All You Need To Know About Beagle Dogs

Last Updated on August 20, 2023 by Fumipets

Beagle Dogs

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Beagles are kind, playful dogs that like taking long, meandering walks and then relaxing with their owners for extended periods of time. Small in height and bred as hunting dogs, beagles still follow their noses today. They are a popular option for small-game hunters because to their keen sense of smell, and you may often see them working as detection dogs at U.S. border crossings looking for illegal goods.

Beagles may do well in busy households and need a lot of daily activity. The seventh most popular breed in the country, these adorable puppies have long been a favourite of American households. 

Appearance

The famous little to medium-sized hound breed known as the beagle is easily recognised by her large brown eyes and square, floppy ears. Beagles come in two sizes, with the smaller one weighing 20 pounds or less and the bigger one weighing 20 to 35 pounds. Although their bodies are little, they are strong and have a lot of strength.

But all beagles have a short, silky double coat, regardless of their size—whether they are little or medium-sized dogs. Although they come in a variety of colours, black, tan, and white or blue, tan, and white tricolour coats are the most common. The National Beagle Club of America lists more colour combinations as tan and white, lemon and white, red and white, and chocolate and white. 

With a large shedding season every spring, their thick coats are prone to mild shedding throughout the year. These well-known hounds are relatively low-maintenance puppies, requiring just periodic brushing to keep their short hairs under control (and off your sofa, clothing, and floor).

Temperament

It’s understandable why the beagle has long been a family favourite; it’s friendly, lively, and little. These energetic dogs need a lot of daily activity, but once sufficiently worn out, they are content to chill out at home with their owners. 

Beagles like playing. They get along nicely with cats and other dogs and are wonderful children’s companions. As with any breed, your beagle has to be properly socialised from an early age in order to learn how to play appropriately and refrain from becoming too harsh. It’s crucial to educate kids on how to behave around dogs and to constantly watch them while they’re playing with any dog.

The loudness of beagles is not surprising. “We bred that into them,” claims Brian Kilcommons, owner of the Connecticut-based training facility The Great Pets Resort. “When a beagle runs in the field in those broad circles, the baying accomplishes two things: first, it frightens the hiding rabbits, and second, it informs the hunter of the dog’s location.” 

Beagles may be useful alarm systems because of their propensity to bark, letting their owners know the instant a neighbour or delivery person begins strolling up to the home. However, don’t expect them to follow up with anything more than a friendly tail wag. If not properly educated and cared for, this breed may become a hassle due to its intense hunting drive and degree of noise. These pack hounds like companionship and shouldn’t be left alone for an extended period of time. Your beagle will howl nonstop for hours if she feels lonely or bored.

Beagles are intelligent, inquisitive dogs, but you shouldn’t expect them to instantly comply with your every request. She would much prefer follow her nose and go exploring than wait in line. A beagle can be trained, but it will take a lot of persistence and regular positive reinforcement training sessions. Make sure you have enough of rewards on available since a beagle “is probably talking about two weeks” to learn something that may take another breed 20 minutes, according to Kilcommons. 

A well-trained beagle, however, makes a wonderful and obedient dog. This breed is preferred by the United States Department of Agriculture at airports and entrance points around the nation due to its keen sense of smell and welcoming faces.

According to Kilcommons, “Beagles were trained to have their noses on the ground, pick up a smell, and pursue it—the brain very much goes into overdrive on scent work.

Living Needs

Beagles are known for constantly putting their heads to the ground, hunting for the next best smell to follow. They were bred as scent hounds who hunt in groups. Beagles must have lots of access to the outdoors for long, meandering walks on a leash or live in a house with a properly secured—and preferably reinforced—fence. Keep an eye on your beagle while she is outside due to her roving nose, and have her microchipped. She could just leave your garden after smelling anything!

Beagles are known for being notoriously difficult to house train, and it may take them up to a year to become accident-free despite being a clever breed. It is very advised, according to Kilcommons, to practise crate training with a beagle and to maintain a good attitude, patience, and consistency during any training. 

