The excellent Beagle dog has all the necessary qualities for professional hunting, but some of its personality traits sometimes prevent it from becoming an ideal pet. Representatives of this breed require increased attention.
Beagle dog - description
The oldest center for breeding this breed is Wales. The first ancestors of beagles entered the islands with Celtic hunters. According to legend, King Edward the Confessor himself owned a small eared dog and introduced the fashion for hunting with hounds. The development of the breed was influenced by crossbreeding with continental white hounds brought with the armies of William the Conqueror, resulting in the variegated coloration.
Ancient descriptions of the beagle testify to the predominantly gregarious keeping and heterogeneity of representatives of the breed in different areas. In the southern regions, dogs were stocky and heavy; in the north, pets were distinguished by their speed and light bones. There were even dwarf individuals up to 20 cm at the withers - wire-haired beagle terriers. The final standard was approved in 1895, five years after the creation of the official breed club.
What does a beagle dog look like?
These are live, athletic pets, whose main function was initially trail hunting. Let's look at the description of the Beagle breed:
- The shape of the head is powerful, but not coarse; in females it is visually slightly thinner.
- Skull with occipital protuberance, dome-shaped.
- The transition between the bridge of the nose and the frontal bone is well defined.
- The nose is predominantly black.
- The muzzle is not pointed.
- The lips are moderately drooping.
- The jaws are strong, the bite is correct, scissor-shaped.
- The Beagle dog's eyes are hazel or dark brown.
- The ears are long with slightly curled tips and reach the length of the nose.
- The neck is relatively long.
- The upper line of the body is flat.
- The loin is strong and short.
- The foot is strong and dense, the claws are short.
- The hind limbs are muscular.
- The gait is smooth, the beagle dog does not hump when moving.
- The cover is thick and short, waterproof.
- Size at withers – 33-40 cm.
- The weight of pets is 9-11 kg.
Beagle character
Our heroes are pack animals who quickly understand the hierarchy in the team. They will immediately try, even within the family circle, to win the vacant position of leader. According to the breed standard, excessive timidity or aggressiveness are considered disqualifying faults. The English Beagle and its French cousin the Beagle Harrier are tireless professional athletes who love long runs.
Pets of this breed are extremely vocal, but the Beagle dog is not suitable as an evil watchman. She will quickly bark to greet, rather than to intimidate, the uninvited guest. Excessive gullibility towards strangers is considered a significant drawback. Note that these animals are cunning and stubborn. Being a natural hunter, the intelligent Beagle dog is capable of making decisions independently. She loves to hear well-deserved praise.
Is the Beagle dog allergic?
A painful reaction to fur or saliva often forces people to part with their pet. Reviews from numerous dog breeders and characteristics of the Beagle breed indicate that its thick undercoat sheds almost all year round. Hard bristles stick firmly to the carpet, causing problems when cleaning. The pet's coat has to be constantly combed, and to get rid of the smell you need to regularly bathe the animal. Taking into account the listed problems, the beagle dog cannot be included in the list of completely hypoallergenic animals.
Beagle colors
Most fanciers imagine pets of this breed as black, red and white tricolor dogs. Indeed, beagles have a predominantly dark back, white muzzle and legs, a red head and always a white tip of the tail. In addition to the “classic” color, there are hounds of different colors. The arrangement of tones is not regulated by standards, but according to the rules of the British FCI association, chocolate (liver) color is unacceptable for these dogs.
The main color variations of the Beagle breed:
- Tricolor
. During childhood, puppies are born gray and white or black and white. Red spots begin to appear as they get older. The black beagle begins to gradually fade, the intense coloring becomes gray or blue, and the white areas turn into cream. - Beagle bicolor
. The predominant color in this variant is red and white, much less often white and black. - Maroon color
- can be found in a three-color or two-color version. It is distinguished by the presence of small spots, which can be located singly or in large clusters.
Beagle. You often ask these questions
Contents hide
Beagle. You often ask these questions
Friends, whether you have noticed or not, all fashion is cyclical. Some item, clothing or accessory suddenly becomes fashionable. Everyone wants to have something like this. But some time passes, and the situation changes radically. Where is the fashion craze? Let us at least remember the “spinners” that made a splash a year ago. How the children whined, begging for, in general, absolutely useless devices! How expensive were they? Today, spinners are quietly gathering dust on store shelves, no one needs, even at bargain prices. Maybe things will improve in about five to ten years, and even after the “rebranding”!
