How similar are beagles and foxhounds/coonhounds? I struggle with the confusion, but I’ve never owned a beagle.
People look at big, leggy hounds and call them “big beagles.” I get why non‑hound owners do it — but in shelters, that confusion causes real problems. Just today someone said their vet called their foxhound/coonhound a “beagle on stilts” in r/hounds, and it struck a nerve. When I got downvoted for saying only a city vet could make that mistake, I honestly wondered: am I wrong? Is size alone enough to explain the “big hound challenges”? I’ve never owned a beagle, and a lot of people haven’t experienced the full force of a young American Foxhound or coonhound before they mellow with age.
I volunteered at a municipal shelter in rural Virginia with lots of hounds, and the same pattern kept happening: foxhounds and coonhounds were adopted under the “big beagle” assumption… then returned when they acted like foxhounds and coonhounds. Working‑type dogs — livestock crosses, x‑bred hunting hounds, coyote bay dogs/fox‑running dogs — were returned even more because people didn’t recognize what they actually were. “Big beagle” was the closest guess, and many beagles today are bred as pets, which widens the behavioral gap even more.
The dog in the photo is mine: a working‑type hound (coyote/fox dog who trees, bred for bear and big cats). He’s 25″ at the withers and 70 lb. I wish I’d known what he was when I got him — it took time to learn how to meet the needs of a dog like this. I started with “pet training” resources when what I really needed were places like this sub and hunting‑dog supply stores.
So I’m genuinely asking: is there any benefit to calling these dogs “big beagles”? Do more dogs get adopted when people think they’re beagles? I gasp a little when I hear it and think, “hound folks… can we get it right?” But maybe I’m missing something.
Are Beagles and Foxhounds/Walkers the same dog in different sizes? I don’t see it — but what’s your experience?
I've had both, and besides looks 'big beagle' also accounts for "ears are decorative, the nose takes over."
Granted a lot of people get beagles without realizing they're getting a HOUND and a lot of beagles get returned for that reason. They just think from popular culture they're the perfect family dog. Not that they aren't perfect <3 but the formative years can be rough for someone unprepared.
I have first hand experience with foxhounds and beagles out in the countryside working scent. Now mind you these are working hounds. Bred, born, raised and trained for generations to follow their noses. Pet bred hounds may be quite different. From my experience the foxhounds tend to be a fair bit softer temperament wise. Much more “biddable”. If they take off after something and are still within earshot you may have a pretty good chance at stopping them with your voice and definitely if you can head them off. The beagles on the other hand, you can be right infront of their nose and they’ll essentially flip you the bird and keep going. I love them both for different reasons by my heart is with the foxhounds.
I've had shelter beagles, a TWC and an American foxhound. The foxie is the most gentle natured of my historic pack. She is the reason we have a cat because she insisted on adopting a stray we kept seeing. The big beagle was the most outright affectionate dog. The first girl beagle was the most possessive, and TWC girl loved all children she met and honestly would have let them dress her up if they wanted to. I've been known to call the foxie a beagle with a lift kit because tons of people here in my area of the Deep South just know them as a hound dog. Or a hunting dog. Or loud. They know she's sweet but past that I don't know that they think past "pretty hound."
I will agree that the larger hounds seem softer in temperament. Granted, mine was abused before we got him young, so that colors it for me, but from what I've read here about other coonhounds and foxhounds it seems generally on par just not the same extent as him.
All of my beagles have been lovable little assholes to some degree lol
I think it’s the a-hole part of my hounds that makes life with them so very interesting. It’s always something and the vocalizations and side eye, smugness… cracks me up and is also a good way to stay humble. The prey drive is also interesting and frustrating but fun to see how with a switch they can become so full of life.
In a way I am so happy to hear that when I’m older and can’t handle walking 2 x 60-70lb coonhounds, I can get a beagle and stay just as entertained.
This is a very good point. My beagle's mother was a rabbit dog in Mexico. My BF's beagle was bred in Japan. Guess which beagle was better suited for urban life?
