The Beagle
The Beagle
Origins
It is said that a similar looking dog to the actual Beagle originates from the Ancient Greek times (the 5th century). Later on, this breed was brought by William the Conqueror in the regions of Great Britain. The Beagle was a distractive entertainer to royal tables in the English queens and kings. Starting with the 18th century, the Beagle was used as a rabbit hunter. They survived the last centuries and were brought to the USA in the late 1840, still for the same purpous of hunting. The name Beagle derives from the french word begueule, used to either describe the small size of the breed or the peculiar face expression.
They were used in the last century mainly in the vivisection sectors (use of animals in scientific experimentation: cosmetic testing, biomedical research, toxicology testing, pharmaceutical tests), but these areas of expertise were harshly critiqued and eventually they banned the use of any dog breeds. Lately, they have cought up the attention of media, featuring in various movies and TV shows.
Appearance
The Beagle has an amuzing but lovely expression. The Beagle is a small to medium dog breed, with a body weighting around 7-15 kg and with a height of around 38-40 cm at the withers. Of course, the female Beagles are smaller than the male members. The head structure, supported by a strong and medium-length neck, presents a smooth and medium-length skull with powerful jaws, ending up in a square-cut muzzle. The upper teeth are perfectly arranged on the lower teeth, and quite sharp. The face displays large brown or hazel eyes, low and long ears. The body has a hard and smooth coat; it ends in a
small not curled tail. The coat color varies from a tricolor nuance (white plus black and light brown areas) to tan and white, variations of light brown and liver, reddish and lemon stripes.
Grooming
Taking care of the Beagle’s coat is a rather easy task, not requiring much devotion. A periodic brushing keeps the coat glossy and in order. Also, you can pay extra attention while cleaning the ear areas, to reduce the chance of possible ear infections. The Beagle isn’t a heavy shedder.
Health Facts
The Beagles have a lifespan of about 10-13 years. They have some special breed problems. They can suffer from dog dwarfism, meaning that their size will be smaller. Some specialists name a particular problem for this breed, the “funny puppy” symptoms. This happens when a Beagle starts to show a weak leg articulation and a crooked back. Speaking of bone problems, they can suffer from disk diseases and rarely from hip dysplasia. Beagles have long ears and if not properly cleaned, they can get ear infections. There are also possible eye problems to take into consideration, especially if the dog’s eyelashes grow inside the eye and cause irritation (distichiasis), or other eye issues like corneal dystrophy, retinal atrophy and glaucoma. The Beagles can aslo get obese if unattended of improperly fed, this being dangerous for both heart and articulation. Exercising is a must in this situation. The coat can pick up parasitic forms, ranging from tapeworms, ticks, fleas, mites. Another non harmful symptom for the Beagle is the reverse sneezing: the dog gasps or chokes for breath sometimes, but he actually draws air in through the mouth and nose.
Temperament and Lifestyle
Gentle and even tempered, the Beagle is a jovial and playful companion. They are really sociable, enjoying the people (especially children), thus not suited as guard dogs. They are really happy, great explorers, curious and pretentious when dealing with food. They are known as “avid chewers” and food thieves, so be careful about your furniture and food placement. Fencing an area ought to be done in order to restrict the curiosity of the Beagle and prevent him from running away to explore. He loves to dig and climb different things. They are medium candidate for dog obedience training, since they can behave or act stubborn to some commands. A proper feeding and lots of love keep the Beagles close to your heart.
More articles on this:
- The Australian Terrier
- The Brittany
- The Bulldog
- The Belgian Malinois
- The Australian Shepherd (Aussie)
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