Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The Beagle
Thanks to its friendliness and beauty, the Beagle, a hunting dog with great hound skills, has earned its place as a companion animal in many homes.
The Beagle is a medium-sized dog that stands out for its elegance, its lively and docile character, and its powerful sense of smell.
Although it is originally from England, it is among the most popular in America, particularly in the United States. Here are some facts about the Beagle.
Little is known about the Beagle’s origins
Although he was born in Great Britain, very little is known about his origins. The first trace of this hound is found in Xenophon’s treatise “Hunting with dogs”. According to the description offered by the Greek philosopher and military, these tales could relate to the origins of the current Beagle.
Subsequently, different records appeared that allowed us to understand that the ancestors of the modern Beagle have accompanied mankind from the very beginning. Starting in the 18th century, very selective crosses began to be made to standardize the characteristics of the breed.
In the 19th century, around 1840, the Beagle reached the American continent, initially used as a hunting dog. Despite this, due to its charismatic character and its remarkable beauty, this animal has achieved great popularity in families.
Queen Elizabeth I and the Pocket Beagle
In the 18th century, the Beagle underwent a shrinking process to generate more delicate and smaller specimens than traditional hounds.
Although they went extinct, Pocket Beagles or Dwarf Beagles were very popular. Among their admirers was none other than Queen Elizabeth I.
This process negatively affects the health of the specimens in generating cases of dwarfism, genetic malformations, fertility problems, weak immune systems, etc.
For these reasons, the Pocket Beagle was unable to survive.
The Beagle is a very intelligent and sensitive dog
This dog is highly intelligent and has highly developed senses. In addition, it responds well to training based on positive reinforcement.
Thanks to its powerful sense of smell, this animal is very successful in hunting. His energetic temperament and his aptitude for work facilitated his adaptation to hunting in packs. Nowadays it is also used as a search dog.
Snoopy, the most famous Beagle in the world
Surely everyone knows the cute dog Snoopy, created by Charles M. Schulz. What many people don’t know is that the charismatic boy friend Charlie Brown is inspired by the Beagle. If we look at Snoopy’s ears and physical build, one immediately notices the traits of this dog breed.
He enjoys excellent health
This breed is very strong and hardy, so it enjoys excellent health. He is prone to suffering from obesity and his ears need special attention. In addition, they show a low genetic predisposition to most of the degenerative diseases common in other dog breeds.
If he receives the proper care and preventive checks, he is unlikely to get sick. It can live for a long time. The life expectancy of this breed fluctuates between 12 and 15 years.
The Beagle’s ears require special care
In his long, downward ears and ear canal, dirt and moisture can accumulate. For this, he is prone to develop otitis.
In addition to regular cleaning, it will be essential to let the epithelium of the internal and external part dry completely, especially when the dog gets wet after performing some activity.
It is essential to consult your veterinarian if any abnormalities are observed, such as redness, unpleasant odor or swelling.
The Beagle has historically been used for experiments
Unfortunately, due to its beautiful character and excellent health, this breed is one of the most used for research on dermatological and cosmetic products.
Gradually, many brands have eliminated animal experiments.
We can all make our contribution to putting an end to this barbarism, especially if preference is given to natural products.
