Looking at the commercial ads, comic books biggest brands or even, Hollywood movies and cartoons we might have noticed that Retriever, Labra dog, Poodle, and Beagle have occupied the position of the leading stars for the country now. Among them, Beagles have also successfully occupied a significant amount of space in the works of the 19th-century writer like Shakespeare.
She’s a beagle.
A true-bred, and the one that adores me.
– Twelfth Night, Act 2 Scene 3 l. 172
Our “media dog” Beagle has managed to rule the hearts of so many. Not only due to its endearing appearance but also for its intelligence and good temper. Beagle puppies are of the most adorable gifts of nature.
Beagle Dog Breed Overview
| Group: | Hound |
| Size: | Small( 25-30 pounds) |
| Lifespan: | 12-15 years |
| Best Suited For: | Singles, Active Families, Herding |
| Temperament: | Amiable, cheerful, intelligible |
| Exercise Needs: | High |
| Drooling Potential: | Low |
| Grooming Needs: | Moderate |
| Similar Breeds: | Foxhound |
1. Basic Features
Beagles are small dogs with shorter legs and a broader head. Their muzzle is slightly squarish in shape tipped by a cute black( or liver) tinted nose. This face is adorned by two large, expressive eyes, mostly hued brown or hazel and long, low set ears. In short, the perfect depiction of the “puppy dog“ face.
These doggos have a layered coat which keeps adjusting itself to the weather. The undercoat is dense, followed by a smooth outer coat which is resistant to water.
There are two distinct types of Beagles – one being tricolor and other having two color varieties. The Beagle bathed in the tricolor hues of black brown and white appeared to be different at an early stage of life. Initially, their fur only has black patches on a turn as they tune with age.
On the other hand, Beagles having a combination of white and tan or brown are the most frequently spotted once under this category.
2. Origin
As mentioned earlier, records of Beagles being eulogized have been found as early as the 17th century and it is believed that Beagles have had their origin in Great Britain. Back in the days, Beagles were considered very useful for their strong sense of smell which was put to utility while hunting hares.
In the modern world, Beagles are one of the widely found dog breeds and the 8th most popular dog breed in the USA as per the AKC.
3. Personality
While talking about the most intelligent dog breeds in the world the beagles never go unmentioned. Their non-aggressive behavior, cooperative nature, and friendly approach when combined with their wits, makes them the perfect partners for their fellow hoomans.
They are apt for the role of a show dog as they are quick in learning new tricks and are open to various training methods. They are great entertainers and love to please people.
4. Behavior
Beagles are famous for its even temper. They are very jolly creatures and affectionate towards children and love to make new friends as they enjoy getting smothered with attention even from strangers.
These qualities, in turn, make them a perfect family member but poor guard dogs.
Beagles were small hunting dogs who were associated with dog packs and this is why they love to live mollycoddled in families being the prime focus of affection, warmth, and love.
Once deprived of this, these sensitive cutie-pies get emotionally hurt. They are haunted by separation issues thus resulting in depression and might get destructive in nature. Therefore, it is very important to cater to the emotional requirements of the dog.
5. Dietary Needs
A protein-based diet is very necessary for Beagles but avoiding meat by-products is recommended. Always try to add loads of fresh vegetables in their diets.
On an average, a Beagle requires 674- 922 calories per day. Although they are active and energetic they might get prone to bloating and putting on weight. Therefore, one should keep their food habits under supervision. Dry food could also be fed to the dogs by stuffing them into their chew toys.
6. Exercise
Our show stealer beagles are prone to gaining excessive and unhealthy weight. Thus, to keep that in check we must engage our little pups in light to cardio exercises. Taking your dog out to walk and on play fetch or anything that could make them exhausted after their exercise will work.
7. Trainability
Although smart and friendly beings, these creatures might get a bit difficult to train. Having super efficient olfactory nerves, they are easily distracted by any smell around and try to reach out for the source.
8. Health Problems
It hurts a lot to see our four-pawed babies suffer from diseases. It breaks our heart to see our pets not being able to be their own selves. But let’s just face it. We all have been there at least once or twice in our lives. And to prevent such unpleasant circumstances from occurring again we need to have a clear idea about how our pooches’ bodies work and what kind of take should be taken. Some diseases that they are susceptible to are:
Cherry eyes– cherry eyes usually affects pups who are below 1 year of age. This disease usually leads to inflammation of a gland in the eyelid resulting in painful swelling and redness of the eyes during the onset of the illness.
Epilepsy– In some rare cases, we find that our merry dog suddenly freezes and goes through a short period of uncontrolled and unusual shaking and twitching. This is when your dog is having a seizure also known as epilepsy. It could be caused due to several factors like liver disease, kidney disease, head injury, stroke.
Hypothyroidism- This is a frequently spotted disease in Beagles. This occurs due to improper functioning of the thyroid gland. The stimulus is unknown. The consequences are said to be mild but become severe with advancement.
9. Who should Adopt a Beagle?
First things first, it is very important for you to do a proper research about the person you are taking the puppy from. You should not take the puppy from just any pet store but from a licensed breeder.
The second most important thing to keep in mind is to come up with the decision to adopt a beagle puppy only when you’re confident and ready about it. These pooches might be a part of your life but the pupper’s life would be revolving around you.
Hence, only adopt a puppy if you are ready to commit your time, patience, dedication and care to your pup throughout its lifetime.
Know more about such breeds in our Comprehensive Dog Breed Guide!