Alas, “fashion” also extends to pets. By the way, we at ilike.pet publish all sorts of popularity ratings every now and then. Now one breed will gain the upper hand, then another... Some breeds seem to be reborn. Quite recently, you and I, remembering underrated dog breeds, talked about beagles. And how popular they were in the fifties and sixties! But today, it seems, everything is back to normal. Have you noticed how there are more beagles in yards and dog parks?
We at the editorial office understood the resurgent popularity of beagles in our own way - by the sharply increased number of letters and your questions. Together with our British colleagues, we will try to answer them!
What is the average life expectancy of a beagle? Beagles are a medium-sized breed that boasts good health and longevity. With proper care, your pet will live an average of 12-16 years. However, be careful not to give your dogs too much. Beagles have an excellent appetite and are prone to gaining excess weight. Excess weight means increased stress on the joints, as well as on all vital organs. Treats - the bare minimum. Don't forget about physical education and sports!
How noisy are beagles? Not the noisiest, but not the most “quiet” and calm breed either. You need to actively work with the dog and, if possible, not be separated from it for long periods of time. Bored beagles quickly begin to bark - often, a lot and without any reason. The reason is to attract everyone's attention to their problems. Some beagles, judging by specialized forums, can even howl.
What is the optimal load level? At a minimum – 30-40 minutes a day of intensive training. More is possible and even necessary! The main thing is not to turn your pet into a couch dog. This is clearly not your case!
When can a beagle be considered an adult? We consulted with reputable experts. They are unanimous: the beagle reaches full maturity at the age of 18 months, when it gains “its” 33-41 cm at the withers. Adult dogs weigh on average from 9 to 11 kg, females are slightly smaller than males. Is your pet not tall enough, less than 33 cm at the withers? It can be assumed that not everything is in order with his health. Be sure to talk to your treating veterinarian.
How not to make a mistake in color? Beagles have quite a lot of colors - almost everything allowed for the group of hounds is allowed (except liver). We mostly know Beagles by their "characteristic" tri-color coat (white with large black areas and light brown shading). There are also two-color options (a white main color with small areas of another color, usually red). There is even such a term - “lemons”. The tip of a beagle's tail is always white.
The list of colors is as follows: black-red-white, blue-red-white, badger motley, hare motley, lemon motley, lemon and white, red and white, red and white, black and white, solid white.
How healthy is the breed? As mentioned above, the breed is generally considered healthy. But it is not entirely without problems (both genetic and hereditary). Let us mention steroid-dependent meningitis-arteritis (according to the international classification SRM), hip dysplasia, and epilepsy. It is impossible not to note the so-called Musladin-Lueke Syndrome (MLS), or “Chinese Beagle syndrome”. In the domestic literature, unfortunately, you will find very scanty information about these diseases. This series also includes neurodegenerative diseases affecting the functions of the cerebellum and, accordingly, the motor skills of the dog (NCCD), blood clotting factor VII, “cherry eye” and the so-called “reverse sneezing”.
We will conclude the conversation in the next article - there are too many questions that require at least a brief answer! If you are interested in the “perpetual motor” beagles, don’t miss them! We are waiting for you at ilike.pet!
Photo: pixabay.com
Pros and cons of the beagle dog
When purchasing a puppy for your family, you should always carefully consider the advantages or potential disadvantages of a particular breed. Considering how much a beagle dog costs, it is advisable to foresee all the nuances in advance. First, let's look at the psychological and physical advantages of these dogs:
- peaceful disposition;
- friendliness to other pets;
- love to play with children;
- unpretentious to living conditions;
- accuracy;
- cleanliness;
- few problems with hair;
- good hunters.
Disadvantages of the Beagle breed:
- They tolerate loneliness extremely poorly.
- The Beagle dog is stubborn and independent, which affects the training process.
- The content needs to take into account their artistry and cunning nature.
- Energetic dogs are not a good match for a calm or busy person.
- These friendly pets are not suitable for security work.
- Beagles are prone to obesity and gluttony.
- Dogs of this breed often bark excessively.
- Beagles that are active and constantly distracted should only be walked on a leash.
Common Beagle Diseases
The disadvantages of the Beagle breed include a predisposition to certain diseases, as well as some other aspects related to the dog’s health.
- Beagles are prone to epilepsy.
- There is a high probability of inflammatory processes in the ears, which can cause all sorts of complications.
- Tendency to obesity with an incorrectly formulated diet and/or diet.
- As beagles age, they often develop various eye diseases.
All mentioned risks can be minimized with proper care, the rules of which are quite simple.
- Puppies should be taken from a nursery or from reputable breeders.
- Give your dog enough time, let him run and play in the fresh air,
- Provide your pet with proper care, nutrition and proper rest.
