beagle

beagle A small short-legged smooth-coated hound, often used for hunting hares. Often tri-coloured, its friendly disposition makes it suitable as a family pet.
A person who snoops on others; a detective.
2002, Susan Isaacs, Long Time No See, page 243

(..)whereas burying a body in the wooded area beyond the backyard was the quickest way to make a Nassau County Police Department beagle look good.

(..) reading men who beagled for fresh air and exercise, impecunious hunting men who beagled for economy(..)

(..)Pope clapped his hand to his forehead and beagled like a maniac; he had clean forgotten Thorofare Gap.