Beagle Dog Breed

Beagles are hunting dogs, but they don't hunt to kill but to track and tree, or corner, game. Still, with the right home, they make good family companions and can be fun. While first time dog owners can find their behavior frustrating, and Beagles for kids might not be the best dog, they aren't impossible. There is a lot of information about Beagles that you would need to know, however. These dogs are both like the one in the Peanuts cartoon strips (as in aloof) and not like Snoopy — as in they don't fly doghouses posing as World War I aces! They are best in rural areas where barking won't bother neighbors, where they can run freely at times, and where they will have lots of things to do.

Below are some facts on Beagles regarding their problems as well as why some people think they are the best dogs:

While the beagle's direct ancestors have been around since 400 B.C., the beagle we see today were not bred until the 1800's. The breed has long been used for its scenting skills. Originally the breed's scent skills were used for hunting rabbits, but today they are mostly used as service dogs for detecting bombs, bed bugs, and drugs.

The beagle's small size, calm temperament, and pleasing attitude has made it a favorite dog among many families and law enforcement. Unlike larger scent hounds, which many people consider intimidating when used by law enforcement, beagles appear pleasant and sweet making the job less frightening for those scared of larger dogs.

The beagle has been bred to be a pack dog, meaning they expect companionship with other animals. Because of this, it's recommended to have another dog or cat the beagle can bond with if you're away frequently. Even though the beagle is an intelligent dog breed, they can be a bit difficult to train (since they will be easily distracted with their nose finding scents during training). Therefore it is recommended that inexperienced dog owners spend time researching proper training techniques before adopting a beagle.

The history of the Beagle is not entirely agreed upon. Some say the forebears of these dogs were already known in Greece as early as the 5th century BCE. Others say the hounds, which eventually became Beagles, were first seen in the now-named British Isles before Roman times. The country of origin is not the only Beagle origin fact disputed. Some dog breed histories state that the first actual Beagles were tiny dogs that stood no more than 8 or 9 inches high.

Regardless of where Beagles originated from, at least one predecessor of this breed was the St. Hubert Hound. These dogs were used to produce the Talbot Hound. During the 11th century, William the Conqueror traveled to England and with his forces took Talbot Hounds. The scenting abilities of these dogs made them popular. Still, the Talbots were not fast runners, and they were mated with Greyhounds to produce scent hounds that could run much faster.

The tiny Pocket Beagles, mentioned above, were said to be the first Beagles by name. Developed during the mid-18th century for the amusement of English royalty, these dogs were said to also be used by hunters. The early Beagle no longer exists. Hunting with hounds was nonetheless a growing sport and lifestyle, and many new hound breeds were developed. A handful of Beagle varieties was also conceived at this time.

Having been introduced to the U.S. in the 1870s, the American Kennel Club had formally recognized Beagles in 1884. Four years later, in 1888, the National Beagle Club was established. Around the same time in England, the popularity of Beagles had waned greatly. To save the dog, clubs began to be founded. In 1890, the Beagle Club was established. The following year, 1892, saw the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles started. Both clubs sought to drastically increase the number of Beagle packs.

Although a popular breed, you may still wonder, what does a Beagle look like? This is a breed of dog that is small to medium in size, is hardy but not too sturdy, fast but not swift. In general, their features tend to make them look like overgrown puppies.

The domed head is equal part forehead and snout. The snout, mouth, and muzzle are a bit boxy even as they have jowels that hang down. These dogs have a scissor bite and a black, triangular nose. The large, round, floppy ears hang forward and down and are of medium weight. They have big, round, wide-set eyes that are seem to be born to look sad. The short neck and fragile-looking small torso may seem a little out of proportion to the stubby legs that are medium in length and have large paws. The forelegs should look strong, and the rear legs should look even more powerful. The skin should have only a little play and should have no real wrinkles even as it's easy to wiggle a little with your hand. The medium-length tail should stand up and be slightly curved too.

Although there are two coats, the far more common one is short, rough, and thick. It's a single coat, however.

There have been many variations of the Beagle since the breed's informal establishment, and nearly all of them no longer exist.

The Pocket Beagles were the first variety. They were very popular among British royalty in the mid-1800s. These miniature dogs were sometimes so small as to be able to fit in the pockets of royals. These dogs were also used by hunters as they could be let loose when a scent was found or game spotted. This tiny varietal is no longer around, but there are people who advertise them for sale under the name teacup, toy, micro, etc. Most dog breeders and lovers will argue that such puppies are actually runts, dwarfs, or hybrids, however.

By the middle of the 19th century, there were four varieties: the Dwarf (or Lapdog) Beagle, Fox Beagle, Medium Beagle, and rough-coated/terrier Beagle. It may have been that most of these kinds died out a few decades later, in the 1880s, because Fox Hounds and other faster, more popular scent hounds replaced Beagles.

These days, you may hear mention of the English variety and the American variety. You might have also read about the Patch Hound, which is a famous strain based on a bloodline and which is not really a variation. There is sometimes a mention of the short-legged Beagle, but these are not purebred dogs.

The AKC recognizes only two varieties, and they define them by size: the 13-inch Beagle and the 15-inch Beagle. The first one is for all Beagle Hounds less than 13 inches high, and the second one is for those that stand between 13 to 15 inches high. Although there are Beagles that stand taller, they are not a separate variety despite some folks' insistence that they are a super, king, or giant variation.

The Beagle temperament is not an easy one. While hunters love these pack dogs, their behavior tends to be somewhat aloof of anyone not involved in hunting. As they are also one of the "selectively deaf" dog breeds, this can be a bane to non-hunting dog owners. It's a characteristic that works well when these dogs require focus to track down elusive, fast, and wily targets, however. Along with their stubbornness, these traits can make Beagles very difficult for people who demand a dog that obeys all the time. Although not aggressive dogs by a long shot, they have an amiable personality which they easily exhibit when they wish to have attention paid them. As a puppy and well past the first year, you can expect a jumpy, easily excited dog that will bark a lot and very loudly. It may take a couple years for your Beagle to calm down.

Beagles are in the middle of dog breeds when it comes to health. They have some problems, and while they don't have a shortlist of such ailments, they are not dragging a long list either. These small dogs are bred to work hard, but their specialized duty of tracking means they are great at their task even as they are more vulnerable to its many hazards and more so than most hunting breeds. They also have breed-specific problems.

Here is a list of the problems to which Beagles are prone:

• Anemia
• Obesity
• Epilepsy
• Hepatitis
• Deafness
• Cataracts
• Cherry eye
• Narcolepsy
• Glaucoma
• Ear infections
• Joint dysplasia
• Hypothyroidism
• Lymphosarcoma
• Corneal dystrophy
• Pulmonic stenosis
• Hypochondroplasia
• Beagle Pain Syndrome
• Invertebral disk disease
• Chinese Beagle Syndrome
• Pituitary-dependant hyperadrenocorticism

The average Beagle life expectancy is around 10 to 15 years.

The Beagle is best known perhaps because of the Peanuts newspaper comic strip from mid-century (20th) America and which features Snoopy. As those pictures fade, however, there has been an ironic resurgence. Ironic because the Internet, which has allowed of the near-death of newspapers, has helped some of its inadvertent aspects (such as Beagles!) to be re-introduced in other ways. Ugly dog contests are one such aspect. The sharing of videos and photos from these bizarre contests has brought back the popularity of certain dog breeds, one of which is the Beagle. As such, the "ugly Beagle" is a popular topic in real life as well as via the TV cartoon "Where My Dogs At" as is Miss P, the Beagle that got Best in Show at Westminster 2015, and National Beagle Day.