- Do not allow your dog to walk outside without your supervision.
Beagle - care and maintenance in an apartment
For these dogs to live normally in a high-rise building, you need to take some measures related to the safety of the pet. It is better when an adult beagle dog has its own enclosure with a good view, equipped with a lounger, bowls, trays, and toys. Be sure to take care to remove all wires, boxes and cans of household chemicals. It is advisable to keep the balcony doors closed.
A beagle cannot exist normally without movement, periodic jogging, and rest in the fresh air. The main problem of apartment living is the lack of space near the house for walking and exercise. When walking outside, try to keep your pet on a leash. Beagles are easily distracted by cats, so always supervise them on busy roads.
What to feed your beagle?
Animals of this breed are prone to gluttony, so when using ready-made diets, it is advisable to adhere to the recommendations on the packages. If your Beagle hunting dog previously consumed dry food, then gradually switch to home-made food. Up to 70% of the diet should consist of meat food, about 30% - food of plant and dairy origin. A balanced diet consists of the following products:
- cereals – rice, oatmeal, buckwheat, wheat;
- lean meat;
- offal;
- sea fish;
- vegetables;
- eggs;
- fruits;
- minerals and vitamins in the form of supplements.
Beagle: keeping in an apartment
The breed was bred from the very beginning for hunting purposes, but many dogs settled in apartment buildings. They need to ensure activity and regularity of physical activity, and pay attention. To say whether it is possible to keep beagles in an apartment, you need to understand the positive aspects of keeping dogs in a small room:
- friendly to other people, welcome strangers if they offer food;
- they don’t bark even if the neighbor’s door opens;
- get along well with other pets;
- can work as a free nanny and will not harm the baby;
- attached to the owner;
- most beagles are neat and clean;
- have virtually no unpleasant odor;
- dogs do not slobber on furniture and surrounding objects.
If you raise a small dog correctly, there will be no problems with him. In order for your baby to behave friendly, you need to not miss the time of socialization.
Setting up your dog's personal space
The Beagle is ideal as a first pet for a person with a strong character, since he is unpretentious in his choice of food and is easy to care for. In order for both parties to live comfortably, the dog should be given a separate corner where he can sleep comfortably or relax during the day. For a couch, choose a bright corner in the living room, but always far from a radiator or draft. In this place they place a house or a lounger that is suitable in size, and purchase a comfortable mattress with a removable cover, which can be easily washed when soiled with feces or dirt.
Photo from Instagram account shiro46c
Beagles have a hard time getting used to one place to rest, as the active dog rushes around the apartment, falling asleep where its charge runs out. If the baby chooses a place to sleep on his own, it is better to place the lounger there. It is strictly forbidden to allow him to sleep in a person's bed or on the sofa, as the puppy will live there forever.
The dog will have to buy several different toys so that he has somewhere to play. Several toys are placed on the bed, and the rest are laid out in different places in the apartment so that the pet does not chew the furniture in the absence of the owner. You can purchase an enclosure for an apartment, which the animal perceives adequately. Owners lock their pet in a cage if they leave the premises for a long time, leaving toys and a container of water in it.
Accustoming to neatness
The hunting breed is smart, so it is easy to train if it receives a treat for the process. If the owner does not give the treat, then the dog becomes “stupid” because he is lazy. If children are running nearby, the dog will switch to them and forget about training.
The baby should be raised the day he gets into the apartment, and at 3-6 months he can learn prohibitions and permissions, learns neatness, hygiene, and no longer chews clothes and shoes. Training is carried out in a stern, firm voice, without shouting or swearing, because the baby can be stubborn. Before six months, you need to accustom the puppy to the fact that the owner is a king, all of whose commands must be followed.
Photo from Instagram account beagle.bobbi
Raising beagles is difficult, so the general training course can be entrusted to a professional. To interest the baby, he needs to be trained in a playful way for 15-20 minutes during the day. For success, the pet is given encouragement, but not chocolate, sugar or salty food. Be sure to accustom the dog to a tray, a bed, prohibiting commands, and giving paws to wash them after a walk.
Caring for your beagle will be better if you toilet train him in time. This is not difficult to do if you have patience and time, as well as observation. If your pet starts running and sniffing corners, it warns you about the need to go to the toilet. At this moment, you need to quickly transfer it to the tray and hold it until it does its “toilet” business.