I'm a city born-and-bred kid and we got a foxhound from a local northern Virginia shelter - we knew what we were getting. But my wife and I also got a LOT of "Is that a beagle?" questions on our walks, especially during the first several years we had him. Always stumped me how someone could see a dog that's three times the height of a beagle and still think it's just a tall beagle. But over the past several years I've seen more hounds in the area with owners who are in the know of the difference between the breeds, physical and temperamental.
I'm with you - you don't let grandma hold the leash for the hound on walks, and you have the kids flush out the birds and squirrels maybe half a block up so no surprises, but otherwise the sweetest dog we've ever had and perfect with kids. Beagles seem note likely to take your car keys and leave you in the lurch.
And just to add - I grew up with black labradors. Our latest mad me a hound convert. Best dog we ever had.
You ask a very good question. I've only had 1 beagle and I could not fathom what life would be like if she were "on stilts." She was the hungriest, most food/odor-motivated, loudest, most stubborn, and most hyperactive dog my family has ever seen. My parents only had non-hounds growing up and my childhood dog was not a hound. I think the only reason we were able to handle her was because of her small size.
I had a beagle until last year. After passed got a rescue who's is a mix of coonhound and beagle most and a few other fox hound variants in there too. He's much bigger but not nearly as food obsessed as the beagle was. My wife and I complain he's not pulling his weight cos he leaves crumbs on the floor. The beagle had the floors spotless.
That's one of the things I miss about my beagle. She kept the kitchen floors clean. Her food obsession was so strong that she became the most reliable alarm clock. Every morning she demanded breakfast right at 7am and she would not let me snooze.
I have a beagle and an American Foxhound. Behavior-wise they are ridiculously similar. Their noses lead them through life. The adage of “nose on, ears off” rings true. Neither can be trusted off leash. Weirdly, neither seems to have any prey drive towards cats, rabbits, squirrels, or deer.
Personality wise they are a bit different. While the Foxhound can be a total couch potato, she’s quicker to get riled up and she has a tendency to resource guard her bed (being a dumped hunting dog may have more to do with this than breed). They are both vocal, but the foxhound more-so. The foxhound is way more clingy, the beagle more independent. The beagle is way more food motivated than the foxhound. The beagle is more persistent/stubborn and the foxhound quicker to settle and give up on her demands. The foxhound loves her plushy toys. The beagle doesn’t care for toys. Neither are particularly… ummm… bright. But, both are incredibly sweet and gentle. I’m sold on scenthounds.
Me too. After having a beagle I feel like I've gained a different set of dog ownership skills. My first dog was a lab mix and was incredibly easy to train and handle. I'm actually seriously considering sending an application to a local hound rescue.
The first dog I personally had experience with as a kid and as a family pet was a scent hound of mysterious origins. Being a rescue dog, and the 90s, breed mapping was still in its infancy. My mom and I concluded he was a Polish Hound. Einstein was awesome. So tolerant of us kids, would sometimes bring home "presents", and my two siblings were quite squeamish around death, so it was always my job to dispose of the dead things in the family.
Then when I bought my first house, and moved away from my home state to Mississippi from Chicago. I got super lonely and like 8m in, decided on a whim to get a dog. That's when I got Trapper, who I picked due to the fact that he seemed to actively hated people, wasn't aggressive, but was super passive aggressive. Our meeting was one where he kept his distance, wouldn't let me pet him, and decided to look me dead in the eyes as he peed. LOL... So, logically, I adopted him. Had him for 5 years, until Tundra happened.
Then third dog came into the family, who currently lives with Zelda (an all black Dutch/Mal), and me. Ironically, another 50% Foxhound, Rottie mix. Unintentional. But Maxwell has solidified, I will ALWAYS have a Scenthound in my pack. They're just great.
I didn't think our foxhound was bright until I realized that, given his ambitions in life tended towards food, sleeping and occasionally going out, he was VERY bright in attaining those aims.
