About Beagles
The beagle is one of the most popular dogs in the world, due to their friendliness, adaptability and willingness to please. They do very well with children and seniors. The beagle is a good choice for a first-time dog owner. Still, the beagle is not the breed for everybody. Despite their popularity and gentleness, thousands wind up abandoned and euthanized every year.
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History
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The beagle developed in England as a miniature version of the English foxhound, beginning as early as the 1400s. A beagle-like dog was described in ancient Greek writings, but it is unclear whether this was a beagle. They were prized by foxhunters, so much so that they often rode to hounds rather than run like the foxhounds or Jack Russel terriers. They were often carried to the prey's suspected lair. The beagle arrived in America in 1860 and took over, becoming one of the most popular breeds for decades. Beagles are now used for medical research, for sniffing out bombs, termites or illegal substances and as pets.
Function
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Beagles have had three main functions in the course of their long history. All of these functions are used today. The first is hunting, especially since their noses are more powerful than a foxhound's. The second is as a pet. The third is for medical research, since they tend to have large litters, have easy to care for coats and love to please people, even if it means they are tortured.
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Types
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There are two types of beagles, which are only different in terms of the height at the shoulder. The first type is about 10 to 13 inches tall and the second type is up to 15 inches tall. Although there are many advertisements on the web and in dog magazines about "teacup" or "pocket" beagles, they are not allowed to be shown or registered. These tiny beagles are also prone to a wide variety of health problems.
Identification
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Beagles look like miniature foxhounds with long, droopy ears, bright large eyes, a pointed profile and a short coat. They have a long tail that is often tipped with white. They come in brown and white, tri-colored, a pale brown (lemon) and white, and if their white parts have little blue spots, they are said to be "blue-ticked." They average about 30 lbs. in weight and have a baying houndlike voice.
Warning
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Beagles love food. This can make them easy to train, but they can also get fat very easily, which can lead to many health problems. Try to ignore those pleading brown eyes.
Misconceptions
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Although the world's most famous beagle is Snoopy from the "Peanuts" comic strip, beagles aren't black and white and prefer to sleep indoors in your bed rather than on top of a doghouse.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Beagle image from Wikimedia Commons
