Beagle

The Beagle dog breed originated in England where they were bred for hunting purposes. It is a very popular breed because of its friendly and cheerful character. In addition, they stand out for their keen sense of smell and their long ears that hang close to their cheeks.

General details

The dogs of the breed are of medium or small size, whose weight and height differentiate them into two varieties. On the one hand, they can have a height not exceeding 33 centimeters or between 33 and 38 centimeters. Regarding the weight, it may not exceed 9 kilograms or it may be between 9 and 13.5 kilograms. The life expectancy of this breed is 10 to 15 years and they belong to Group 6 of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which groups hounds, scent hounds and similar breeds.

Breed history in brief

The history of the breed goes back centuries, although the exact origins are unknown. Beagles are descended from the Foxhound, the Harrier and the Kerry Beagle. It is believed that they were first bred in England in the 15th century for hare hunting, preferably. Early Beagles were smaller in size than the modern breed, and were highly valued for their keen sense of smell and tracking ability in rough terrain. In the 19th century, Beagles came to the United States where they became popular as hunting dogs and family companions. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1885. To this day, the Beagle breed continues to perform tracking work, such as drug and bomb detection, and even search and rescue tasks. However, they are best known for being excellent family pets because of their loyalty and loving personality.

Breed characteristics

Beagles are small to medium sized dogs with a compact, robust body, short in the kidney area. The skull is slightly domed and the head is usually thinner in the female and free of wrinkles. The large, wide-set, dark brown or hazel eyes create a look of gentle expression. The ears are long, round-pointed and set low, while the tail is strong and moderately elongated, but not curled over the back. The coat is short but dense and is characterized by its resistance to all weather conditions. The coloration of the breed is very varied but the most classic is the tricolor black, tan and white. Although they can also be blue, white and tan, red and white, black and white, lemon and white, and even all white. These colors can appear with a mottled pattern, with the exception of white. A distinctive feature is that the color of the tip of the tail is always white. Dogs of the breed are characterized by their loyalty and affectionate and sociable personality, making them excellent family pets. Still, they are ideal in families that can provide an active life with regular exercise and adequate mental stimulation, as Beagles are an active breed with a high energy level. In addition, they dislike loneliness.

Common health problems

The breed is characterized by good health. However, they are prone to develop certain disorders or pathologies such as cataracts, corneal dystrophy, cutaneous asthenia, deafness, sexual development disorders, idiopathic epilepsy, intervertebral disc disease, microphthalmia, mitral valve dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, pulmonary stenosis, retinal dysplasia, cerebellar cortical abiotrophy, demodicosis, cervical vertebral instability, globoid cell leukodystrophy or generalized tremor syndrome. In addition, the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) of OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) recommends, mainly, to perform a cardiac, ocular, hip dysplasia and autoimmune thyroidits evaluation exam.