Beagle dogs are one of the smallest hunting breeds. They have a keen sense of smell and strong hunting instincts. In addition, they also have a sweet disposition.
Their organs are uncertain but records point to ancient Greece and France. England adopted them early in its history and they became popular with British monarchy. They were imported to America in 1876.
They are a sturdy compact hound with long dropping ears, soft pleading eyes that are dark brown with a moderately long tail, which merrily wags.
This breed is divided into two varieties based on the size: 13-15 inches and those under 13 inches.They weigh between 18 to 30 pounds and live to be between 14-17 years.
They have short coats and are average shedders. The most common colors are: black, tan, white variety, and pale tan and white.
Some of the characteristics they have include: sweet disposition, lively, outgoing, even-tempered but stubborn.
Since they were bred to hunt when they are on the scent, they will block out everything, even you. It is important that the owner establish himself as the "pack leader" and set rules or your Beagle will find opportunities to run your household.
Beagles are constantly in need of companionship because they were bred as a pack dog. They are happy then having companionship of either the owner or other dogs. With their upbeat personality, they will bond to everyone in the family, especially children. They make an intelligent companion but can be stubborn. They do not like to be left alone so consider two beagles.
Beagles will protect their territory by growling or posturing. They are not a yappy dog but have a bark/growl howl. Other people describe it as a loud baying cry which hunters like but can be disturbing to family or neighbors.
They should have lots of time outside otherwise they will find destructive ways to entertain themselves. They need to be fenced in because they like to roam.They do well in most climates.
Beagles are inexpensive to care for, as they require little maintenance except for their long ears, which need regular cleaning and inspection.
These dogs have a tendency to gain weight so they need to be fed properly. Feed them premium quality dog food, one to two cups a day depending on their size keeping in mind puppies need twice as much, so read the charts on the dog food bag carefully.
This breed is very smart and trainable but do require patience because they are ruled by their noses which makes them not as easy to train as other breeds. Housebreaking needs to be consistent and the most successful method as, in other breeds, is to crate train. You can take them to obedience class as early as 3 months.
They are prone to these health problems:
" Glaucoma
" Epilepsy
" Intervertebral disc disease
" Congenital heart disease
I advise, anyone getting a small dog breed it is best to go to a reputable breeder so you know what you are getting and can get a guarantee.
The author, Sandy Oberreuter, has a web site on small dog breeds but also on
the most popular dogs that include dogs good with children and seniors, finding
the best vets and breeders and much more. Visit http://www.small-dogbreeds.com
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