doggiestylish

Beagle History

Beagle-type dogs have existed for over 2,000 years, the modern breed was developed in Britain around the 1830s from several breeds, including the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier. They were bred to have a keen sense of smell and were used to hunt rabbits and other small game. Beagles were in the United States by the 1840s and the first dogs were imported strictly for hunting and with little concern to the conformation. Serious attempts at establishing a quality bloodline began in the early 1870s when General Richard Rowett from Illinois imported some dogs from England and began breeding. Rowett's Beagles are believed to have formed the models for the first American standard. The Beagle was recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1884. It now enjoys worldwide popularity and is employed frequently as scenting dogs for drug enforcement agencies due to its keen sense of smell.

Beagle Temperament

Beagles are happy, merry dogs that make excellent family members. They are good with children and other dogs. Although they can be standoffish towards strangers at first, they are usually won over easily, which makes them poor guard dogs. They will, however, bark when startled, or faced with something new. Beagles have a stubborn streak and are difficult to obedience train. They are also prone to digging and climbing. If there is something on the other side of a fence, they will either dig under the fence, or climb over it to see what it is. They can also bark or bay a lot, which is a trait that relates to their hunting background. They also love to eat and are prone to weight gain if not properly managed. Since they are pack animals, they can suffer from separation anxiety and may howl when left alone.

Beagle Appearance

Beagles come in two size varieties, the 13 inch beagle and the 15 inch Beagle. Beagles appear in a range of colours. Although the tricolour (white with large black areas and light brown shading) is the most common. They have long, droopy ears and a short, slightly curved tail that always has a white tip.

Beagle Grooming

Beagles have a short coat that does not take much maintenance. They are moderate shedders.

Beagle Life Expectancy and Life Span

Beagles can be prone to a variety of illnesses such as Hypothyroidism, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Cherry Eye and Retinal Atrophy. One disease specific only to beagles is called Funny Puppy, in which the puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back and although normally healthy, is prone to range of illnesses. Beagles are also prone to a number of spinal disk diseases.

The average lifespan of a Beagle is 11 to 13 years.

Famous Beagles

The most famous Beagle of all is Snoopy from the Peanuts comics. Odie, from the Garfield comics, was a beagle, as well. The cartoon character, Under Dog, was also supposed to be a beagle.

Beagles have been in a number of movies, too. Cats and Dogs, Shiloh and the live action version of Under Dog all had Beagles in the starring roles.

Beagle Pros and Cons

This simplified list might help you decide if a Beagle will be a good fit for your lifestyle.

Do You Want

• a small dog that is easy to care for?
• a dog that is a good family member and great with kids?
• a dog that gets along well with other dogs and strangers?
• a dog that needs a moderate amount of exercise?

Do You NOT Want

• a dog that is easily excited?
• a dog that is prone to digging and climbing to escape confinement?
• a dog that is difficult to obedience train?
• a dog that will follow it's nose when it finds an interesting scent?
• a dog that barks a lot?
• a dog that can be destructive when bored or left alone?

Useful Beagle Links

The National beagle Club of America

The Beagle Club of Great Britian