How to teach a dog to stay home alone
Caring for and maintaining a beagle is a difficult task, but those who love animals can cope with it. The baby has a hard time enduring loneliness; at this time he begins to howl or chew on things. To prevent the puppy from suffering, he is not left alone for more than 10-20 minutes. Before leaving, they play with the pet, wait for it to fall asleep while the owner has left the house. The baby can harm himself independently, so he should be placed in a comfortable enclosure.
Photo from Instagram account summerthebeagle_
Medicines, food, electronics, gadgets should be hidden in locked cabinets so that the dog does not get poisoned. All wires are put away in cable ducts, and the balcony, which is not glazed, is securely locked. If the dog is not walked on time for three hours during the day, he will not go to the toilet and will not release his energy. A dog that does not run or play active games with its owner can destroy the entire apartment.
Beagle dog - keeping it outside
The best option is to arrange a spacious enclosure made of metal rods with a concrete floor. Equip your dog's home with a comfortable booth, bowls, and toilet. At a time when owners cannot pay attention to animals, pets need toys for fun. Constant stay in the enclosure is contraindicated. The English Beagle requires periodic trips to the field or forest to satisfy its hunting instincts.
Beagle: pros and cons of the breed
Like all dogs, beagles have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- very neat, do not shed much, do not drool and practically do not smell;
- loves and knows how to get along with children;
- gets along well with other animals;
- naturally intelligent and quick-witted;
- devoted and faithful pet;
- active and cheerful.
Minuses:
- difficult to train;
- hunting instincts are strongly expressed;
- prone to loud and prolonged barking;
- if fed incorrectly, they quickly become fat;
- may run away from home (as during a hunt).
Raising and training a beagle puppy
The first training should be carried out from the age of 3 months. The Beagle puppy must quickly learn the basic prohibitions and permitted actions. Commands must be pronounced clearly and cannot be changed, otherwise the dog will become confused. It is forbidden to use force; it is better to reward your beagle with a treat. The process should be made interesting, in a playful way; combine training with walks in the forest so that the puppy splashes out excess energy in the wild. Pets perfectly understand sincere praise and will always try to please their loving owner with success.
Features of keeping a beagle
The Beagle is an active, energetic dog, a loyal companion and an excellent hunter. Having decided to have a representative of this breed as a pet, owners must provide systematic care and know how to keep a beagle correctly so that the pet’s life is happy and fulfilling.
How to care for a beagle
The Beagle is an easy breed of dog to maintain and the main care consists of timely implementation of therapeutic, preventive and hygienic procedures, proper feeding and education.
Arrangement of the place
First of all, you need to arrange a separate place for the dog. At first, the puppy will ask to go to bed, but you still shouldn’t follow the dog’s lead, since over time the dog will constantly climb onto the bed and ignore its bedding. To arrange the space, a bright corner in the room, protected from drafts and away from heating appliances, is suitable. You can purchase a mattress of the required size with removable covers, a bed or a small booth.
Walks
Since representatives of this breed are hunting dogs, the main feature of keeping beagles is to create conditions for maintaining his instincts.
Following the instinct of a hunter, during a walk the dog will constantly sniff out something, chase birds or other animals, “look out” for prey or pick up food from the ground, so you need to train your pet from the first days of his appearance in the house.
Beagles require a lot of long walks, and to satisfy their hunting needs, owners must organize active games of searching for objects. Such activities will entertain your pets and provide an outlet for energy, since beagles are an active and energetic breed. In order for a pet to grow up healthy and cheerful, dogs need a full walk, so owners should be prepared for long walks in any weather. It is useful to take pets out of town, into the fields and organize an impromptu hunt using mechanical prey. Beagles do not get along well with other pets - cats and especially with rodents and birds, for which proximity to a “hunter” can even cost them their lives.
Hygiene measures
Beagles need regular grooming for their coat, ears, eyes, paws and claws. You should always monitor the condition of your eyes, as this is a clear indicator of your pet’s health. Small discharge may form in the corners of the eyes, which can be removed with a cotton swab dipped in water, tea leaves or chamomile decoction.
You need to regularly inspect and clean your ears using special sticks and ear care products. It is equally important to take care of the paws and claws. If a dog walks on a soft surface, the claws quickly grow back, causing discomfort, so it is necessary to purchase special clippers and, if necessary, shorten the dog’s claws. The claws are trimmed below the living part of the nail plate to avoid damaging the blood vessels. From the first walk, the pet is accustomed to washing its paws and always inspects the pads for cuts or foreign objects. When cracks appear, the pads are lubricated with fat or cream.
Beagles have short fur and do not pose any major problems in grooming. It is enough to comb the fur with a brush several times a week to remove dead hairs. During the molting period, the fur is combed daily.
