Beagle

Beagle: BREED BOX Country: Great Britain Size: 18-30lb(8-14kg), 13-16in(33-34cm) Temperament: Energetic, lively, inquisitive Grooming: Occasional brush Recognition: FCI, AKC, ANKC, CKC, KC(UK), NZKC

The beloved Beagle is one of the most popular dogs in the United States, and in many other countries. These diminutive hunting dogs look like miniature Foxhounds and, indeed, they have similar origins. Merry and friendly to all, the Beagle makes an excellent pet. They adore children.

Breed History

The Beagle dates from the 16th century in England. At that time it was common for gentlemen of property to keep their own packs of hounds. Larger hounds were used for hunting deer while the smaller hounds were used for hunting rabbits. These smaller hounds were the original Beagles. It’s believed that the word Beagle comes from the French “be geule” for the hound’s way of baying when they were after their quarry.

Some people claim that these packs of hounds were kept in England before the time of the Romans but there is no reliable documentation for this information.

The Beagle we know today was largely developed in the UK in the 19th century from several hounds such as the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound and possibly crosses with the Harrier.

Beagles were imported into the United States from well-bred dogs in England in the 19th century. They were bred to small hunting hounds, also Beagles of a different type, which had been imported earlier into the Southern United States. The National Beagle Club in the United States was formed in 1888.

Today Beagles are used for hunting hare in packs. Beagles are wonderful companions and great family dogs.

Appearance

The Beagle is easy to recognize. In appearance they are a hound and resemble several similar hounds such as the American and English Foxhounds and the Harrier. They are the smallest of these hounds. They have a broader head and shorter muzzle than the Foxhound. Their skull is smooth and slightly domed. The muzzle is square-cut and they have a black nose. They have a close, hard, smooth hound coat. Any true hound color is acceptable but they are often seen in the tri-color pattern which is brown and white with a black saddle. The dog’s tail is typically carried upright and has a brush on it. The dog’s ears are long and low.

The Beagle comes in two varieties — up to 13 inches and over 13 inches but not exceeding 15 inches in height (at the shoulder). It’s perfectly normal for these two varieties to be found in the same litter.

In The Home

The Beagle has a sweet and gentle temperament and for this reason he is a favorite as a family dog. They have a good temperament and they are not known for being aggressive or timid. They like people. They usually make very bad guard dogs since they can easily become friends with anyone who is nice to them. They do make better watch dogs since they will bark and howl when someone approaches. The Beagle is considered a very intelligent dog but, with their hunting instincts, they are very single-minded and determined. They will focus on one thing and ignore everything else — including you if you are trying to give them a command. This can make them hard to train if they become focused on something else.

Because they are hunting dogs and they have an extraordinary sense of smell, Beagles can be easily distracted by scents. This can be problematic for an owner. If your Beagle smells something interesting he can try to dig out of your yard or take off when you’re on a walk.

Beagles are excellent with children because of their wonderful temperaments and their love of people.

Beagles can be prone to separation anxiety, however. They have been kept as pack dogs for many centuries so they often prefer to be around other dogs or people. When they are kept alone they can become very anxious. They may howl or bark or become upset. They usually get along very well with other dogs or pets, as long as they don’t see smaller animals as prey. Regular exercise is a good idea so they don’t become overweight. They are usually very easy keepers.

As with other dogs, Beagle puppies should be well-socialized when they are young so they will build confidence and know how to behave around other dogs, pets and unknown people. This will help assure good manners later in life and can help prevent separation anxiety.

Care

Beagles have a short, smooth coat which is a double coat. This means that there is both an undercoat and an outer coat. They can shed a great deal and need regular brushing to prevent the hair from shedding in your home. You will need to clean your dog’s ears regularly to prevent ear infections and you should trim your dog’s nails regularly.

Beagles are generally a healthy breed and usually live to be 12-15 years of age. However, like any dog, mixed breed or purebred, they can experience some health problems. Beagles can be prone to epilepsy which is usually controlled with medication. Hypothyroidism is a possible health problem in the breed. Dwarfism is also a possible problem. Funny Puppy, a disease that affects puppy development, can occur in the breed. Hip dysplasia only occurs very rarely. Disk problems can also occur which can lead to back problems.

Beagles are also prone to a few eye problems.

If you are interested in a Beagle you should be sure to talk to breeders about their possible health problems and ask about any health testing they have done with the parents. Health testing can often identify potential problems so they can be eliminated.

Where to Find a Beagle

Beagles are very popular dogs. They are fairly easy to find. If you are looking for a purebred Beagle with a pedigree you should contact that the AKC parent club for Beagles in the United States, the National Beagle Club of America. They can provide you with a listing of Beagle breeders, give you information on buying a puppy, tell you about hunting with Beagles and much more. The National Beagle Club also has information on Beagle rescue throughout the United States.

Beagles are so popular, however, that it’s likely you can find them in your local shelter. Rescue people can’t get each Beagle out of each shelter in the U.S. So if you’re interested in rescuing a Beagle you should check your local shelter to see if they have any available. You probably won’t find a Beagle puppy but you may find a young dog.

• Ideal Owners: Great family pets. Not a dog you should just leave alone with. Beagles are adept diggers so the yard should be well fenced off. They are also known to be big eaters.
• Coat Color: Any hound color
• Life Expectancy: 13 years
• Other Names: English Beagle

Beagle Pictures

"Beagle Pictures": More >>

Beagle Reviews

Number of reviews: 3