Beagle


History: Like many breeds, the history of the Beagle is debatable as well, although most credible sources have this breed hailing from England. Beagle Picture The debate comes in as to when the breed truly arrived on the scene in Britain, although it has been used in Wales and the British Isles for hunting since ancient times. There are many historical versions that suggest this dog was even around during Roman occupation of England.

One thing is for sure, the English established the Beagle as a rabbit hunting dog and has been used by breeders in this way for centuries. Of course the famous part of this breed is its howl, which was used in hunting to let the owner know that it had found a scent. The Beagle did not make its appearance in the United States until the 1870s and was not officially part of the American Kennel Club until 1885. Although it was registered with the AKC, it did not become popular with breeders in the United States until the mid 1900s, where it has remained as one of the most popular dogs in America.

Description: The beauty of this dog is that he has the lean, compact physique of a hunting dog, with the same keen ears and nose, but is much smaller in stature. The average dog typically weighs 20-30 pounds and is only 15-16 inches in height. This makes him a wonderful hunting dog because of his ability to get into spaces where larger hunting dogs may not fit. Although this breed may come in a variety of different colors, he is often a mixture of a black and brown with a white undercarriage.

This breed has a beautiful, long rounded muzzle with very large, adorable floppy ears. Of course these are even more adorable when they are puppies and the ears have outgrown the body. The coat of this breed is dense, but easy to take care of, with short and smooth hair that is great for nearly any weather conditions.

Life Span: 12-15 years

Common Ailments: A very hardy breed that isn’t prone to many ailments. May be susceptible to genetic disorders such as glaucoma, heart disease and epilepsy.

Suitability with Children: Yes, as they love being part of a pack family and have a gentle disposition

Suitability with Other Pets: Yes, they do not have aggressive tendencies

Living Conditions: The downfall of many first time owners is that they believe because the Beagle is small, he will do well in an apartment or home with no yard. This is not true. These are high energy dogs that thrive on lots of activity. They will do best where they will have room to "hunt" and play.

Training: Because of their need to follow their nose, sometimes they block out their owner’s commands. They will do best if training is begun as a young puppy with consistency and reinforcement throughout the years.

Exercise Required: High

Cost of Maintenance: Low

Breed Temperament: Considered an exceptionally hardy and compact hunting dog, this pup also does well as a family dog because he loves being part of the pack and is extremely loyal and even in temperament. Keep in mind that this dog is known for having an independent streak, though, and this can lead to disobedience and behavioral problems, especially for owners who leave the dog alone often or for those who forgo obedience training. The Beagle has a very loud bark and howl and will put it to good use if his owners are not exercising him regularly or making him part of the family. That howl and bark can come in handy for warning owners of a possible intruder though.

When working as a hunting dog, the breed has a tendency to burn calories at a high rate, which may cause them to be exceptionally thin. For this reason, many Beagle hunting owners are recommended to feed them a special high carb and high protein diet. The opposite can happen for family pets that aren’t exercised often, as this dog often keeps up his instinctual need to eat large portions and may become obese.


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