is a medium-sized dog breed and a member of the hound group,
similar in appearance to a Foxhound but smaller with shorter legs, and with
longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds used primarily for tracking deer,
bear, and other game. They are a loyal breed and most often very well tempered.
Beagles love exercise and being around people.
In the eleventh century, William the Conqueror brought the Talbot hound into
Great Britain. A white scent hound, the Talbot (now extinct) is thought to be a
more recent ancestor of the modern day beagle.
The black and tan Irish Kerry Beagles are also considered another possible
link in the evolution of early beagles. A small game hunter similar to the
Bloodhound, Kerry Beagles may be the reason for the strong scenting abilities of
beagles today.
The first mention of the beagle in English literature by name dates from
1475. The origin of the word "beagle" is uncertain, although it has been
suggested that the word derives from the French begueule (meaning "open
throat", or more colloquially, "loudmouth") or from an Old English, French, or
Welsh term beag, meaning "small." Other possibilities include the French
beugler (meaning "to bellow") and the German begele (meaning "to
scold").
Hunting
| Interesting "Edward III, had a pack of up to 120 hare hounds
with him on the battlefield during the Hundred Years' War" |
Beagles (or their ancestors) were originally used for hunting, and still are
in some places. They appear to have been used for hare hunting in England as
early as the reign of Edward III, who had a pack of up to 120 hare hounds with
him on the battlefield during the Hundred Years' War. Beagling has been 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 will bay in a
similar fashion to foxhounds when in pursuit of their quarry. This is generally
referred to as "speaking" or "giving tongue". Many traditional aspects of
Beagling, like foxhunting, are banned in England, though beagles may still
pursue rabbits, an artificial scent or a hare injured through shooting.
In
countries such as Norway, Canada, United States of America and Sweden, Beagles
are also used for hunting Snowshoe Hare, Roe Deer and in some cases Red Deer and
Fox. In these situations Beagles are not always used as a Beagle pack. The Hunter(s), strategically placed in the terrain, wait while the Beagle is chasing.
The quarry tend to circle within a certain area while using one dog, increasing
the odds for success with few hunters. Drag hunting is another Beagle sport. In
the United States, particularly down in the deep south, Beagles are used in
groups of two with one hunter. The hunter lets the dogs go and they pick up on
the trail of the game that they are hunting for, mostly deer sometimes bear and
boar. Then when the Beagle chases them by the hunter the hunter takes aim and
brings down the game. The Beagle loves this because it is the purpose in which
these dogs were originally bred for and the beagle views it as a tremendously
fun game.
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Pics
of Buddy the Beagle sent in by Karen
Many
Thanks |
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This is our Beagle Puppy Buddy. He
is 16 weeks old. He is very active and quite naughty. - Karen |
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Appearance
The Beagle has a smooth, somewhat oval skull; a medium-length, square-cut
muzzle; a black, gumdrop nose; large, hound-like hazel or brown eyes; long,
velveteen, low-set ears (big), 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 tail;
an overall muscular body; and a medium-length, smooth, hard coat. One standard
calls for ideally shaped beagles to be twice as long as tall, and twice as tall
as wide.
They appear in a range of colours, not limited to the familiar tricolour (white
with large black areas and light brown spots). Some tricolour dogs have a color
pattern referred to as "broken." These dogs have mostly white coats with
slightly circular patches of black and brown hair. Two-color varieties are
always white with colored areas, including such colors as "lemon", a very light
tan; "red", a reddish, almost orangish brown; and "liver", a darker brown (liver
is the only colour not allowed in the British Standard). "Ticked" varieties may
be either white or black with different colored spots ("ticking"), such
as the bluetick beagle, which has spots that appear to be a midnight-blue color,
similar to the Bluetick Coonhound. Some tricolor beagles also have ticking of
various colours in their white areas.
| Picture of Cooper sent in by Pete - Many
Thanks |
 |
| This is Cooper our adorable 11 week
old puppy. He is a cheeky chap with bundles of energy - but he
loves to have a cuddle. He'd have a chew of anything and does!!