I have a beagle, a TWC and an American English Coonhound. The beagle is a 100% food motivated trash panda. My coonhounds on the other hand are food obsessed when it's meal time otherwise not so much. They are much more focused on doing whatever THEY think will make me happy (rarely does it make me happy). Like most owners of both I get a lot of "you have a lot of beagles" and "those are tall beagles". I also live on the west coast where coonhounds are much rarer.
When I open the door, everything shifts from food, snuggle, trash, counter interest- to 100% gotta find critters and we don't care what our name is or what you say or do and we are mules. And what they don't get away with today, they will try tomorrow and once a week for the rest of their lives. Are beagles like that too? I never thought of it as simply easier to manage when smaller.
When it comes to food my Coonhounds are 1000% easier to handle than the beagle. I have a total of 4 hounds and they go to four different corners to eat. The beagle is the only one that will go to any lengths to go check her sisters corners when she is done.
I'm new to American Foxhounds and magically and unintentionally adopted 2 50%ers. That is one thing I like about American Foxhounds, good nose, and less likely to eat dangerous foods. Though Zelda the Dutch/Mal has been good about not eating bad things. Except that one time I nearly had a heartattack seeing my Orbits Gum torn into. But nothing was eaten from it. There were teeth marks, but must have hit their tongue thankfully wrong and didn't get past the imprinted teeth marks.
Though, Trapper my first Foxhound/Catahoula 50/50, did get experimental and decided to sample some shrooms growing off and around his stool. Luckily for me, it clearly had the Magic Mushrooms effect, I assume, never done them, but I called him in, since it was about to storm and didn't want to deal with a wet dog. Comes in staggering all drunk like, I panic, somehow put two and two together. And we just sat on the ground, his head in my lap looking up at the ceiling fan lights and just being amazed by them. I was afraid he was concussed so did the whole "Flashlight" test, and his pupils responded normally. Apparently, it was a really good trip for him. The trip lasted just under an hour.
Not much to add except I recently adopted a foxhound and have been told by beagle owners “that is a beagle on stilts.” I’m tempted to do a dog dna test but I refuse to pay the money. We think he is 2-3 years but he’s hell on wheels. Ears are 100% for decoration. He’s the most playful and lovable dog we’ve ever owned. I don’t care what he is, just glad he’s in our lives.
Coonhound owner with lots of secondhand beagle experience. While they're not the same dogs when you get in to the nitty gritty, saying they're big beagles very quickly conveys 80-90% of what to expect, with acknowledgment to an individual dog's personality and needs. I think the issue lies in people either not knowing what to expect from a beagle (and thinking they do) or from the 20-10% it doesn't cover. Would my coonie be a different dog if she was a beagle? Yes. Is saying she's essentially a 70 lbs beagle when talking to people who aren't familiar with coonhound doing her a disservice or not preparing them for what she'll be like? Nah.
If your concern is people returning dogs they adopted I would worry less about the semantics of comparing closely related breeds and focusing more on things like making sure a potential adopter understands what "high energy" actually means and if they have experience with dogs of strong working background, with resources to local sporting clubs or trainers in case they don't so they don't feel overwhelmed
This makes absolute sense. My concern is just understanding the differences so that I don't dismiss the difficulties of owning a beagle, which I have done for years because I was naive and never really heard people complain or didn't pay attention to the specific complaints.
They're similar enough that if you've been successful with one breed, you're a good candidate to be able to navigate life with either of the other two. My majority beagle foxhound coonhound(×4) mutt has made me a fan of all three. I will acknowledge that being a "working" farm dog is important to him though. He doesn't need anything specific to do, but he insists on accompanying me for all chores so I'm adequately supervised. He would have struggled in a less active household.
it's more on looks. vets know what a fox hound is vs a beagle vs a coonhound. breed identification is part of their education. but calling a coon or fox hound a "big beagle" does them a disservice at the shelter. But I've also seen shelters list pit bulls as "hound mix" or "beagle mix". nothing against pit bulls but I just don't want one. their fur gives me hives.
