Beagle vs Jack Russell Terrier

Compare the Beagle to the Jack Russell Terrier. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Beagles and Jack Russell Terriers.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Beagle and the Jack Russell Terrier are good for new owners, but the Beagle is a slightly better choice.
Children - Both breeds are child friendly, but the Beagle is the most friendly between the breeds.
Grooming - Both breeds have low maintenance coats, but the Beagle is easier to groom.
Barking - Both the Beagle and Jack Russell Terrier are very vocal and will bark/howl frequently.

Choose Another Breed to Compare

vs

Highlight Differences
Highlight Similarities

Beagle vs Jack Russell Terrier

Breed Name	Beagle	Jack Russell Terrier
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	No	Maybe
Lifespan	10-15 yrs.	10-15 yrs.
Height	13-16 in.	10-15 in.
Weight	20-30 lb	13-17 lb
Intelligence	High	High
History
Origin Country	Greece	United Kingdom
Origin Year	500 AD	1819 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Very Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Stranger Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Personality
	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Stubborn	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Loving Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	Yes
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	No	Yes
Medium Yard	No	No
Large Yard	Yes	No
Temperature Tolerance ¹	40°F to 90°F	55°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Very Often	Very Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	Medium	Very High
Exercise Required	Medium	Medium-High
Top Running Speed	28 mph	20 mph
Strength	Low	Medium
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Low	Low
Shedding	Low-Medium	Low
Dander	Low	Low
Drool Amount	None	None

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Beagle	Jack Russell Terrier
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	Yes	Yes
Independent	Yes	No
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	Yes	No
Average	No	Yes
Focused & Patient	No	No
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Below Average
Burrow/Digging	Average	Average
Chasing	Average	High
Follow Commands	Below Average	Average
Fighting	Very Low	Below Average
Guarding	Below Average	Below Average
Herding	Below Average	Below Average
Hunting	High	High
Protection	Very Low	Very Low
Remove Vermin	Very Low	Very Low
Sledding	Very Low	Very Low
Watch	High	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Beagle	Jack Russell Terrier
Lifespan
Lifespan	10-15 yrs.	10-15 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Beagle Dwarfism	Yes	No
Cherry Eye	Yes	No
Chinese Beagle Syndrome	Yes	No
Deafness	No	Yes
Distichiasis	Yes	No
Epilepsy	Yes	No
Glaucoma	Yes	Yes
Hip Dysplasia	Yes	No
Hypothyroidism	Yes	No
Intervertebral Disk Disease	Yes	No
Legg-perthes Disease	No	Yes
Lens Luxation	No	Yes
Patellar Luxation	Yes	Yes
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	Yes	No

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Beagle	Jack Russell Terrier
Coat
Fur	Yes	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	Yes
Smooth Coat	Yes	Yes
Coat Texture
Straight	Yes	No
Rough	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Short	Yes	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black	Yes	No
Black & Tan	Yes	No
Black & White	Yes	No
Black, Fawn, & White	Yes	No
Black, Red, & White	Yes	No
Black, Tan, & Bluetick	Yes	No
Black, Tan, & Redtick	Yes	No
Black, Tan, & White	Yes	No
Blue	Yes	No
Blue & White	Yes	No
Blue, Tan, & White	Yes	No
Brown	Yes	No
Brown & White	Yes	No
Brown, White, & Tan	Yes	No
Lemon	Yes	No
Lemon & White	Yes	No
Red	Yes	No
Red & Black	Yes	No
Red & White	Yes	No
Tan	Yes	No
Tan & White	Yes	No
White	Yes	No
Tri-color	No	Yes
White & Black	No	Yes
White & Brown	No	Yes
White & Cream	No	Yes
White & Tan	No	Yes