Beagle - little friend and hunter

2008-07-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

Type:
Scenthound

Height: 114-116 см.
Weight: 15-19 kg.

History:
Although beagle-type dogs have existed for over 2,000 years, the modern breed was developed in Britain around the 1830s from several breeds,
including the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the Harrier.
Beagles have been depicted in popular culture since Elizabethan times in literature and paintings, and lately in film, television and comic books.
Snoopy of the comic strip Peanuts has been promoted as "the world's most famous beagle".

Name:
The first mention of the beagle in English literature by name dates from 1475. The origin of the word "beagle" is uncertain,
although it has been suggested that the word derives from the French begueule (meaning "open throat", or more colloquially, "loudmouth")
or from an Old English, French, or Welsh term beag, meaning "small." Other possibilities include the French beugler (meaning "to bellow")
and the German begele (meaning "to scold").

Head:
The skull should be fairly long, slightly domed at occiput, with cranium broad and full. Ears--Ears set on moderately low, long, reaching
when drawn out nearly, if not quite, to the end of the nose; fine in texture, fairly broad-with almost entire absence of erectile power-setting
close to the head, with the forward edge slightly inturning to the cheek--rounded at tip. Eyes--Eyes large, set well apart-soft
and houndlike--expression gentle and pleading; of a brown or hazel color. Muzzle--Muzzle of medium length-straight and square--cut--the
stop moderately defined.
Jaws--Level. Lips free from flews; nostrils large and open. Defects--A very flat skull, narrow across the top; excess
of dome, eyes small, sharp and terrierlike, or prominent and protruding; muzzle long, snipy or cut away decidedly below the eyes, or very short.
Roman-nosed, or upturned, giving a dish-face expression. Ears short, set on high or with a tendency to rise above the point of origin.

Body: Neck and Throat--Neck rising free and light from the shoulders strong in substance yet not loaded, of medium length. The throat clean
and free from folds of skin; a slight wrinkle below the angle of the jaw, however, may be allowable. Defects--A thick, short, cloddy neck
carried on a line with the top of the shoulders. Throat showing dewlap and folds of skin to a degree termed "throatiness."

Shoulders and Chest:
Shoulders sloping--clean, muscular, not heavy or loaded--conveying the idea of freedom of action with activity and strength. Chest
deep and broad, but not broad enough to interfere with the free play of the shoulders. Defects--Straight, upright shoulders. Chest
disproportionately wide or with lack of depth.

Back, Loin and Ribs:
Back short, muscular and strong. Loin broad and slightly arched, and the ribs well sprung, giving abundance of lung room. Defects--Very
long or swayed or roached back. Flat, narrow loin. Flat ribs.
Hips, Thighs, Hind Legs and Feet:
Hips and thighs strong and well muscled, giving abundance of propelling power. Stifles strong and well let down. Hocks firm, symmetrical
and moderately bent. Feet close and firm. Defects--Cowhocks, or straight hocks. Lack of muscle and propelling power. Open feet. Tail is moderately high; carried gaily, but not turned forward over the back; with slight curve; short as compared with size of the hound;
with brush. Defects--A long tail. Teapot curve or inclined forward from the root. Rat tail with absence of brush.

Temperament:

The Beagle is a gentle, sweet, lively and curious dog that just loves everyone! A happy little tail-wagger! Sociable, brave and intelligent.
Calm and loving. Excellent with children and generally good with other dogs, but should not be trusted with non-canine pets, unless they are
socialized with cats and other household animals when they are young. Beagles have minds of their own. They are determined and watchful
and require patient, firm training. This breed doesn't like being left alone.
Consider buying two if you will be gone a lot. A Beagle has
a loud baying cry that was a delight to hunting horsemen, but can be disturbing to family and neighbors. Beagles have a tendency to follow
their own noses. They may take off on their own exploration if let off their leash in an unfenced area. Be careful when selecting your Beagle.
The breed is being over bred and in some lines, the dogs temperament is suffering because of it.
Beagle are good playmates for chilfren, and very friendly with other dogs in his pack and with other pets, but might chase small animals.

Caring for a Beagle:

Because the Beagle has shorter hair, it's easy to groom. Simply brush regularly with a firm bristled brush and bathe with mild dog shampoo w
hen needed. The ears do require a bit of maintenance and should be kept clean. If the ears become infected or show signs of ear mites, your
vet can provide you with special treatment options. Also, make sure to keep the nails trimmed. The Beagle requires daily exercise in the form of
either a free roam in an enclose area or a long walk. Major health concerns for the Beagle are intervertebral disk disease and canine hip
dysplasia; minor concerns include glaucoma, epilepsy, CPRA, hypothyroidism, patellar luxation, chondrodysplasia, distichiasis and KCS

Coat:
A close, hard, hound coat of medium length. Defects--A short, thin coat, or of a soft quality.

Color:
Any true hound color: mostly black, brown, white

Health Problems:
Some lines can be prone to heart disease, epilepsy, eye and back problems. Also prone to chondroplasia, aka dwarfism (warped front legs,
like a Basset's). You can see an example of his condition by looking at Bently's photo.

The Beagle is one of the most popular scent hounds because of his energy, willingness, and merry, sweet disposition.
The breed probably originated as a cross between the Harrier and other hounds in England. The Beagle has been used in packs,
alone, and in pairs, for hunting hare, pheasant and quail. He has also served as an excellent narcotics detection dog and makes a fine family
companion. Unfortunately, because they are fairly uniform in size and small, Beagles are often used for medical experimentation.

General Appearance:
A miniature Foxhound, solid and big for his inches, with the wear-and-tear look of the hound that can last in the chase and follow his
quarry to the death.