Bathing dogs is often not recommended. Bathing procedures are carried out 2-4 times a year, using only animal shampoos for bathing. If your pet gets dirty during a walk, you can wipe the fur with a damp cloth or rinse the dog in the shower.
Therapeutic and preventive procedures
These include timely vaccination, deworming, and treatment of animal fur with special preparations against ectoparasites. Anthelmintic drugs are given for preventive purposes three times a year, and flea and tick treatment is carried out 2-3 times, depending on the product. Puppies are treated at 3-4 months.
Training
Beagles should be trained from an early age. The dog must understand from an early age what is allowed and what is not. Bad habits need to be stopped immediately so that they do not become a habit. You can teach the simplest commands from 3 months, gradually consolidating skills and complicating the training process.
What does a Beagle dog need?
To keep any pet in the house you need to have a small set of necessary accessories and equipment. A mini beagle puppy or an adult, regardless of size and age, must have its own dishes, toilet and irreplaceable things. Here is a list of the most necessary items:
- Comb.
- Brush.
- Collar.
- Leash with carabiner (short and long).
- Pharmacy kit - pipette, cotton wool, syringe, bandages, enema, scissors, iodine, thermometer and other necessary items for treating animals.
- Chew toys (bones, rawhide), fetch toys (flying saucers, balls), power toys (fur or rubber ropes), dispenser toys (with treats).
Beagle dog clothes
Even healthy pets need protection from the weather, so caring owners try to provide their pets with a warm wardrobe on the eve of the cold winter. It is better to accustom dogs to shoes, capes or jackets from the age of 3 months. At first, let your hound run around in his new clothes for a couple of hours to get used to it, until he stops paying attention to the new accessories. The Beagle breed is extremely active and enjoys going on walks; to protect it from dirt, the following items of clothing will not hurt:
- blanket
. - Raincoat with durable fleece lining
. - Socks
.
Beagle training
All owners of these dogs who want to raise an animal with good manners must prepare for the fact that certain difficulties may await them along the way. The fact is that very often beagles are disobedient and stubborn.
The owner should be patient when going for a walk with the puppy. He is so curious that he can easily get lost when he notices something interesting to himself. Therefore, from a very early age he should be walked on a leash. You need to know that these animals will definitely try to take leadership in the house. If you feel that you cannot resist his pranks on your own, seek help from an experienced trainer.
Beagle health
This hardy breed rarely suffers from allergies or colds. To prevent common diseases, vaccinations should be carried out periodically according to established schedules. There are several specific problems associated with body structure. For example, an adult beagle has severely droopy ears and is therefore prone to suffer from ear infections. Be sure to regularly inspect the ear canal and clean it.
Other common beagle diseases:
- epilepsy;
- diabetes;
- chronic hepatitis;
- intervertebral disc diseases;
- cherry eye;
- dermatitis;
- glaucoma;
- Cushing's syndrome;
- mast cell cancer;
- lymphoma;
- hypothyroidism;
- amyloidosis.
Nicknames for Beagle dogs
If you plan to take your pet to an exhibition, then you need to come up with a name for it in accordance with existing canine rules. The Beagle dog breed is no exception. The first letter of the passport nickname corresponds to the serial number of the litter; the official nickname must have a factory prefix. Often the official name is not very euphonious, so owners often use a derivative word or an alternative name in everyday life.
Examples of hunting names for a beagle dog:
- Thunder;
- Storm;
- Mine;
- Raise up;
- Bulka;
- Fog;
- Danube;
- Violin;
- Jackdaw;
- Bagheera;
- Dancer;
- Watch;
- Batyr;
- Vesta;
- Horn.
Beagle dog – interesting facts
For centuries, hounds have accompanied humans, helping to track down game. There are many funny stories about these excellent dogs. Let's look at just some fun facts about beagles:
- Beagle dogs are a very ancient breed. Official mentions of these hounds have appeared since the 15th century, but even in the chronicles of the 4th century there are descriptions of strong pets with a tricolor color and wide ears.
- Beagles have an incredibly strong sense of smell. Having smelled an interesting smell, he is completely carried away, forgetting about the world around him.
- These dogs are famous for their unusually loud bark. The word beagle comes from the French “begueule” - “tinned throat”.
- In 2006, the dog Belle saved his unconscious owner. The beagle who completed special courses realized that an accident had happened to the man. He independently pressed the “9” button on the phone, and after the call began barking into the receiver, calling for help from doctors.
- Eight British ships in history have been named Beagle. Among them, the most famous is the ten-gun brig-sloop, on which Charles Darwin made the famous expedition in 1831-36.
