Beagle VS Golden retriever – A Decision-Making Comparison

If you are thinking about adding a dog to your life and got to the moment where you can’t choose between a Golden retriever and Beagle.

Golden retrievers and beagles are both wonderful breeds and I get why you can hesitate when thinking about which breed you should bring home.

A Quick Beagle VS Golden Retriever Comparison table:

Other Names	Beagle	Golden retriever
Weight	18 – 30 Pounds	55 – 75 Pounds
Height	13 – 15 inches	21 – 24 inches
Lifespan	10 – 15 years	10 – 12 years
Colors	Black & white, red & white, brown & white, black red & white,  brown, white, and black.	Light golden, golden, and dark golden
Health	9/10	9/10
Grooming Needs	6/10	8/10
Exercise Needs	7/10	9/10
Shedding	6/10	8.5/10
Kid Friendliness	8/10	8/10
Pet-friendliness	7/10	9/10
Protectiveness	5/10	6/10
Good for apartments	Yes	No
Average puppy cost	$550 – $6,000 USD	$1,000 – $3,500 USD
Popularity Ranking in the US	7	4

Beagle VS Golden Retriever Comparison

I’m going to try to keep things as simple as possible and include all the helpful information in the simplest way possible, and hopefully, by the end of this guide, you will be able to make a decision quickly.

Beagle  

Size: 13 – 15 inches

Weight: 18 – 30 pounds 

Colors: Black & white, black tan & white, black red & white, black tan & bluetick, brown & white, tan & brown white, red & white, tan & white, blue tan & white, blue, brown, red, red black & white, and white.

Coat Type: Double coated/coarse

Beagles can have multiple colors but the most common ones are black with white legs, belly, white tip on the tail, and chest, they also have a tan on their head.

They have dense double coats to protect them from the rain, humidity, cold, and even heat.

The history of beagles is not completely clear and there are some parts that are a little blurry because they didn’t really develop until the 19th century.

There are greek documents from 400 B.C that describes dogs kinda like the beagles that were used as hunters for small rabbits then they brought them with them to England and bred them with the local hounds.

The ancestors of the beagles are the talbot hounds that are extinct now, at first there was an incredibly small beagle known as glove beagles and it’s because they can be held in a gloved hand.

Then there were the pocket beagles that had pointy noses and short legs as described in the paintings, they were used for hunting as well but didn’t stay popular for a long time because they weren’t fast.

The farmers of England, Wales, and Ireland kept using those beagles to hunt the rabbits, and thanks to them the breed didn’t go extinct.

Golden retriever 

Size: 21 – 24 inches

Weight: 55 – 75 pounds 

Colors: light golden, golden, and dark golden.

Coat Type: Double coated/coarse.

Golden retrievers can have light golden, golden, or dark golden coats, or also known as Canadian, English, and American.

They are America’s second most popular dog breeds, the breed is perfect as a guide, therapy, and rescue dogs.

Anyone who knows golden retrievers must know lord Tweedmouth who had a great role in developing the breed.

He wanted a dog that can handle rainy days, retrieve, and can be loyal and calm in the home so he crossed the extinct Tweed water spaniel with a yellow retriever then added a bloodhound and Irish setter as well and that’s how the first golden retriever ever appeared after generations of calculated breeding.

The golden retriever was first seen at the British dog show in 1908 and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1932.

Temperament 

The beagle is a loyal, easy-going, and gentle pup, they are also known for being funny, the breed is sweet and loves spending time with their owners.

Golden retrievers are intelligent, eager to please, and perfect family dogs. Goldens are easy to train and extremely energetic.

Golden retrievers are more obedient than beagles, both of them need obedience training and early socializing but beagles are naughty and have unexpected behavior so they need a more observant owner to keep an eye on them.

If you are a first-time dog owner, I wouldn’t recommend getting a beagle, golden retrievers are a better option for you.

Beagles are also known for being curious and they like being included in family activities, they prefer company and don’t like being left alone for long periods, and can be destructive when they are left alone.

Golden retrievers are well-tempered and that’s why they are recommended for first-time dog owners. 

They are great with kids, strangers, babies, and other pets, they love outdoor activities such as hiking, running, jogging, and camping.

However, both breeds lack the alarming and guarding traits, so if you want a guard dog then you should consider a third breed such as a german shepherd or a husky.

Health and lifespan 

Beagles are generally in good health, but still, they may go through some health issues, and just so you can be aware of these health issues I am going to list them for you.

• Hip dysplasia 
• Glaucoma
• Intervertebral disk disease
• Patellar luxation 
• Hypothyroidism 
• Epilepsy 
• Progressive retinal atrophy
•  Beagle dwarfism 
• Cherry eye 
• Distichiasis 
• Chinese beagle syndrome 

Golden retrievers are also prone to some diseases even though they are a healthy breed, so let’s go through their list as well.

• Hip dysplasia 
• Elbow dysplasia 
• Allergies 
• Progressive retinal atrophy 
• Cataracts 
• Osteochondrosis Dissecans 
• Von Willebrand’s disease 
• Epilepsy 
• Hemangiosarcoma 
• Gastric dilatation-volvulus 
• Hypothyroidism 
• Osteosarcoma 
• Subvalvular Aortic stenosis

Whether you choose to adopt or buy the beagle or golden retriever, make sure to check the health clearances for both of their parents and their health clearances as well to prove that the pup has been tested for specific health conditions and cleared.

Nutritional Needs 

Every breed needs different nutritional requirements and each dogs’ needs vary because it depends on their weight, height, age, and activity level, so it’s always better to consult their vet about your dog’s nutritional needs.

