Breed information: The Beagle

Beagles have been in the top 10 most popular dog breeds for many years. Their appearance makes them loved by many, but since they were bred as hunting dogs, you might be surprised by the work you need to put in training them

Photo by Jaspal Kahlon on Unsplash

History

It isn't entirely clear where the origin of the Beagle lies. There are written stories of small pack-hounds that were used to hunt rabbits in England even before 55 B.C. Over the centuries small dogs were used to track rabbits and other small animals by many hunters.

These dogs were described of as 'foot hounds'. The reason why is because in contrast to the bigger hunting breeds, these breeds could be used for hunters when hunting by foot, making them popular with people who couldn't afford to buy or feed horses.

Appearance

There is a difference in Beagles when talking about sizes. The smaller Beagles grow up to a height of 33cm (13inch), while the bigger ones range from 33cm to 38cm (13 to 15inch). Beagles have a body that's build very muscular. They have long, hanging ears and their coat is typical for a foxhound. Their tail is worn upright.

Personality

Beagles are very loving dogs. They are happy when around their family. You should take notice that these dogs have lots of energy since they were bred to hunt long days. They also tend to be a little stubborn, especially when they found an interesting scent. This strong sense of smell also makes them potentially susceptible to roaming off, so make sure to put your time in training them.

Trainability

Because they were trained to use their nose during hunting, the focus of a Beagle will often shift to the ground. The smell of rabbit droppings might turn their hunting instinct on, losing all interest in the training session. They are however smart dogs, so if trained well with patience, you will be able to teach a Beagle lots of stuff.

Energy level

Beagles have a high energy level due to the fact that they were bred to work as hunting dogs. This means that Beagle owners should be able to work their dog every day in order for them to get rid of their excess energy.