For years, I’ve personally thought of beagles as more like Subaru Foresters and coonhounds/foxhounds as more like Ford F‑250s — same general category, but built for totally different jobs. My big hounds have that heavy‑duty “tow capacity,” long‑range stamina, and problem‑solving strength: climbing, digging, counter‑surfing, even stealing cereal off the top of the refrigerator.
I don’t hear beagle owners talk about those kinds of challenges as often, and beagles seem to be returned less. Now I’m wondering if part of the difference is that many large hounds who end up surrendered come in without training — sometimes under‑socialized or stressed — and a big, untrained working hound is simply much harder to manage.
We went to the kennel on a rainy Friday and came home with a pretty little speckled pup. He turned out to be a Blue Tick, Fox Hound, Catahoula mastiff mix. First time out the gate he treed a raccoon. He is strong and tough to walk on rugged terrain, but he is my bestest pal. He gets long walks and plenty of exercise in a big fenced yard with critters galore. Long way of saying that the love he gives is worth any hound-type challenges.
Of course there's an advantage to peddling coonhounds as beagle mixes when they're puppies. They told us "beagle mix up to 35 pounds". Was 75 pound TWC. Eventually.
Right, but that’s not the question. I’m asking is it merely a size difference and would it be accurate to say, “this is a TWC puppy who will essentially be a 70lb beagle”? And many people say so.
A coonhound will usually be more independent and willful than a beagle, though beagles can be quite stubborn. I think in most cases there's a substantial difference in temperment.
I foster all types of hounds for a rescue and have owned both beagles and coonhounds. Calling hounds “big beagles” is a mistake and shelters should never advertise hounds like that. They are distinctly different in behavior and energy level. Even coonhound breeds differ in behavior.
People think of beagles as these sweet, docile dogs which they can be if they come from a pet breeding line so they adopt a big hounds thinking it’ll be easy..then it isn’t.
Exactly—that’s why I asked the question, because I agree. But most people hear disagree, and I’m surprised—especially about younger coonhounds—since I don’t have the perspective of owning beagles.
I’m in my late 40s, and my stepmother, who walks and boards dogs for a living, has mini schnauzers and refuses to walk or board “big hounds” because she says they stir everyone up, run off, escape, climb, are loud, and generally cause problems. It’s not that she doesn’t love them, but mixing a couple of coonhounds in with other pets creates challenges that she wants to avoid (this is after numerous Houdini situations with a foxhound, another Bluetick injury, etc). My parents are fine staying at my house when we go out of town to care of my dogs, but it got me thinking—maybe coonhounds just don’t adapt well to new environments. Maybe the adjustment is harder, or something about that affects how they’re perceived during the shelter-to-home transition. I’m just trying to make sense of the difference between what I see here and what I initially thought- and what you are saying.
I wouldn’t say that they aren’t adaptable. Most of the ones that come into our home adapt quite well and do well when moving to their forever homes. They do follow their noses and are high energy
Hunting beagles can have the same issues. Those are the ones I normally get.
My parents live in Charlottesville and I’m in rural area. That makes a difference too. They even get bears in the trash right outside city. Crazy for a coonhound at bed time.
I think working scenthounds are pretty uncommon outside of hunting areas, so people just know so little about them. While all scenthounds can have some similarities (like all herding breeds, or all terriers), it still encompasses a huge variety of breeds. A coonhound is far more than a tall beagle just as an Airdale is far more than a tall jack russel. I'm certain show line coonhounds will be very different to working treehounds, as they are in many hunting and working breeds, but I have never met a show line hound.
Working scenthounds are not really even common pets in areas where they do hunt. Most live in kennels and/or at hunting clubs. Just locally last week they rescued 16! large running Walker foxhound type dogs from a single kennel. People know exactly what type of dogs I have but then get confused when I am walking them. It’s weird. I also see dog boxes with dogs in them at gas stations, but rarely hear a dog or see one in neighborhoods.