Beagles need ¾ to 1.5 cups daily of high-quality dry food and divide them into meals, they need between 674 and 922 calories per day, they require the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, their diet should contain all of the essential amino acids, the carbohydrates should be limited, and low to moderate fat content.

Golden retrievers need between 989 and 1,272 calories per day, however, if your golden retriever is hyperactive they may require even more calories and they can take between 1,353 and 1,740 per day.

Golden retriever’s diet should contain at least 30 percent of protein such as turkey, beef, chicken, lambs, fish, eggs, and yogurts, minimum of 30 to 35 percent of carbohydrates content such as brown rice, potatoes, and whole wheat, and between 12 to 18 percent fat content.

Beagles and golden retrievers need minerals in their diet including potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, and magnesium, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K and you can find these vitamins in eggs, liver, fish oil, spinach, pumpkin, turnip greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

Grooming Needs & Shedding

Beagles have double coats just like golden retrievers but unlike them they require less grooming and they shed less as well, you can brush them at least once a week to remove dead hair, you should also brush them with a medium bristle brush.

Golden retrievers shed heavily in the fall and spring and moderately in the winter and summer, they need to be brushed once a day to prevent tangling.

Beagles are clean dogs and don’t require frequent baths, you can bathe them every 2 to 6 months to keep their smell fresh, and coat and skin healthy.

However, Goldens need a bath at least once a month to help them maintain a clean smell and coat.

For both breeds, you should trim their nails once or twice a month, brush their teeth at least three times a week to remove tartar buildup, and prevent bacteria, bad breath, and gum diseases.

You should also check their ears weekly for bad odor or any redness and wipe them out with a cotton ball damned with pH-balanced ear cleaner to prevent infections.

Exercise Needs 

Beagles need at least an hour and a half of exercise per day, you can take them for a combination of running and walking, or you can take them swimming because 5 minutes of intense swimming equals running over 3 miles.

Golden retrievers are more energetic than beagles so they require more exercise as well, they need a minimum of two hours of decent exercise per day, you can make a schedule for them to walk through their exercise regularly.

Here is what you can do to give your pup the exercise he needs:

• Go for a run 
• Walking 
• Frisbee 
• Hiking 
• Go for a swim 
• Cardio circuit 
• Dancing 
• Jogging 
• Agility training 
• Soccer 
• Fetch
• Tug-of-war 
• Hide and seek  

You can learn how to go hiking with your golden retriever here.

Training 

Beagles need a little more than just the basic commands training, they need early socializing and obedience training, beagles are an easy-going breed but when it comes to training they can be a little stubborn.

Golden retrievers are quite the opposite, they are also easy-going, obedient, and love nothing more than pleasing their owners which makes them really easy to train.

If you are a first-time dog owner and have no experience in training dogs, you should probably get the golden retriever, or get the beagle and take them to a professional trainer.

Whether you are training the beagle or the golden, you should always use the positive reinforcement method to make sure that your dog responds well to the training.

You should always praise them and reward them when they are well-behaving or responding well to the training.

As Family Dogs 

Both beagles and golden retrievers are perfect family dogs but each has different superpowers.

Beagles are great with kids but children can injure them due to their small size but if you are living in an apartment, the beagles will be more suitable for you.

Golden retrievers are gentle and sweet with kids, babies, strangers, and other pets. Yes, Goldens really are friendly with everyone.

The only problem is that they are large dogs and may knock down kids accidentally and they are not suitable for an apartment because they need space and a yard to run as much as they want.

However, you should supervise any interactions between the kids and the dogs to prevent some of these accidents from happening, you can also include your children in the dog training so they can bond better.

As Guard Dogs 

Beagles are not guard dogs, they can play the role of watchdogs, they can bark and alarm you when there is a stranger at the door and they can protect your kids but that’s it for them.

Golden retrievers do not make the best guard dogs neither, they are friendly and gentle, however, they are incredibly protective of their family and you can train them to be guard dogs but they are not aggressive and will not attack anyone, the best they can do is bark to protect you from the stranger, danger.

Where to find them? 

You should check your local shelters for beagles or golden retrievers, you can also check some rescue groups, they may help you find a pup to adopt.

However, if you didn’t find what you are looking for in shelters or the rescue groups, you can get them from a breeder, a beagle will cost you between $550 and $6000, and a golden retriever will cost you between $1,000 to $3,500, make sure that you buy them from a trusted breeder that will give you health clearances for the pup and his parents.

How to Choose between Beagle Vs Golden retriever? 

If you want a dog that is easy to train, gets along with every living being, and loves adventure and outdoor activities, you should choose the Golden Retriever, if you want a dog that can fit into your apartment, with minimum grooming and exercise needs, you should choose the beagle.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are Golden Retrievers smarter than Beagles? 

Yes, the golden retrievers are smarter than beagles, beagles are ranked as 131st smartest dog breeds and goldens are ranked as the 4th smartest dog breed which makes them easier to train and be more obedient than beagles, beagles can be a little stubborn as well. 

Are beagles better family dogs than Golden retrievers?

No, golden retrievers are one of the best family dogs of all time, they are a gentle, sweet, and affectionate breed, the breed gets along with babies, kids, adults, and other animals, however, beagles are also great family dogs, they are funny, lovable, and love nothing more than being with their family.

Is training beagles easier than training Golden retrievers?

No, golden retrievers are easier to train because they are more obedient than the beagles, both breeds are smart and with the right methods the training won’t be a problem, however, beagles are known for being stubborn during the training so you should know how to deal with them.

Helpful Resources 

The Golden Retriever Breed Standards

The Beagle Breed Standards

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