Beagles are happy loving dogs
that have a long relationship with man as a hunting companion.
Although no one knows for sure where these dogs descended from,
there are records of small hunting dogs that go back to the 13th
century and it is no secret these dogs are quite successful for
hunting fox and rabbit.
Their great nose not
withstanding, beagles are also fun companions that can adapt
easily to family life. However, you will have to keep in mind that
the Beagle does have strong instincts for the chase and you must
never let him loose or walk him without his lead.
Recognized by the American
Kennel Club in 1884, this popular breed is muscular with long
droopy ears, dark eyes, a short coat and a keen sense of smell.
The breed comes in two sizes - one under 13 inches and one between
13 and 15 inches. He can be any color but typical beagles show tan
and black on white.
Along with his propensity for
chasing small animals, the Beagles voice can be another one of his
less lovable traits. The beagle has a rather loud howl which is
great for helping hunters find them when they are on the trail of
prey, but not so good when they are waking you up with it in the
middle of the night. Beagles do tend to bark when they hear
strange noises and can bay loudly when left alone for long periods
of time so if you are considering a Beagle for apartment life then
you might want to think twice.
Beagles are very active dogs
and need to be exercises regularly. You shouldn’t leave them out
unattended though so be prepared to walk them daily and take them
to the park on weekends. Beagles are very social and will not like
being left alone for long periods of time or they can become
destructive.
Although Beagles are fairly
easy to groom with their short coat, you should plan to brush them
once a week to remove dead hair. They can take to rolling in icky
stuff so you be prepared to bathe him at times as well. The long
droopy ears can become infected easily and must be examined
frequently to be sure no infection is brewing.
One thing to watch for in your
pet Beagle is overeating. Beagles like to eat and are not finicky
at all about what they put in their mouths. In fact, you might
find your Beagle rummaging in the trash for a snack shortly after
dinner. Since Beagles are small dogs, you do need to be sure your
pet does not overeat as this can cause him to become overweight
which will bring on health problems.
Beagles can live to be around
15 years of age if cared for properly. Some diseases to be watched
for in this breed in particular include epilepsy, glaucoma,
cataracts, invertebral disk disease, hypothyroidism and retinal
apathy. Getting your beagle from a good breeder with healthy
lineage is key to avoiding these kinds of disease.
