The Beagle is an energetic dog with a happy disposition, making him a great pet for most families. This breed is part of the Hound category of dogs and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor living. Their huge, expressive eyes make it very easy to fall in love with this breed.

History

The Beagle traces its history back to England, where it was bred as a bloodhound to hunt rabbits, pheasants, and quail. It could have been the result of a cross between a Harrier and other bloodhound breeds. Their extraordinary sense of smell makes them great sniffer dogs, like those used to detect narcotics. Unfortunately, their temperament and size has also led them to become a popular choice for medical experimentation.

Appearance

The Beagle is a small, square-built dog with a smooth, short-haired coat. This breed comes in a variety of colors, including black and tan, orange and white, red and white, lemon and white, or tricolor. The head is broad and rounded, with large hazel or brown eyes. The ears are long, wide and hanging. Although slightly curved, the tail should not be curled. Beagles have a medium-sized square muzzle with a black nose and full nostrils.

This breed weighs 20 to 25 pounds as an adult and comes in two height categories, under 13 inches and 13 to 15 inches.

Temper

Beagles are gentle, lively and inquisitive dogs. Their playful, loyal, and loving nature makes them wonderful family pets. This breed enjoys the company of humans and other pets. They tend to follow their nose, which is extremely sensitive to odors, and should be kept in a fenced yard and walked on a leash. They are good watchdogs but terrible watchdogs due to their friendly disposition.

Being intelligent and energetic, the Beagle needs plenty of exercise, walks, and playtime. This is an even-tempered breed that shows neither aggression nor timidity. They are also good companions for children.

Health

Some Beagle lines are prone to heart disease, eye and back problems, and epilepsy. Beagles are also known to sometimes suffer from dwarfism or crondoplasia, where the front legs become misshapen, similar to a Basset Hound. Many are also prone to ear infections and regular ear cleaning is a must. Although this breed requires regular brushing, a damp cloth is better than a bath most of the time.

The life expectancy of this breed is 12 to 15 years.

The healthiest, highest quality Beagles are available only from Puppy Match 4 You, a specialist puppy-matching organization that has an impeccable track record of helping people acquire the puppies that are the best fit for them and their families.