Description
The Beagle is an easy-to-care for dog, a small and sturdy hound that is squarely built and a hardy breed. The Beagle can come in a variety of colors including black and an, orange and white, and most commonly a tri-color. The Beagle\'s coat is hard and of medium length; hair grows steadily and rarely needs trimming.
It looks very similar to a smaller version of an English Foxhound with a broad skull and slightly rounded head. The muzzle is typically straight and square, and the feet are round and strong. The Beagle has a black nose and full nostrils that are ideal for scenting. Long wide ears are a pendant shape, and the characteristic pleading expression has made it famous. Brown and hazel eyes give it a love struck and innocent look, and the tail is carried high and tight; it is rarely curled over the back.
The Beagle has a characteristic bark that is almost like a distinct howl. While training can limit this obtrusive noise, the beagle is often on the hunt and uses this as part of its routine.
History
The Beagle is originally from England and is famously one of the most popular scent hounds. It has a sweet and merry disposition with a high level of energy. It is willing to share affection and attention with owners, family members, and other dogs in its pack. It has originated as a cross between the Harrier and other hounds of old England, and has been used in pack hunts and in pairs. It was originally used for hunting hare, pheasant, and quail. These dogs also make excellent narcotics detection dogs and are wonderful fine family companions. Since these dogs are uniform in size and quite small, they may also be used for a variety of medical experiments.
Possible ancestors for this dog include the Talbot hound from Great Britain which is now instinct. In addition, the black and tan Irish Kerry Beagles are another possible link for these beagles, as well as the Bloodhound. The Kerry Beagles may explain the strong scenting ability of Beagles that we know them today. The word \'Beagle\' is derived from the French word \'beguele\' meaning \'open throat.\' The French or Welsh term \'beag\' means small, and other variations have been noted.
Most Beagles have been used for hunting purposes, and were often used in hare hunting in old England. Beagles were often raised in packs of over 100 har ehounds to help in the battlefield of the Hundred Years\' War. \'Beagling\' is considered a sport that is similar to foxhunting in scope, and has been banned in England; in the United States and Canada, Beagles are commonly used for hunting hare and deer. Beagles were not always used as a Beagle pack, and the hunter beagle is usually proficient with chasing and stalking.
In modern day, these dogs are commonly used as sniffer dogs for recreational drug use detection. They are the breed of choice by the United States Department of Agriculture and are often involved with detecting food items in luggage. They were originally chosen for these types of assignments because of their small size and easy maintenance. They are also not as intimidating for most people around dogs, and easily help to adjust and socialize within their domain. Because of their passive nature, they are commonly used in animal testing.
Temperament
Highly intelligent and openly happy, the Beagle is on of the most expressive breeds. It is gentle, lively, curious, and sweet and manages to attach itself to anyone giving it attention and affection. This highly sociable dog is excellent for families with young children and will bond immediately with children and adults of all ages. They are also generally good with other dogs as well, but cannot be trusted with non-canine pets.
Cats and other small animals can become quick prey for Beagles and they may not socialize well with these animals. Other household animals should be kept out of the Beagle\'s way as they can become very watchful, suspicious, and anti-social with other animals. Beagles are determined and lively, and may require extra training to make sure their behavior is appropriate. Since they are highly sociable, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. They will be more likely to become destructive and even neurotic if they are left alone for too long, and it may be helpful to adopt another Beagle just to keep it company.
The Beagle\'s signature cry has helped with hunting and other outdoors sports for years. Hunting horsemen in particular attune to the loud baying cry of the Beagle but his can easily be offensive to neighbors and family members. Beagles must be trained to control their bark, and this may be especially difficult for younger generations of the breed. These dogs have an instinctive nature to follow their noises and will travel great lengths if they are left off their leash. It is best to keep them in a fenced in area with plenty of security and a watchful eye.
Beagles are intelligent, lively, and ready to learn. They adapt quickly to their environments and will pick up behaviors readily. They need to be socialized at an early age, and cannot be left alone for lengthy periods of time. They fare well in packs or with other dogs of the same breed, and thoroughly enjoy the company of family, owners, and friends. Beagles have very good tempers and a natural, gentle disposition. They tend to get aggressive during their first heat cycle but also adapt relatively quickly.
Thyroid Disease - High Risk
The Beagle ranks #10 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. There is a high risk of obtaining a dog that will develop thyroid disease. For this reason you should make sure you, or your breeder, are testing all dogs before breeding. It may even be a good idea to test dogs that you don't plan on breeding so that any instance of disease can be traced back to breeding pairs and eliminated.
| Rank Among Breeds |
Number of Dogs Tested |
Percent of Dogs With Disease |
| #10 |
7237 |
16.5% |
You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here
Other Health Problems
The Beagle is a hardy breed and is generally healthy; although they may go through phases of unhealthy conditions, they adapt to their environments and conditions fairly quickly and tend to cure well. A few special medical conditions to be aware of include:
- Hip Dysplasia: Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) can cause mild to severe lameness.
- Achondroplasia : a degenerative disease where the front legs can become warped
- Back problems
- Eye Anomaly: can cause blindness, but is not a progressive disease
- Epilepsy: a neurological seizure disorder. There is no test for this.
- Heart disease: some lines can be prone to this condition
