How much exercise does a Beagle need?

An adult Beagle generally needs 60 to 90 minutes of activity a day, split into at least two outings. The best exercise is not fast running but time to sniff: a slow walk where the dog picks its own route across a field often tires it more than a brisk loop on pavement. Scent games, tracking on a long line and hunting for scattered kibble in the garden all use the part of the brain the breed was built around.

Off-lead running is only safe in fully fenced areas, and even then walk the fence line first, because Beagles dig and squeeze through gaps. A 10 m (33 ft) long line gives freedom in open country without the risk of the dog disappearing after a hare. An under-exercised Beagle howls, chews and plots escapes; one that has done too much, especially in warm weather, lags behind, pants hard and lies down mid-walk. Summer outings are best early or late in the day.