar to beagles, huskies are intelligent and stubborn, making them difficult to train. As they are pack animals, they are used to having an alpha, if you don’t assert yourself as the alpha, your dog will. Start their training young, and constantly remind your puppy that you are in charge. Don’t bully your dog, but rather teach them to respect you.
Having a job is an excellent way to keep a husky in line. This can be as simple as getting it a backpack and allowing it to carry some food and water while you are hiking. This gives your husky a sense of purpose and a place to focus its wealth of energy.
Price and Availability
Beagles
Beagle puppy price varies greatly depending on where you are trying to buy them, and what age puppy you want. Generally they are at their most expensive before they reach 8 weeks old, if the puppy does not have a home after this point, the price tends to drop.
The average cost of buying a beagle from a reputable breeder is around $500. However if you want a show quality puppy, you should expect to pay anywhere from $1,300 to $6,000 for a puppy.
Of course I’m personally fond of trying to rescue animals whenever possible, which will benefit both your community and save you lots of money in the long run.
Huskies
Similarly to beagles, the cost of a husky depends on several factors. Where you are, what age you want, and if you want a puppy from a particular pedigree will impact how much you are going to spend.
You can expect to spend at least $700 for a puppy from a reputable breeder. But the price for a show quality puppy is comparable to a show quality beagle. These puppies cost anywhere from $1,400 to $6,000.
The availability of beagle and husky puppies varies by location, and you want to be careful that you are supporting a breeder who is taking care of their dogs, not only to ensure you get a healthy puppy, but to also make sure less reputable breeders are unable to support their business.
You can use the American Kennel Club’s marketplace. To find reputable breeders in your area.
Health and Lifespan
Beagles
Beagles have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, and are considered to be generally healthy. There are a few conditions that beagles are pre dispositioned towards. Beagles can develop a number of eye and ear problems that you should be on the lookout for. These include cherry eye, glaucoma, distichiasis, and ear infections. Beagles can also develop diabetes and hip dysplasia. Both of these conditions are made worse when the dog is overweight. As an extremely food motivated breed, beagles are also predisposed to obesity if they aren’t exercising often and eating a healthy diet.
Checking your dog’s eyes and ears weekly for any abnormalities, as well as taking them for walks regularly can help minimize the risk of them developing a serious condition.
Huskies
Huskies also have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years. They are a strong and healthy breed, but like all purebred dogs there are a few conditions to keep an eye out for. There are several conditions that could impact your husky’s vision from a young age. Hereditary cataracts, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy can make your husky start losing their vision when they are as young as 1 year old.
Huskies are also prone to hip dysplasia and behavioral problems. These issues develop if your husky is left sedentary and alone for long amounts of time. Be sure to check your husky’s eyes frequently, and take them on regular adventures to keep them happy and healthy!
Final Thoughts
Both of these breeds are smart, stubborn, and loving. While they belong to different dog breed classes, their history has given them similar challenges to consider when purchasing and training them. Their bright personalities will add a lot of life to your household, and give you a companion to take on adventures and share your life with. Given the right structure and lifestyle, both these dog breeds will make an excellent addition to your family.