Beagle
Modified: 30-11--0001 00:00:00
The Beagle is a medium-sized member of the hound group, similar in appearance to a small fox hound. Beagles are scent hounds used primarily for hunting small game such as rabbits.
Appearance
The Beagle has an oval skull; with a medium-length, square muzzle; big hound typical hazel or brown eyes; long low-set ears turning towards the cheeks slightly and rounded at the tips; a medium-length, strong neck without folds in the skin; a broad chest narrowing to a tapered abdomen and waist; a short, slightly curved tailBody is muscular coat is medium length and smooth.
They appear in a range of colours, not limited to the familiar tricolour (white with large black and light brown spots). Two-colour varieties are always white with coloured areas, including such colours as "lemon", a very light tan; "red", a reddish, almost orangish brown; "liver", a darker brown, is the only colour not allowed. "Ticked" varieties may be either white or black with different coloured spots ("ticking"), such as the bluetick beagle, which has spots that appear to be a midnight-blue colour, similar to the bluetick coonhound. Some tricolour beagles also have ticking of various colours in their white areas. The brown is usually the last colour to appear on beagles, usually taking 1-2 years to fully develop. Beagles have a white-tipped tail, or "flag", which is important in locating them in the field due to their short height.
Breed varieties
The AKC and the CKC recognize two separate varieties of Beagle:
a. the 13-inch for hounds less than 13 inches,
b. the 15-inch for those between 13 and 15 inches.
The Kennel Club (UK) and FCI affiliated clubs recognize a single type, with a height of between 13 and 16 inches.
In Medieval times, there was a breed called a "pocket beagle", which stood at 8-9 inches. This breed no longer exists, those claiming to have one simply have a small version of the existing breed.
Temperament
They are good tempered and friendly, though like all hounds they are difficult to train.Difficulty I training is not because of lack of intelligence, more due to an abundance of independence and stubbornness.They are good with children and other dogs.They are pack animals and do much better if they are paired, if left alone they will fret and cry.
They enjoy long walks, but if off leash, they may tear off after other dogs or a scent never to return so beware.
Health
Beagles are a healthy breed, often living for 12 to 15 years, but they do have a few common health problems.
Their long ears make them susceptible to infections, their long eyelashes may sometimes grow into the eye and irritate the eye; this might require surgery to remove the eyelashes.
Obesity is a common health problem in Beagles due to people overfeeding them in response to their sad eyes and begging. (Editor, I had a beagle who would sit up on his hind legs and "sing" whilst rotating his front legs like riding a bike.Adorable, and yes, he got fat.)A fat beagle, is subject to ehart and hiop problems, so try to fight the urge to food reward all cute behaviour.
In some rare cases Beagles may develop polyarthritis (where the immune system attacks the joints) even at a young age. This can be sometimes treated effectively with cortisone.
Beagles are also prone to seizures/epilepsy. This disease is treatable with medication.
From this, be sure to seek out a reputable breeder when looking to purchase a Beagle.
History
Beagles were originally used for hunting, and still are in some places. Beagling is referred to as "the poor person's foxhunting," as a Beagle pack (30-40 dogs) is followed on foot, not horseback.
The usual quarry is the hare. Beagles are admired by some for the bloodcurdling "Beagle music" they emit when in full pursuit, also called tonguing. Beagling, like foxhunting, is now banned in England.
Working life
Beagles have superb noses and, despite their self-willed temperament, are sometimes used as sniffer dogs for drug detection.Their friendly non-aggressive appearance belies a powerful drug, fruit, or other contraband detecting nose.
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