The Beagle Dog Breed

The origins of the beagle dog breed are very ancient and are lost in the mists of time. Some speak as far back as B.C. in Greece, where small hounds used to accompany man in the hunting of small prey such as hares. But these can only be the progenitors of today's beagle, which has been selected and crossed over the centuries to arrive at our time as we see it today.

Further along in history we speak of the 1400s, descending this dog from the hounds used in packs during hunting on foot in England, Wales and France. But especially in England, which is why the beagle is given its origin in this country.

Beagles are bred for hunting as well as for show and as pets. In fact, over time this dog has increasingly become a perfect house and family dog. But its exceptional sense of smell has remained intact and in fact the beagle is still used today for hunting and as a sniffer dog for detecting explosives and drugs. Its olfactory talent depends not only on its powerful nose, but also on the long ears with which it retains scents while following a trail.

Originally, the beagle breed was smaller in size than it is today because English hunters used to carry these dogs in wicker baskets hung from the saddles of horses and then release them when catching foxes on the hunting fields. It is no coincidence that the name beagle in Old French and Celtic means small.

The breed standard wants them to be a little bigger, but still sometimes small beagles like that are born. However, the beagle is now, to all intents and purposes, Snoopy, Charlie Brown's inseparable companion in the American Peanuts cartoon sagas. Unfortunately, he is also one of the most commonly used guinea pigs in medical/scientific experimentation.

Character of the beagle dog breed

The beagle is a sociable, affectionate, lively dog that likes to receive affection. Bold, very active, capable of great determination and endurance; it is alert, intelligent and temperamentally suited to these characteristics. But he is also amiable and alert and shows no aggression or shyness.

His temperament makes him a friend to everyone, including children with whom he loves to play a lot. He is always enthusiastic about taking part in family activities, especially outdoors. It is not a dog to be left alone for long, it suffers when left alone. The beagle suffers a lot from loneliness and may get so nervous and bored that it becomes destructive, picking on sofas, curtains, carpets, shoes, etc. It may also bark a lot, which can lead to a loss of energy. He may also bark a lot, disturbing the neighbourhood.

He adapts well to flat life, but requires at least a couple of long daily outings to let out all his liveliness. It is therefore ideal for a hunter or sporty owner. It is also not very suitable for elderly or sedentary people.

It is by no means a guard dog, it wags its tail happily at strangers, but because it barks a lot, it can serve as a sentinel if it senses someone it does not know approaching.With other dogs, being a hunting dog accustomed to hunting in packs, it has no problem.

It must, however, be trained firmly and constantly, from a very young age, both for obedience and for socialisation with other animals. It trains quite easily because it wants to please its owner, but is sometimes a little stubborn and disobedient, so it is good that the owner has clear ideas on how to train it.

Appearance of the beagle dog breed

The beagle is a small to medium-sized dog, the male can be up to 38 centimetres tall at the withers and weighs a maximum of 20 kilograms. But on average it is around 10 to 15 kilograms, the female usually a little less. It has a robust and compact structure, but graceful and elegant. The thorax is powerful. The tail is strong, of moderate length and is carried high but not rolled or tilted forward.

The head is of small to medium length, the stop is well marked, the muzzle is not blunt and has a wide, black truffle with well opened nostrils. With subjects with a lighter coat the truffle is also lighter. The eyes are large, well spaced, dark brown and hazel and have a very sweet and captivating expression. The ears are long, with rounded ends, and descend to the cheeks; lying down they reach the tip of the nose.

The coat can be of different colours; tricolour, orange-white, lemon-white and blue tricolour. The tip of the tail is always white. The coat is short, waterproof and thick.

Care and health of the beagle dog breed

The beagle is a dog that enjoys excellent health and has a fairly long life expectancy, around 14 years, but many specimens also live to 17. It can suffer from dysplasia and eye disorders are also quite common. Otherwise, long walks and plenty of outdoor activity are all that is needed to give him a long and active life.

It tolerates cold and heat well and as far as feeding is concerned, it is important to provide a healthy and adequate diet without exaggerating with premiums and carbohydrate foods, as it is a breed that tends to put on weight.

For coat care, it is sufficient to brush it once a week and every two months take a bath. It is important to take care of the ears because, as they are pendulous, they are not well aired and must be kept clean.