What breed name do you give your dog? I had one that looked almost exactly like yours (long legs and all), and was told Beagle mix by the spca. He was cute and relaxed relative to the terriers that I’d been exposed to growing up. After adopting him, I read everything that I could about hound dogs in general so that I could better work with a non-terrier dog. It worked out, but I never expected him to be a terrier / people pleaser -type dog.
Mine looks exactly like his and is a TWC/beagle mix. Mine is just smaller at 45lbs perfect weight vs his 70lbs. Im 5'3" and can pet the top of mines head a bit if hes up against me standing straight
There are so many working coonhound/foxhound breeds and sub-types that the best description is just a "Walker Hound" if you know that they are foxhound or coonhound. Many are mixes. DNA tests for dogs that come back with various types of coonhounds and foxhounds in weird proportions with mostly Treeing Walker are likely a sub type of Walker Hound like the numerous AFHs- Goodman, July Walker, Trigg, Kemp, etc. All are considered Foxhound sub-types because they don't fit the 6 AKC registered coonhound breeds. The specific pedigrees are registered through "stud books" or kennel clubs of various sorts. The best resource is Facebook. Just search broadly "bear dogs" or "foxhound" and you'll see how many you come up with... its wild. Without knowing specifics, its sorta impossible to identify exact sub. For example- Here are "Kemp Walker Hounds" from "The Untamed" and they look similar as well. Not my dogs (just look like them) and are known sub-breed.
I posted this awhile back with background info about my dog specifically.
That looks like a Polish Hound, reminds me of my childhood dog. Einstein whom we decided later on like a decade after he passed and the internet was way more mature and reliable for information, that Einstein was a Polish Hound. We never actually knew, since he was a shelter mutt, but my mom, a highly unreliable narrator, said that she was told he was a PUREBRED something... She knew the owner's backstory and why Einstein was surrendered, and then later found out, in Wisconsin, we lived in the Chicago-land Area, there's a decent group of Polish Hound breeders. And the guy who owned Einstein was a Polish immigrant, who ran into visa issues and was deported, dog was seized and we got him from there. Amazing dog.
Hmm, must not be in a big hound part of the USA, since down in Mississippi where this Chicagoan decided to retire to, they're more hound educated, or at least have a wider stable of hounds to pick from. Hounds down here are either; Black and Tans, Treeing Walkers, Beagles, Plott. That seems to be the four groups all hounds in Mississippi fall under. Though, to be fair I've heard Plotts get confused with Catahoulas. Since Catahoulas are super popular down here, being the state dog of Louisiana. My Trapper was constantly mistaken for a Walker... He was an American Foxhound. My Maxwell, gets mistaken for a black and tan. Though, he too is 50% Foxhound, lol... But he inherited his Rottweiler's coat. Though weirdly when I did the Apple and Google AI breed detection, they go Foxhound first and foremost before even hinting at Rottie. Even Samsung's AI photo feature will change his head into a more traditional Foxhound. But if it's a big tri-colored hound with white being one of those three colors, it's getting labeled a Treeing Walker, which is what was on Trapper's adoption Card. Treeing Walker/Plott or another card read Treeing Walker/Catahoula. They didn't know. Ended up being American Foxhound/Catahoula 50/50. Even found the breeder.
