Datasheet Beagle
Size:
Height at the withers from 33 to 41 cm
Life expectancy:
12 – 15 years
fur length:
short
coat structure:
smooth
Suitable as:
Hunting and family dog
Behave:
Cheerful, affectionate, curious, outgoing, playful, active, may bark profusely if left alone
Child friendly:
Yes Jonatan De Geest, MiloSmet, CC BY-SA 3.0
Breed characteristics and external appearance
are beagles compact, muscular dogs with one slightly domed skull. Their jaw is rather square and the nose is broad. The ears are long and hanging.
The chest is deep, the back straight and the tail moderately long and set high. the soft, dense fur this breed is mostly black, brown and white.
In terms of size and weight, the Beagle reaches a height at the withers of 33 to 41 centimeters and a weight of 8 to 16 kilograms.
essence and character
They are energetic, light-hearted and optimistic Animals and are considered one of the most popular breeds for active households. They can be wonderful companions and excellent family dogs when properly trained and socialized.
Because Beagles as pack dogs were bred, they come too good with other dogs and most get along well with cats, especially when raised together.
Their hunting instinct is also remarkable, so they are passionate about searching for prey. This aspect causes them to disobey more than once in order to catch something. That’s why it’s important to correct these impulses and get them to listen to their master.
He is an ideal dog to play with children, especially since he very active is and likes to play. It is advisable not to rely on these little four-legged friends to protect the house.
You can though bark profuselybut are unlikely to do much more than wag their tails when encountering an intruder.
Origin and history of the breed
The breed was originally 16th century England bred and for the rabbit hunt deployed. Wealthy Englishmen of that time often kept packs of dogs. The smallest were beagles, which were used to hunt rabbits and other small prey.
The Reverend Philip Honeywood founded a beagle kennel in Essex in the 1830s and it is believed that this group formed the basis for the emergence of the modern beagle breed.
Although they are still used in packs to hunt, Beagles are today more as companion and family dogs to meet
Nutrition
The type of food chosen for the Beagle has a major impact on its health, well-being and life expectancy.
This is true for all dogs, but it must be remembered that this breed, with its highly developed sense of smell, tends to be somewhat obsessive to be as far as the food is concerned.
If their gluttony is not controlled, they can have problems with develop obesity. No doubt they must be fed at the same time so that they enough energy have for daily exercise.
Andrew Lynch from San Francisco, USA, A beagle focused, CC BY 2.0
Care
Grooming of the Beagle is generally the same as that of other dogs: proper hygiene (including regular but not excessive bathing), Brushing the coat several times a week, deworming, following the vaccination schedule and visiting the vet.
The ears require a little more attention. Since they are large and flabby, dirt accumulates in them very easily. To avoid the formation of clots and possible infections should cleaned the ears from time to time become.
The first few times may not be very pleasant, so it’s wise to tread carefully and offer a reward during the process.
Health and race-related diseases
Common non-hereditary diseases
Beagles are generally in good health. You tend to overweight and eat like what consequently to diabetes can lead.
Therefore, special attention must be paid to their diet, not overfeeding them with treats in the form of food and giving them ample opportunity for exercise.
Furthermore, these dogs tend to ear infectionsbecause her floppy ears are very snug against her small head and the ear canals cannot breathe.
With otitis, the dog will scratch its ear, complain, and the owner can easily notice inflammation of the ear canal (red and swollen) and an abnormal amount of earwax.
In addition, these infections often give off a very strong and unpleasant odor, making them easy to spot.
Robertmugabe1, Beagle Dogs, CC BY-SA 4.0
hereditary diseases
There are many hereditary diseases in dogs, and the Beagle is among the breeds prone to some of these diseases.
At the achondroplasia It is a condition in which the animal’s bones in the paws and/or vertebrae grow abnormally.
This Bone development disorder is a form of dwarfism and can cause more or less severe pain and systemic problems in dogs.
The disc prolapse is an inherited condition that occurs in four dog breeds referred to as “chondrodystrophic”, that is, whose cartilage ages faster than other specimens.
microphthalmia (unusually small size of the eye) and microphakia (unusually small size of the lens) are congenital eye diseases for which the Beagle is one of the predisposed breeds.
These disorders usually go with an early worsening of vision or even total or partial blindness from birth.
Last but not least is this Musladin Lueke Syndrome one fibrosis of the skin and joints, which is unique to the Beagle. The animal has several developmental anomalies that cause it pain, but nonetheless it can have a normal life expectancy with proper pain management.