What Kind Of Dog Is Courage the Cowardly Dog? Breed Information, Pictures, and Facts

Courage, the cowardly dog, is a cartoon character notorious for getting into sticky situations with his owners, Muriel, and her grumpy husband. They live in the middle of nowhere and are constantly plagued by monsters or suspicious strangers. While Courage is afraid of everything and extremely anxious, he always manages to save his beloved Muriel from harm. Many fans believe this anxious dog is a Chihuahua or mutt, but Courage is a beagle.

Beagle Overview

These dogs are soft and sweet and frequently use their incredible sense of smell to find something good to eat. As a result, they are one of the most popular hound dogs. Beagles are good-natured, healthy, and great with children. However, they are mischievous and will likely turn your house upside down in pursuit of food. Besides using the breed as the inspiration behind the character of Courage, another famous beagle is Snoopy from Peanuts.

Beagle Appearance

The beagle is most known for its floppy ears, but they also have compact bodies, squarish muzzles, domed skulls, and broad snouts. Additionally, they have deep chests, straight backs, and relatively long tails. These dogs come in two size variations. The smaller beagles measure 13 inches high and weigh between 22 to 30 pounds. However, the larger beagles are between 13 to 15 inches tall and can weigh up to 35 pounds. Unlike Courage, the cowardly dog, beagles are primarily tricolored, with white and light brown markings. But, this breed also has two-toned specimens, like the Lemon beagle, which is predominantly white with scattered patches of tan.

Beagle Temperament

These mischievous dogs are best known for their intelligence, social personalities, and gentle temperament with children. Beagles need a lot of attention and may become destructive, left to their own devices for too long. Additionally, they are barkers and will show their dissatisfaction through barking and howling. This breed can be wary of strangers, much like Courage, the cowardly dog. But it doesn’t take long for them to warm up to strangers, making them terrible guard dogs.

Beagles have a strong instinct to follow their noses and thrive in situations where they can track scents. Therefore, they are easily distracted and challenging to train. Furthermore, owners must always supervise them when out, as they tend to roam.

Beagle Training

These inquisitive dogs are active and need exercise every day. Additionally, because they were originally bred to move in packs, beagles enjoy socializing with other dogs and humans. Due to their roaming tendencies, owners must secure their beagles in a fenced-off area when exercising or always keep them on a leash. Furthermore, owners can’t let their guards down when walking them on a leash. These dogs can charge off chasing a rabbit or squirrel in a split second. Beagles are notoriously hard to train, thanks to their strong hunting instincts, energy levels, and lack of concentration.

Beagle Diet

Diet will vary depending on the dog, but most beagles need around ¾ cup of kibble twice a day. However, there are several factors to consider when determining portion size, including age, energy levels, size, and health. If you are unsure how much to feed your furry friend, you can ask your local veterinarian for help. This breed is known for its massive appetite, so overfeeding them is common. However, keeping beagles at an ideal weight is imperative for a healthy, long life.

Furthermore, their incredible sense of smell leads them to food cupboards, and they often get into pantries, trash cans, kitchen cupboards, and other food storage areas. Therefore, owners need to ensure all food is well-secured. Unfortunately, human food or items from the garbage can make these dogs very sick, sometimes resulting in surgery or hospitalization.

Beagles and Children

Another redeeming quality of beagles is their gentle, loving nature towards children, making them fantastic family dogs. Furthermore, they get along well with other pets, even cats, which is surprising since they have high prey drives.

Beagle Health Concerns

While these dogs are generally healthy, some individuals may experience more serious health conditions. For example, beagles commonly suffer from bone and joint issues like patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and invertible disc disease. Furthermore, they are also prone to eye problems like cherry eye, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, and diastasis. They may also suffer from neurological issues, like epilepsy, caused by hypothyroidism.

This breed is likely to experience minor health issues, like ear infections. One way to determine if your pup has an ear infection is by a foul-smelling odor from their ears. However, this is easy to treat if you get your pup to the vet quickly. Lastly, beagles are susceptible to obesity, thanks to their monstrous appetites. Luckily, this is preventable by ensuring you only give your beagle the recommended amount of food, exercise, and regular vet check-ups.

Beagle Lifespan

Beagles can live for around 12 to 15 years old. However, on average, they have a lifespan of 13.5 years. Their lifespan depends on how well their owners care for them, but genetics also have a part to play. Thankfully, the leading causes of beagles’ death are easily avoidable. But, Courage the cowardly dog seems to have nine lives, similar to a cat.

Caring for Beagles

While beagles shed moderately throughout the year, as spring rolls around, their shedding increases. These dogs have a smooth, dense double coat that gets heavier during the colder months. Therefore, they require a good brush at least once a week to remove any loose hair. Additionally, brushing beagles frequently promotes new hair growth.

Owners don’t need to bathe beagles often, only when they are very dirty. Washing any dog too much eliminates its natural oils, which keeps the skin moisturized. Furthermore, their nails need to be cut every month or six weeks. They also need their teeth brushed three times a week with special toothpaste.

Cost of a Beagle

When looking for a beagle, you have a few options. You can approach a reputable breeder, shelter, or rescue. If money is not a problem, the best option is obtaining a beagle from a breeder, as they screen for any possible health issues. However, there is nothing wrong with adopting one from a shelter or rescue organization. This option is more cost-effective but harder to find. Ask to be added to a waiting list to ensure you are contacted when one comes into the shelter or rescue. The cost of a beagle from a reputable breed can range from $1,000 to $1,500, while adopting one from a shelter can cost between $400-$700, depending on your location.