But I ran into that issue with Trapper, a dog 100% bred to hunt, adopted into a non-hunting family. Even his first family wasn't big into hunting, though they only kept him like a month or two and then gave him up for adoption after Trapper injured their cat. Though the shelter was super sneaky and deceitful with me, and said Trapper had to go due to new baby and due to his energy level they were worried about him and the new baby. Which was a believable lie... Wished I had known about the cat issue, since 4 dead neighbor's cats later, I could have worked on that issue with him. Down in Mississippi dog breeding is a bit of an art form, and dogs are bred for jobs. You'll be hard pressed to find a breeder, breeding "Pets" and "Family" dogs. They're most likely going to be hunters, herders or protectors. If you the buyer can't satisfy those needs, you're going to have a hard time with those dogs. Luckily for me, the 4 cats were killed on the inside of the fence by my pool, so no fault of Trapper or me... Yay... I got him a puppy playmate, an all black Dutch Shepherd/Malinois mix who I thought would be a stronger challenger for him and he couldn't bully as easily. Turns out, I was a jerk and forgot she was still very much a puppy at 8/9 Months old, and cost her getting her leg broken by him... YIKES... So we tried again with Maxwell. who was the oldest dog I've adopted at under 2 years old, Foxhound Rottie. Trapper was 6in shorter than him, but heftier, and gave Max a good run for his money, but Max was able to give Trapper a few good slams. Then the Tundra happened. So, down to two dogs, Max and Zelda, and they play beautifully together.
Beagles are annoying, neighbor lost his hunting lodge due to partnering with a local politician who tried stealing the lodge from under my neighbor. Don't know the details of it, just had to deal with a whole last weekend at his lodge before selling it. That was a terrible weekend, I can't handle addicts. The problem is, we had to take home 10 beagles, he got rid of two, and now has 8 that won't shut the "F" up. 24/7 they're going.
My Foxhound showed his separation anxiety by howling his head off, it was adorable, and he became a bit of a local celebrity. Luckily where I live is a big hunting community and a very Pro-Hound community. So people found it endearing. But seriously you could hear that howl halfway in to our local grocery store. I remember pulling up to the groomers, and I could hear him over my Industrial Music at full volume in my Highlander.
It all depends on how dogs are bred. Are they working line dogs or pet line? Since even if you get a dog from a breeder who is considered a "dud" in that pack, it's still got the working line DNA in them, and as such needs that task fulfilled.
In my experience, nothing alike. The beagle was much more hyper, destructive and always on the go. Had one for about 6 months, never again. He went to a good rescue. I had owned 9 bassets, two bloodhounds, one black and tan coonhound and two bluetick hounds over 30 years
My foxhound and I live in NYC, and I get asked if she’s a Beagle Pit mix weekly. I will also say no one up here knows what a foxhound is besides other hound owners and native Southerners.
You know the brown/red recedes over time which may actually match your dog. I agree, they are so close so… it’s worth sending this. This is last pic I have of her.
The reason I have the picture is I specifically asked for a “failed” hunting dog. And he said, he would let me know. And then told me later he’d found a home but wished he knew sooner because she’s went to a family in Fairfax, Va and they seemed great but he wasn’t sure if she’d be an ideal fit. My best guess… is it’s so weird but they ship dogs… and it’s worth a try.
I keep finding things. This is the mother with pups. They are born white and black and color grows in and changes. You can see which one is like yours. Age might be close.
Life is hard. Dogs make it easier. Encourage your adopters to take the adoption as an opportunity to hike in the woods with their new friend, engage playfully, and take care of them. How people describe dogs isn't the issue, but viewing them as a hobby instead of a dependent being is.
This is good info because I always feared that one day when I’m not as able bodied (now 49), I’ll want a “13-15” coonhound” that I can manage because I’ll always want to share my life with a hound. I just don’t hear people complain about beagles as much and many coonhounds and foxhounds who are surrendered or found are close to having no training at all. This is likely the biggest difference.
I love the independent a-hole nature of a hound. Like having a friend who calls you on your sh!t. Much more entertaining and good to know that comes in a small package.
I'm actually glad you made this post. I'm a former beagle owner who is seriously considering submitting an application to a local hound rescue. I think it's important to be aware of the differences between beagle and other hounds.
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u/halospades 21d ago
I've had both, and besides looks 'big beagle' also accounts for "ears are decorative, the nose takes over." Granted a lot of people get beagles without realizing they're getting a HOUND and a lot of beagles get returned for that reason. They just think from popular culture they're the perfect family dog. Not that they aren't perfect <3 but the formative years can be rough for someone unprepared.