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The little scent hound, the Beagle

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The little beagle has remained a sturdy little hunting dog that seems to be changeless through the years. It was originally a smaller variety of the hound and would go willingly after rabbits, so it was used as a pack dog to run the hares, in england. Hunters would follow on foot. The old English word for “small” is “beag” and hence the name “beagle”. Nowadays, in this country, the American Kennel club recognizes two sizes of beagles, the thirteen inch, and the fifteen inch. It is possible for both sizes to come from the same litter, since they are the same breed.

There has been little cross breeding except to use the beagle as a foundation breed for others, and the beagle has remained consistent through the years. It is a small dog with a very strong hunting instinct to follow its nose.The beagle's propensity to utilize its nose, above all else, leads it to focus most of the time on pursuits that don't necessarily lend themselves to training. This "focus" problem does make it seem that this little dog is difficult to train. Positive reinforcement with treats, since the beagle is well known to be a "food hound" can overcome the training difficulties. And, on the other side of the coin, hunters who love to give chase to the rabbit prefer this breed above all others. Unfortunately there are few stretches of unfenced open country left, leaving no place for hunters to run a pack of beagles. There are still some old timers who love this sport, and it remains legal in most parts of the country, whereas running deer or larger game with dogs is prohibited..

The beagle has a perpetual puppy look about him. He is endearing to most children and does make a great family pet being as comfortable in the home as in the field. However, as previously stated, training must be consistent and firm since his nose is more important to him than his ears! In other words, he will not focus well on learning commands or being obedient, he is always focused on what he is smelling. It is basic to training a hound with such strong instincts that he must be taught to “come” without hesitation, since his hunting instinct will take over upon sight or smell of a rabbit or other small creature! A fenced yard is a great help when this dog is in a family home. Other than these above mentioned difficulties with training, the beagle is a loving and adaptable family pet, good with kids and elderly as well. He is an easy to keep dog also, and when kept in a yard or home requires a once a month bath at the most, with very little in the way of coat care. The lop ears do require cleaning on a regular basis, a wiping out daily is good, and of course the nails must be kept trim as with all dogs. The beagle is a food hound and does have a tendency towards obesity. His diet should be watched and he should get regular exercise.

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