He's our first beagle and we love him to bits. |
Beagles are almost always born black and white, with the brownish areas
developing later. The brown is usually the last color to appear, taking
sometimes 1-2 years to fully develop. Some beagles gradually change color
throughout their lives. Beagles typically have a white-tipped tail, or "flag",
which is important in locating them in the field due to their short height.
Breed varieties
The American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club recognize two separate
varieties of Beagle: the 13-inch for hounds less than 13 inches, and 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. These
standard dogs can reach 35 lb or more.
In Medieval times, there was a breed called a pocket beagle, which stood at 8
to 9 inches. Small enough to fit in a "pocket" or saddlebag, they rode along on
the hunt. The larger foxhounds would run the prey to ground, then the hunters
would release the small beagles to continue the chase through underbrush into
their burrows. Queen Elizabeth I often entertained guests at her royal table by
letting her pocket beagles cavort amid their plates and cups. This genetic line
is now nearly extinct.[1]
Temperament
The Beagle has a very good temper and gentle disposition. Beagles are
intelligent, but are stubborn and may be hard to train due to their strong will,
which is common in the breed because of its curiosity (especially for scents).
However, if a newly-bought puppy has a dominant master in control, they can be
easy to train and can obey basic commands. They are an especially loyal breed
and are very friendly. Unaltered males will often howl, bark, or chase after
another dog or object, but rarely physically harm it. Females tend to be less
aggressive before their first heat cycle, but afterwards are protective of their
puppies and families. Both genders are excellent with children (puppies
especially) and can even play with toddlers. They also get along with other
dogs, provided that they have been socialized correctly.
Beagles are playful and energetic dogs who enjoy long walks. Being scent
hounds, if released, they may follow a scent endlessly or will incessantly try
to tag along with other dogs regardless of cars, strangers, etc. They can be
quite difficult to walk, especially when distracted by enticing smells. Because
of their curiosity and spirited temperament, beagles are famed escape artists
and humane societies and pounds all over the U.S. often pick up stray beagles.
Beagles are pack animals, and can be prone to separation anxiety. They are
best kept with other dogs if they are going to be left alone for long periods of
time. A common misconception is that all Beagles howl incessantly. In reality,
some are more vocal than others and some do not bark often at all. Puppies,
however, will yelp and whine if left alone in a crate, kennel, or enclosed area
such as a play pen. However, if a beagle incessantly barks, it is probably
because it is not often corrected, and can take on the assumption that that type
of behavior is acceptable. The breed has thousands of representatives and each
has his or her own personality.
|
Biggles and Jones sent in by Alf - Thanks |
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Source |
Puppies
A well-bred beagle puppy is usually energetic, fun loving, and playful, but
one always must have something for it to chew on, as in most of its puppyhood it
is teething, which is a stage all breeds go through. The beagle puppy will
gladly show affection to anybody, and will continue to do so as long as it has
an attentive, dominant master, is frequently exercised (including playtime and
walks), and is completely socialized through all stages of life. Puppies should
usually be fed small amounts of food (never two bowls), and should not be coaxed
to eat. Putting sauces on the food are discouraged and can lead to an overweight
beagle. A puppy will grow to be more energetic as it matures, because newborns
sleep on average about 2/3 of the day. Usually, a 12-week-old puppy will tire
after a 15-20 minute run or walk, but that time will increase as it grows.
|
Missy the Beagle sent in by Lorraine - Many Thanks |
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Missy and her great life friend lol my dog baby beagle |
Health
The median longevity of Beagles is 12–15 years, which is a typical lifespan
for a dog of their size.
Beagles may be prone to epilepsy, but this can be controlled with medication.
Hypothyroidism and a number of types of dwarfism occur in Beagles. Two
conditions in particular are unique to the breed: Funny Puppy, in which the
puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back and
although normally healthy, is prone to range of illnesses; Hip dysplasia, common
in Harriers and in some larger breeds, is rarely considered a problem in
Beagles. Beagles are considered a chondrodystrophic breed, meaning that they are
prone to types of disk diseases.
