One of the most popular and recognizable breeds of dog is the beagle. They are also called the English beagle. They are small enough and friendly enough to live just about anywhere they are placed – kennels, apartments or laboratories. When trained with persistence and patience, beagles make excellent family dogs, which is probably why the late cartoonist Charles M. Shultz picked the old family pet beagle as the basis for his infamous canine creation, Snoopy.
General Appearance
Beagles are basically small foxhounds. They have long, floppy ears, a level back and a long, slender tail. They often grow between 12 and 15 inches high at the top of their shoulders and weigh an average of 18 to 30 pounds. Males are usually larger and more muscular than females. Although there are beagles 10 inches or less sold as “teacup” or “pocket” beagles, they are prone to severe health problems and cannot be shown.
Beagles come in a variety of colors that can be found in many hound species such as the foxhound. They can be a lemon (light gold) and white; black and tan; brown, black and white; black and white or have ticking marks on the white. The white is usually on the belly, legs and tail. Often, the tips of their tails are white. Their eyes are usually shades of brown.
Brief History
It is unknown just how old the beagle breed is but probably first came about in the 1500s. It is speculated that native small hounds used for hunting were crossed with French scent hounds produced the first beagles. There are some theories as to where the name “beagle” came from. It may be from the Celtic “beag” (small) or from the French “be-guele” (gape throat.)
Beagles were used for hunting of all kinds of prey. Often, they were hunted in packs. The beagle has a tremendously sensitive nose and powerful shoulders and forelegs. A beagle could scent the game, track it and dig it out of its burrow. They became popular in Europe and crossed over to America by the 1700s. Sadly, they are the dog breed of choice for laboratory experiments, since they are small, will eat anything and can be kept in large groups.
In modern times, beagles have adjusted to being pets and playing in dog sports such as agility or flyball. But other beagles work for a living, sniffing out contraband, drugs, termites or bedbugs. Some also work as search and rescue dogs.
Temperament
Beagles will do just about anything for food. This is a way to help motivate beagles into learning tricks and good behaviors like sitting on command. Unfortunately, beagles are bottomless pits when it comes to food and will happily gorge themselves so that they become dangerously overweight. Their diets need to be monitored and garbage cans need to be locked so that beagles can’t get in.
Beagles also like to dig because that is what they have been bred to do. Keeping one section of a yard as a designated digging area can help satisfy the beagle’s digging urge without ripping up the whole yard. Beagles also like to roll in organic matter like corpses of small animals, fertilizer and feces, so either keep an eye on them when giving them a walk or be ready to bathe them often.
Beagles also have a peculiar baying which is unlike the barking of many other dog breeds. This is sometimes known as “singing.”
References:
“Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.” D. Caroline Colie, Ph. D. Barron’s; 2005.
ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs.” Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld, VMD. Chronicle Books; 1999.
Shultz Museum. “FAQ.” http://www.schulzmuseum.org/faq.html
Beagles on the Web. “FAQ.” http://www.beagles-on-the-web.com/questions/
Triangle Beagle Rescue of North Carolina. “Beagle Links & What Are Beagles?” http://www.tribeagles.org/
