Beagle dog is funny, energetic, clockwork, very sociable. This is a companion, friendly to children and adults, always ready to play. A feature of the breed is an all-consuming passion for research.
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Description and characteristics of the breed
The beagle constantly sniffs at something - this is a feature of his character. A small dog with hanging ears and kind eyes is a cartoon hero and a favorite of children. He is incredibly agile, sociable and cheerful, often stubborn.
The waywardness is more than compensated by the cheerfulness, which the dog generously shares with the owner. It is convenient to keep the beagle in the apartment due to its small size. Several dogs get along together, as they belong to hounds that hunt in packs and feel good in the company of their own kind.
The hunting qualities of the beagles on top. They have stamina, dexterity, strength and a loud voice.
With adult trained dogs you can go to the forest, hunt fox and hare. Walking in nature for such dogs is a real holiday. This is an opportunity to run into oneself, talk with the owner, get to know the world around and realize the qualities inherent in the breed.
Origin history
Beagle is an ancient breed, the ancestors of which were known to the ancient Greeks. Later, the Romans brought several individuals to their homeland and used for hunting, crossbreeding with local hunting dogs. In the VIII century AD e. these dogs were called the hounds of St. Hubert.
In the XVIII century, the breed split into two varieties - southern and northern beagles.The basis of the modern type was the pack, collected by the Englishman Parson Hanewood.
The country of origin of the breed is Great Britain. Its final formation took place in America, where General Richard Rowett brought a pack of hounds from the Old World.
These dogs were known as hounds in pre-revolutionary Russia, but did not get much distribution due to their too squeaky voice.
The Beagle Club was founded in 1888. Soon these dogs were officially recognized as a separate breed, and recorded in the group of hounds. In 1890, the first beagle standard was described, and dogs began to participate in exhibitions. The approval of the official breed standard dates back to 1957.
The first Russian national beagle club was founded in 2005. In the same year, the first nursery of this breed was opened in St. Petersburg. A few months later, the Russian club held the first specialty show, which was attended by only 15 dogs.
Life span
The beagle dog breed is small. The maximum duration of her life is about 15 years.
Of the common diseases, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, glaucoma, and cataracts are noted.
Dogs are prone to obesity, do not know the measures in food. Excess weight reduces life expectancy, and the responsibility lies with the owner.
Beagle breed standard
The appearance of the beagle corresponds to the appearance of a hound dog. The breed adopted two main colors - two-tone and three-color. Tricolor specimens should have a black cap on their back, and a white-brown mask on their faces.
Description of the breed, accepted standard:
- the muzzle is oblong, with powerful jaws;
- large dark or light brown eyes;
- slightly saggy lips and a wide nose;
- saggy ears should reach her;
- the chest is wide;
- tapered belly;
- the tail is thick, high set;
- muscular body;
- medium length paws, powerful hips;
- height at the withers - from 36 to 41 cm;
- weight - from 13 to 18 kg.
Interestingly, the tip of the tail of the beagles is always white. This is very convenient when hunting, when the dog is not visible in the grass, and its location can be determined only by this piece of wool jumping over the thicket.
Puppy selection criteria
When you visit the kennel, you can immediately get confused - all beagle puppies are so cute, funny and cute that I want to take everyone away at once. In such cases, the breeder advises to wait until some puppy first comes to you. He will poke his nose into his legs, lick his palms, will gladly go into his arms. Do not doubt that in the future relations with this pet will develop in the best way.
The price will depend on the class of the dog, the awards and achievements of the parents, and many other factors.
In Moscow, a small beagle can cost 1 thousand euros, and in Belarus for exactly such a dog they will ask for only 300 euros.
The purpose and nature of the dog
The beagle has a very active and wayward character. This is a hunting dog, and it is wrong to demand from her blind and unquestioning obedience to commands.
The breed is focused on independent thinking and the ability to make their own decisions.
Beagle’s long ears help to keep odors in, and push them closer to the nose. The sense of smell of long-eared hunters makes them one of the most useful dogs in the world, therefore they are currently used in the police service, at customs. Beagles test household chemicals and cosmetics.
The breed was bred as a hunting hare, and during the rut, such dogs often bark loudly. This manifests itself in improperly brought up domestic beagles and causes some problems to the owners. However, the pet’s guilt is not enough - the name of the breed, presumably, comes from the French word, which means “vocal”. Dogs howl when they are sad, bored, or to support each other. This can cause dissatisfaction with the neighbors in a city apartment, so it’s better to keep beagles in country houses.
Dogs treat children well.But with their excessive activity, they can scare the child. This breed is used in canestherapy. The hunting qualities of the beagles must be taken into account when there are other animals in the house besides them. Cats are not in danger if they themselves do not show aggression. Small hamsters, mice and guinea pigs are best avoided.
The nature of the beagles deserves special attention. Most owners choose a dog not to go hunting with her, but for her cheerfulness and funny appearance.
Maintenance, care and feeding
- A place. At home for the animal you need to organize a place where there will be a comfortable sunbed, lots of toys, a bowl on a stand for food and water. If it is not possible to be around all the time, for the time of absence of people in the apartment, it is better to lock the pet in a pet dog aviary or a special carrying.
- Food. A growing puppy needs about 6 kg of dry food per month; milk and milk porridge can be included in the diet for up to six months. Adult beagle eats 2 times a day, puppy - more often. The peculiarity of the breed is its tendency to be overweight, so you need to monitor if the pet is overeating, and remove the food left in a safe place, adhering to a certain feeding schedule.
- Care. Beagles have short smooth hair. It is convenient to comb it with a rubber mitten. The dog sheds constantly, but discards a little wool. However, to maintain order in the apartment, wet cleaning will have to be done daily.
- Walking. An adult dog is walked 2 times, a puppy - up to 5 times a day. Carried away by an unfamiliar smell, the beagle ceases to hear commands, does not notice the owner, and may be lost during a walk. Walk the dog only on a leash.
Beagle dog training and education
A little cute puppy looks like a baby. After the purchase, a problem arises, what to do if he does not want to obey and walk on a leash. A stubborn pet can sit on the street and not budge!
Inexperienced owners begin to talk with the dog, trying to explain that you need to walk and run, but this is the wrong approach. It is better to immediately teach a puppy to discipline, to understanding that the leash introduces certain limitations into his life, to which he must obey.
Obedience can be encouraged by the delicacy, but a small dose of coercion will not hurt. To train a dog to respond to the owner, it is useful to feed it after training and during work with hands.
Many rude beagles run away from the owners in the forest, after which they are difficult to find. For better socialization, dogs undergo a full training course with a dog handler.
Advantages and disadvantages of the breed
This is a very friendly breed, the disadvantages of which are only excessive activity and hunting instinct. Beagles are not suitable for passive and elderly people, because this dog is wayward and curious.
Everything else is solid pluses. However, those who want to have a beagle need to remember that raising them requires a lot of patience.
Cute representatives of the breed have long been the stars of the television screen. In the main role they can be seen in many American films, which confirms the popularity and ingenuity of the breed.
