The modern Beagle was developed in Great Britain in the early part of the 19th century. The Beagle’s lineage can be traced back many hundreds of years. Dogs of the Beagle type well known in ancient Greece. The Beagle is a type of scent hound related to the Foxhound. The modern dog was developed to hunt hares. In fact, beagling is a term which means hare-hunting.
Snoopy from the comic strip peanuts is probably the most famous Beagle ever.
These days, they are much more popular in the United States then they are in the UK.
Beagles are consistently in the American Kennel Club’s 10 most popular breeds.
Their life expectancy is between 10 and 15 years.
Beagles As Pets
Beagles were bred to live and hunt in packs, so they enjoy family life and make good companions. They are easy-going and generally get on well with other dogs. They need to be exposed to cats early in their life if they are to get on with them.
Beagles are eager to please, but they need to clearly understand what is required of them. They need a firm consistent hand. They make good house dogs but are usually very friendly to visitors once they are actually in the house.
They love their family and sometimes have a tendency to howl and become destructive when they are left alone.
They need a lot of exercise. Unless they have been thoroughly taught the recall command, letting them off the leash can be a bit risky. Their hunting instinct may kick in and it could be sometime before you see them again.
They are not fussy eaters and are quite inexpensive to keep. In fact, they love eating and their weight needs to be monitored to keep them healthy.
Grooming The Beagle
The Beagle needs only minimal grooming. A daily brush to remove loose and dead hairs is all that is needed. Some Beagles love to roll in any foul-smelling substance. However, they are short haired and easy to wash.
They are great scavengers and tend to eat anything they find. Their teeth need to be cleaned and checked regularly. Their long floppy ears need to be cleaned and checked on a regular basis.
Beagles are a muscular solid dog. They are curious and have a great personality. They just need to understand who is boss.
