Beagles are excellent companions for adults and kids, as they are small, compact, and hardy. The dogs of this breed are fun-loving and merry, but they can also be stubborn and require patient, creative training.
Their noses guide them, and nothing makes them happier than following an attractive scent. Originally, beagles were used to track small game, mostly rabbits and hares. Many countries, including the United States, still use them for this purpose. Nonetheless, these pups make wonderful companions and furry family members.
Famous Beagles
John Wick – with the passing of his Beagle, John Wick gets his revenge (2014)
Harrison Ford Recuperates With Buddy The Beagle Regarding Henry 1991
Shiloh The Beagle – An Abused Beagle Finds His Best Friend 1996, 1999, 2006)
5 Rusty The Beagle – A Dog’s Tale (1999)
Snoopy – Peanuts
Famous Owners
Frankie Muniz, Miley Cyrus, Bob Dylan, Andy Cohen, Meghan Markle
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History
There is no specific origin for the word “beagle.” Begueule means open throat in French, and beag means small in Old English. There are theories that it may have come from the French word beugler, which means to bellow, or the German word begele, which means to scold.
Breeds, as we know them today, didn’t develop until the 19th century, so their history is also unclear. In 400 BC, Greek documents mention dogs that looked like Beagles, and the Romans may have brought rabbit-hunting hounds to England.
During the Norman Conquest in 1066, William the Conqueror reportedly brought Talbot hounds (now extinct) to England. It is believed that these dogs are the ancestors of the Beagle and the Foxhound.
It was very early in England’s history that beagles became popular. While Edward II (1307 – 1327) and Henry VII (1485 – 1509) were kings, glove beagles were extremely popular. According to reports, they could be held in a gloved hand. In addition to Singing Beagles, which are named for their bugling voices, there is also mention of Singing Beagles.
Pocket Beagles stood only 9 inches tall and were kept by Elizabeth I (1533 – 1603). In paintings, these small dogs had short legs and pointy noses. As they weren’t swift, they fell out of favour as hunters.
As fox hunting became popular in England in the 1700s, the large Foxhound replaced the Beagle as the dog of choice. The breed might have become extinct if the farmers in England, Ireland, and Wales had not kept packs to hunt rabbits and hare.
In mid-1800s England, Reverend Phillip Honeywood established a pack of Beagles. Hunting skills were the focus of Rev. Honeywood’s Beagles. Those bred by Thomas Johnson, another Englishman, were both beautiful and good hunters.
Around the same time, American breeders began importing Beagles from England to improve their dogs’ looks. English imports were typically bred to be between 15 and 17 inches tall at the shoulder so they could hunt foxes. For rabbit hunting, American breeders bred them smaller.
Around 1880, Willet Randall developed the “Patch” Beagle strain in New York. The line is white with a vast tri-coloured spot in the middle. As a result of their ability to run so fast, they were prevalent in the 1940s and 1950s—many people today call lemon and white beagles or red and white beagles “Patch” beagles.
There was a Beagle specialty club founded in 1884 and the American Kennel Club. Beagles were registered by the AKC that same year.
Five members of the National Beagle Club bought 508 acres in Western Loudoun County, Virginia, in 1916 for field trials. They formed the Institute Corporate to buy and own the land, then leased it to the Institute Foundation, which maintains the property for the National Beagle Club. It serves as the location for many of the club’s activities today.
Traits
The soft, pleading expression on a Beagle’s face coupled with his dark brown or hazel eyes is hard to resist. Curious, determined, and food-focused, their hound nature is more than balanced by their happy, outgoing, and loving heart.
Their vocalizations include barks, growls, and half-baying howls (a cross between a frantic bark and a bay). A half-howl usually occurs when they see a quarry – or think it’s time to wake the neighbours at 6 a.m. Because they are pack dogs, they get along well with other animals and humans.
Beagles are scent hounds first and foremost. The most important part of his anatomy is his nose; he always looks for exciting trails on the ground. There are approximately 220 million scent receptors in beagles, compared to an estimated 5 million in humans. Comedian Dave Barry once described a beagle belonging to his in-laws as ” a nose with feet.”
At airports across the country, you may have seen the Beagle’s nose in action. The U.S. Department of Agriculture 1984 decided to use Beagles to sniff out contraband food at the Los Angeles International Airport.
It was a huge success. Because Beagles are small, friendly, and cute, they don’t intimidate people who are afraid of dogs, and their super nose power allows them to identify specific food items while bypassing items that aren’t contraband. More than 20 international airports and other entry points into the United States are patrolled by members of the “Beagle Brigade.”
Despite branching out into other fields of work, Beagles remain excellent hunters of small game. AKC-sanctioned field trials are held at the Institute Farm of the National Beagle Club. There are similar activities for hunting Beagles in many other countries.
Beagles can be significant in apartments if their owners are willing to walk them on lead several times a day regardless of the weather. They should be exercised at least an hour a day if possible. Beagles can become destructive if left unexercised and alone.
Some thieves steal beagles and sell them to research laboratories for experiments. Make sure your Beagle is microchipped and supervised when he is outdoors!
Health
This breed is typically healthy, but like all breeds, they may experience specific health conditions. Not every dog of this breed will get these diseases, but it’s essential to be aware of them. Some common health problems include:
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
- Hip Dysplasia
- Cherry Eye
- Glaucoma
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Distichiasis
- Epilepsy
- Hypothyroidism
- Beagle Dwarfism
- Chinese Beagle Syndrome (CBS)
- Patellar Luxation
Regardless of how healthy your dog is, a pet’s health insurance plan can
help you stay prepared for any of your dog’s medical needs.