The Beagle is the smallest and most popular hound. The origin of this breed is not fully known. Most likely, this breed was created as a result of crossing harrier hounds with terriers. They were to be used as hunting dogs for hunting hares. Interestingly enough, the dogs of Queen Elizabeth I were called pocket beagles because they were distinguished by extremely small dimensions. Their height at the withers did not exceed 22 cm, and the smallest ones fit in a glove. Thanks to their tiny size, they could be transported in baskets attached to the saddle. Unfortunately, this breed became extinct in the 19th century and could no longer be recreated.
- Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
- Male height: 33 - 40 cm, female dogs are slightly shorter
The Beagle is a hound, strong, compact and athletic. This dog moves smoothly and freely, and its long trot proves its endurance in pursuit. It is lively and lovable. Its hunting specialty is chasing a trail. It has a balanced temperament, it is not aggressive or timid.
Beagles are cheerful, courageous, energetic, alert and intelligent animals. These features can be considered to be their basic character traits. They have a strong hunting instinct. This breed is ideal for active people who like to run and ride a bike. Beagles can do agility and frisbee sports. It is a family dog, fond of children, although it prefers the slightly older ones. Beagle is lively and likes to grab hands, pants or sleeves so be careful when there are small, especially crawling, children in the house. Beagle is a volcano of energy. It can go kilometers on walks. Therefore, before buying a dog of this breed, you should think carefully whether you will be able to provide it with enough exercise - a walk around the house will definitely be not enough. Beagle likes to exercise regularly, train and learn new things. If you do not provide it with these activities, your dog will be bored, until it finally provides itself with entertainment, e.g. tearing a sofa or digging through your garden in search of voles or moles.
This breed is more and more often used in working with children in the so-called dogotherapy. Thanks to its nice and harmless appearance, Beagle has become the favorite dog of customs officials. We can also see it in airports because its perfect sense of smell helps detect drugs.
Beagle is a friendly and balanced pooch with a quite lively temperament. It is alert, courageous and balanced by nature. This breed is strongly attached to its owner. It is gentle and friendly towards household members, also does not show aggression in contact with other dogs. Dogs of this breed are hunting dogs so they have search and hunting qualities.
Beagle should start learning from the very first days, as soon as it arrives at your home. Group obedience training is also a good solution. This training must be based on prizes in the form of various flavors. The best results are achieved by combining play with learning. Otherwise, its hunting instincts will make itself felt. The Beagle is stubborn by nature, and when unleashed, it will chase after the scent.
Beagles have a short, smooth, hard, dense and waterproof coat that requires regular grooming. Dead hair can be removed with a special glove or a brush. Also, do not forget about ear hygiene - it is very important that no infection occurs.
Dogs of this breed can have different colors of their coat:
- lemon - white
- ginger - white
- blue
- tricolor (black, fawn, white)
However, the black and tan color is unacceptable. The end of the tail should always be white.
Dogs of this breed tend to be obese. To prevent this, a proper diet and a lot of exercise are recommended. Beagle puppies may develop third eyelid disease and, if left untreated, it can lead to dry eye syndrome. The eye then produces an insufficient amount of tears, which is associated with great discomfort for the dog and may result in loss of vision.
Beagle is also exposed to MLS, Musladin-Leuke Syndrome or Chinese Beagle Syndrome. It is an inherited disease associated with disorders of the development of connective tissues. The dog of this breed may also suffer from hip dysplasia and disorders of the secretion of thyroid hormones.
The Beagle, like every dog, should be given the right food that will provide it with the necessary ingredients for its proper development. When choosing a feed, first of all, read the ingredients on the packaging. Good food is one that contains a lot of meat, especially dried meat. We know then that the given percentage composition of a given type of meat is as shown on the packaging because the meat has been dehydrated. There are many companies on the market offering complete dry, wet or semi-moist food. We have to choose one that will be suitable for our dog. Due to the fact that dogs of this breed are gluttons and are prone to obesity, they should not be given various types of snacks between meals.