Whether it’s via hunting, contests, or lengthy treks or walks in the neighbourhood, a beagle is happiest with an owner who will play to her scent-tracking talents and who can spend plenty of quality time by their side. Due to their propensity for loneliness, beagles may exhibit unpleasant behaviours if they are left alone for an extended period of time or are not adequately taught and exercised. 

Before committing to any dog, it’s crucial to take your lifestyle into account. To determine if this hound is a suitable match for your family, consult a beagle breeder or rescue organisation.

Care

The beagle’s short, weather-resistant coat is simple to keep, but it has a downside—it sheds often. By brushing your beagle two to three times a week, you can prevent the accumulation of dead hair in your house and encourage the development of new, healthy hair. She has a double coat, therefore in the spring she will shed a lot, thus you should increase your brushing frequency to every day. 

Except when they are getting into messy situations, beagles rarely require baths. Regular grooming is an excellent chance to check for things like nail length, ear and dental health, coat shine (dull hair may indicate a vitamin deficiency in her diet), and coat sheen. If you can hear her nails tapping on the floor, they need to be cut more often.

Beagles, like other hounds, need weekly ear care because of their long, floppy form, which may obstruct airflow and cause infections. The correct approach to examine and clean your beagle’s ears should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Using food to distract your beagle during training is a guaranteed method to capture their attention, but watch out for being seen as a smorgasbord. According to Kilcommons, “it’s simple for the relationship to be with the food, not the person.” I won’t dress like a deli until the dog learns what is expected and I anticipate a reaction.

They’ll comply with our requests because they want to, but you must provide them with incentives that will make it worthwhile for them to do so. You must possess enthusiasm. Smiling at him while pointing out his intelligence, glance at the gauge in the tail. That will let you know if it is effective.

The seventh most popular breed in the country, these adorable puppies have long been a favourite of American households. 

Health

The beagle has an average lifetime of 10–15 years and is regarded as a fairly healthy breed. But beagles are a breed like any other, and they can have health problems.

Musladin-Lueke Syndrome (MLS) is a disorder that only affects the beagle breed. Organs, bones, skin, and muscle may all be affected by this hereditary condition that affects connective tissue. MLS indicators include:

Small size

Thick and taut skin

Reduced joint mobility

Broadened skull with wide-set, slanted eyes

Abnormal “tip-toe” gait

Breeders who are registered with the NBCA, the recognised breed club, are required to undergo eye exams, MLS and hip dysplasia tests, and hip dysplasia screenings. The group also suggests being checked for heart problems and autoimmune thyroid disorders. 

Although not every beagle will experience serious health problems, it’s important to be aware of these issues when thinking about this breed. All dogs should be bought from trustworthy breeders who will show you the dog’s parents and siblings. When considering adoption, get the rescue’s complete health history.

Additionally, beagles are prone to obesity and have large appetites. Make sure to measure each meal accurately, taking into account any training rewards and in-between snacking. This energetic breed requires at least an hour of exercise every day, and lengthy walks keep them mentally and physically active.

History

It is unclear when and where the beagle breed first appeared. The NBCA claims that there are records of beagle-like dogs dating back to 200 A.D. in England. According to certain legends, the beagle’s forebears originated in ancient Greece. 

The name of the breed tells a completely different tale, and there are two commonly accepted origin theories: French (be’geule) and Gaelic (beag, which means “little” in Gaelic). Even while it’s commonly accepted that the current beagle is a product of decades of cross-breeding between European and British hounds and has forebears in both the foxhound and the now-extinct Southern hound, the beagle has a common progenitor with both. 

English gentlemen utilised the smaller ancestor hounds to find rabbits and hares. The beagle immediately became a favourite among common trackers since that prey is often pursued on foot as opposed to a horse. The NBCA reports that Queen Elizabeth I maintained packs of “pocket beagles,” a 9-inch-tall beagle that is claimed to fit in a pocket. Varieties of the breed reportedly fascinated the English aristocracy.

In the 1800s, England and Scotland further improved and standardised beagles, giving rise to the modern beagle. After the Civil War, American breeders started bringing in English beagles, and this is when the breed as we know it first became officially recognised domestically. The breed gained popularity right away over here. The beagle is presently the seventh most popular breed in the United States after being recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1885.

 

 

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