In rare cases, Beagles may develop immune mediated polygenic arthritis (where
the immune system attacks the joints) even at a young age. The symptoms can
sometimes be relieved by steroid treatments.
Their long floppy ears can mean that the inner ear does not receive a
substantial air flow or that moist air becomes trapped, and this can lead to ear
infections. Beagles may also be affected by a range of eye problems; two common
ophthalmic conditions in Beagles are glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. "Cherry
eye", a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and distichiasis, a condition
in which eyelashes grow into the eye causing irritation, sometimes exist; both
these conditions can be corrected with surgery. They can suffer from several
types of retinal atrophy. Failure of the nasolacrimal drainage system can cause
dry eye or leakage of tears onto the face.
As field dogs they are prone to minor injuries such as cuts and sprains, and,
if inactive, obesity is a common problem as they will eat whenever food is
available and rely on their owners to regulate their weight. When working or
running free they are also likely to pick up parasites such as fleas, ticks,
harvest mites and tapeworms, and irritants such as grass seeds can become
trapped in their eyes, soft ears or paws.
Beagles may exhibit a behaviour known as reverse sneezing, in which they
sound as if they are choking or gasping for breath, but are actually drawing air
in through the mouth and nose. The exact cause of this behaviour is not known,
but it is not harmful to the dog.
Source |
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Weight gain can be a problem in older or sedentary dogs, which in turn can lead to heart and joint problems. |
Working life
Beagles have superb noses and, despite their self-willed temperament, are
sometimes used as sniffer dogs for drug detection. More often, though, they are
the breed of choice of the United States Department of Agriculture to detect
food items in luggage being transported into the U.S. The force is called the
Beagle Brigade and these dogs wear a green jacket. Beagles were chosen because
they are small and easy to care for, and because they are not as intimidating
for people who are uncomfortable around dogs. They are also used for this
purpose by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in New Zealand and by the
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (for whom they wear maroon
jackets).
They are the dog breed most often used in animal testing, due to their
passive nature.
In June 2006, a trained Beagle saved the life of its master by using his
mobile phone to dial an emergency number.[1]
Miscellaneous
Beagles in popular culture
- The Peanuts comic strip character Snoopy and his siblings are beagle
mutts, i.e. mixes, rather than purebreds, though creator Charles M. Schulz said
that Snoopy (and his relatives) are mostly beagle. When Snoopy makes appearances
at theme parks, he is billed as "The World's Most Famous Beagle." [2]
- Buster in The Wonder Years.
- Poochie, the short-lived Itchy and Scratchy character, on The Simpsons.
- Porthos in Star Trek: Enterprise.
- Toby in Used Cars.
- Lou in Cats and Dogs.
- Chomp Chomp in Pacman
- Doidle in The Fairly Oddparents
- Brain in the Inspector Gadget film.
- Pete in The Monster Squad.
- Buckley in The Royal Tenenbaums.
- Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Shiloh book trilogy (also a film trilogy)
is about a beagle.
- The Beagle Boys in Disney's DuckTales or Scrooge McDuck comics.
- Character Audrey fforbes-Hamilton has a Beagle in the BBC series To the
Manor Born.
- According to Garfield, Odie is half-beagle and half-brick. [3]
- Gromit from the animated cartoon Wallace & Gromit is a beagle.
- The Grape Ape had a friend named Beegle Beagle (also known as Beegley
Beagley).
- In Three's Company, the characters frequented a restaurant called
"The Regal Beagle."
- In "Where My Dogs At", Buddy is a Beagle.
- The cartoon superhero Underdog is a Beagle.
- In the 1970's, singer Barry Manilow owned two Beagles named Bagel and
Biscuit. Bagel appeared on the back cover of Manilow's 1975 album Tryin' To
Get The Feeling.
- Mr. Peabody (of Rocky & Bullwinkle fame) is a beagle.
Famous beagles
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This is Bella sent in by
Momxo - Thanks |
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Bella is my beautiful Beagle. She is a rescued Beagle. I got her when she was a year old and she will be six this November (2009). She is a typical Beagle, energetic, curious, chow hound. Love her to death. |
