Beagle dog breed is a small-sized hound originated in England. It is also called as English Beagle. It has a great sense of smell and has tracking instincts. It is a scent hound developed primarily for hunting hare known as beagling. Nowadays, they are employed as detection dogs for prohibited agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine around the world. They are also being often used in animal testing due to their size and passive nature. And because they are gentle, they are also frequently used in pet therapy for elderly and sick.
They can live for 12-16 years. They are intelligent but single-minded. It has a good temper and lack of inherited health problems.
The average weight for males is 10-11 kg and 9-10 kg for females with a height ranging from 33-41 cm.
Beagles are usually tricolor or white in combination with black and tan/brown or brown/tan. Tricolor Beagles are almost always born black and white. The white color are typically set by eight weeks, but the black areas may fade to brown as the puppy matures. Some of them gradually change color during their lives, and may lose their black markings entirely. They are short haired with a hard coat which is resistant to rain. Its legs are shorter in proportion to the body. They have a slightly curved tail (known as the "stern") tipped with white. The white tip (known as the flag) allows them to be easily seen when its head is down following a scent. They are one of the best developed senses of smell of any dog.
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In 2012 and 2013, the Beagle ranked 4th most popular breed in the United States behind the Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever breeds.
Beagles may be prone to epilepsy but can be controlled by medications. Hypothyroidism and dwarfism occur in them too in which the puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back and prone to range of illnesses. They are prone also to types of disk diseases or spinal cord diseases. Weight gain can be a problem in older dogs which in turn can lead to heart and joint problems. They can also be affected by ear infections and a range of eye problems.
The recommended feeding for Beagles should be 3/4 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. They tend to overeat if given a chance. Monitor the amount of food you give them and be sure to keep your cupboards closed and trashcans secured as they are food thieves and will sniff out the foods they like best.
The American Kennel Club recognizes two varieties of Beagle. The 13-inch variety is for hounds that don't exceed 13 inches in height at the shoulder, and the 15-inch variety is for hounds that stand 13 inches to 15 inches at the shoulder depending on their height. Recently, they developed crossbreeds of Beagle and Pug known as a Puggle. Some puppies of this breed are less excitable than a Beagle and with a lower exercise requirement similar to pugs.
They are excellent with children that made them as popular family pets. Though they destroy things when left unattended as they are prone to separation anxiety. They also generally get along well with other dogs. They are not too demanding with regard to exercise though they need it regularly as it will help them to ward off the weight gain which they are prone to have.
They have an even temper and gentle disposition. They are amiable and typically neither aggressive nor timid. They enjoy company though they make poor guard dogs as they are easily won over by strangers. But they tend to bark and howl always which makes them good watchdogs. They are happy to rest without being exercised to exhaustion. They are intelligent but single-minded which can make them hard to train. They are easily bored and distracted that made them in the lowest degree of working/ obedience intelligence.
If you're considering a Beagle as a dog breed for you, you must choose the right breeder and the right puppy. When buying a puppy, find a good breeder who will show you health clearances for both your puppy's parents.
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