How much should a Beagle weigh? It’s a good question and an important one. It’s important because a dog can still carry too much weight, but not look fat. Yet, it’s not as simple as throwing out a random weight and saying, “There, a Beagle should weigh under this amount.”
First, Beagles come in two varieties. One, the larger of the two should reach between 13 inches to 15 inches to the dog’s shoulder. The second variety should reach up 12 inches to the dog’s shoulder. Both look identical except for the size difference. Both are sturdy, well-built dogs, described by dog owners as “Big for their inches.”
What Is A Healthy Beagle Weight?
A Beagle’s ideal weight when fully grown should be in these ranges. The smaller Beagle around 10Kg (22-23lbs) and for the larger one between 15Kg (33lbs) and 20Kg (44lbs).
Beagle Weight Chart
The above weights represent a Beagle when fully grown, but what about as they go through the puppy stage into adulthood?
Here is a chart from birth to adult which will give you the averages. Remember though, puppies don’t all grow at the same rate. It’s probably not a good idea to compare puppy sizes, it might give you cause to worry unnecessarily.
This chart is for the smaller size and shows a healthy Beagle weight:
| Age | Weight |
|---|---|
| Birth – 2 weeks | 1lb |
| 3 weeks | 1.5lbs-2lbs |
| 4 weeks | 2.5lbs-3lbs |
| 6-7 weeks | 3.5lbs-4lbs |
| 8 weeks | 3.5lbs-6lbs |
| 16 weeks | 8lbs-12lbs |
| 6 months | 10lbs-15lbs |
| 1.5 years | 20lbs-24lbs |
When Will A Beagle Stop Growing?
A Beagle will stop growing when they reach about 18 months. This depends on if they have had any serious illnesses from birth. Also, if you’re unlucky enough to buy from a less-reputable breeder. They often will sell puppies with genetic defects. It’s a terrible way to treat a living animal, I know. But it happens all too frequently.
How To Tell If I Have A Fat Beagle Puppy?
It’s unusual to see a fat Beagle puppy. As a young dog, they have masses of energy and love to play a lot. They need some control because they can overexert themselves, so if your puppy is panting too much or drinking more than usual, it might be a sign they are too tired.
As they get into adulthood, they need 2 hours of exercise every day. They are scent hounds, so they love being led by their nose. They are happy to play games, and that will stimulate them mentally.
If your puppy is more sedentary than most and you’re worried he is putting on weight, you can easily check. Place your hands around his chest, you can feel a small amount of fat but you should be able to count his ribs if you want to. The spine is similar to the ribs, you can feel a thin layer of fat but you can feel the spine bones easily.
Of course, you can just weigh him. But that’s never the whole story with dogs. They might be heavier than a similar size Beagle, but it might be down to their bone structure and build and not because they are overweight.
Can A Beagle Gain Weight Easily?
When a Beagle reaches about 2 years old is when weight issues can really start. As a breed, they are always hungry. You can have just fed your Beagle and he’ll still sit by you at mealtimes begging for more food.
They never seem to be full, so it’s really down to the dog’s parents to be careful what, when and how much they feed him. The dog himself will never walk away from food. They tend not to be picky eaters either, which makes it even harder to control them.
Feeding snacks and or the wrong snacks are a big problem. Snacks should never be over 10% of the daily calorie intake and should be part of the daily calories, not on top of.
What To Do With A Fat Beagle Dog?
If you’ve checked and weighed your Beagle and know he’s fat, then what can you do about it?
The two obvious things to look at are diet and exercise. If you overfeed your Beagle, then he probably can never exercise the weight away. Especially if he’s getting older. In fact, it will work the other way. As he gets older, he’ll want to exercise less himself, so if you keep feeding him the same portions as before, he’ll inevitably get obese.
He might need a diet change, not just reducing the amount. Easier said than done, right? How do you reduce calories, when your Beagle is always hungry as it is?
Well, the easiest way to do this is not reducing the number of calories but switching the food, at least some of it, to low calorie. Take out some carbohydrates and replace them with low-calorie items such as green beans, carrots, peas and possibly squash.
A vast amount of calories come from snacks. Giving him a few snacks each day doesn’t feel that bad, but it’s incredible how the calories add up. Look for low calorie, fat-free snacks that don’t contain artificial additives or ingredients that he finds difficult to digest. And keep the amount under control. He’ll still love you, even if you refuse to give him a snack every 15 minutes.
If he’s not too old then get him to exercise more. Build up the time you spend on his walks. Do this slowly, let him get to grips with the extra-long walks.
How Much Weight A Beagle Needs To Lose Per Month?
When you put a Beagle on a diet, don’t go overboard. It’s taken a long time for your Beagle to get fat, so you can’t expect him to lose it overnight. And you don’t want to make him miserable.
If you can reach a target weight loss of between 2 to 4lbs per month, that’s more than good enough.
Summary – How Much Should A Beagle Weigh?
Beagles are wonderful, they love their family and are loyal, playful and just a great dog.
Yes, they are prone to putting weight on, but if you start portion control from a very young age, you will control him.
Also, think carefully what diet you are going to feed him. If you chose a very healthy diet, which you should, then with switching out food for low-calorie versions, it becomes much easier.
Please note this article is purely for information and we don’t know your dog personally. If you need any health information, please visit or call your vet for professional advice. Never make health decisions for your pets without consulting a vet first.
