About This Breed
The Beagle is a very old dog breed which was bred and to hunt rabbits in Britain over 150 years ago.
To learn more about the breed and to meet other Beagle lovers, check out our Beagle Crazy group in the community!
Physical Characteristics
The Beagle has a small, well-proportioned body with big brown eyes and long ears which fold over. Its tail, meanwhile, is long, skinny and pointed.
COLOR(S)
The Beagle is tri colored, very typical for a true hound.
COAT
Short
Personality and Temperament
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Medium
POSITIVES
The Beagle has a gentle manner. Some may even say a Beagle never meets anyone it doesn't like. In fact, it gets along well with kids and other animals
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Being that it is a hound, the Beagle will howl and bark quite frequently.
Care
IDEAL LIVING SITUATION
The Beagle will fare well in the country or city, though it thrives when it has access to areas it can roam around.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
The Beagle requires substantial exercise daily.
Health
The following conditions are commonly seen in Beagles:
- Hypothyroidism
- Glaucoma
- Retinal Atrophy
- Epilepsy
History and Background
The word “beagle” is thought to have come from certain old French words meaning an open throat, a possible connection to the dog’s musical bay. It is also speculated that the dog’s name might have derived from old French, Celtic or English words meaning small. Beagle-like dogs were probably used for the popular sport of hare-hunting in England during the 1300s, but the term "beagle" was not used until 1475. Hunters would follow the dog on foot and sometimes even carry one in his pocket. There were several sizes of Beagles in the 1800s, but the pocket-size dogs were most popular. These small dogs measured only about nine inches and required the hunter's help while crossing rough fields. Because the smaller Beagles were slower and easier to follow on foot, they appealed especially to women, the elderly, and those who otherwise did not have the stamina or inclination to keep up with an active dog.
The first mention of the Beagle in the United States occurred in the town records of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1642. Before the American Civil War, people in the South used Beagles, but these dogs did not resemble English Beagles. However, when the war was over, English Beagles were imported for crossbreeding and to develop the modern American Beagle we know today. The last part of the 19th century saw the emergence of Beagles as popular competitors on the field and in exhibitions. Soon thereafter, this little hound dog with the melodic howl came to be amongst the most preferred family pets in the U.S.
National Clubs and/or Organizations
National Beagle Club
PO Box 642
Middleburg, VA 20118-0642
Fun Fact(s)
The Beagle is often used by U.S. Customs to search for illegal food, plants, and drugs.
