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By Pat Robidoux
Gaze into a beagle's soft, pleading eyes, and you will immediately fall in love with this merry little hound that has stolen the hearts of many dog fanciers. Its long, droopy ears and furrowed brow project a sadness, belied only by a merrily wagging tail.
Since the beagle's acceptance by the American Kennel Club in 1884, the breed has steadily become one of the most popular in the United States, first achieving the top spot in 1954. It has consistently remained a top ten dog in popularity, and is probably one of the most recognizable dogs in America. In 1987, nearly 42,000 Beagles were registered with the AKC.
History
Although the beagle's origin is uncertain, records of its ancestry point to ancient Greece and France. There is also some evidence that beagle-type dogs were used during the Crusades as an established hunting dog. Talbot Hounds were brought to Great Britain from France in 1066, and are considered to be ancestors to the beagle and the foxhound.
England adopted the beagle early in its history, and the hounds quickly became popular with the British monarchy. During the reigns of Edward II and Henry VII, there are many references to Glove Beagles (tiny enough to be held in a gloved hand), and Singing Beagles (named for its bugling voice). Elizabeth I kept packs of Pocket Beagles, dogs measuring only nine inches at the withers, and these little hounds were found on almost every country estate in England.
As fox hunting became increasingly popular in Great Britain, the beagle's existence was threatened. Had it not been for the farmers and small landowners of southern England, Ireland and Wales, beagles may have become extinct in favor of the larger foxhound.
In the mid-1800s, Rev. Phillip Honeywood of Essex, England, established pack hounds that are thought to be precursors of the modern beagle. These dogs were bred for their hunting skills, not their looks. Englishman Thomas Johnson is credited with breeding lines of beagles that were fearless hunters, yet attractive.
Beagles were imported to America in 1876, and in 1888, wealthy sportsmen promoted the beagle by forming the National Beagle Club. The club was established to hold pack field trials and bench shows. American breeders began developing beagles that would fit American needs. The English variety of hound had been trained to track foxes and was bred to an average height of 15 to 17 inches at the shoulder. The smaller American beagle was bred for rabbit hunting.
The AKC recognizes two varieties of beagles: those under 13 inches, and others 13 to 15 inches. Hounds over 15 inches are disqualified. Although the beagle standard calls for "any recognized hound color, except liver," most common are the black, tan and white variety; the red and white; and the pale tan and white. The tip of the tail and the feet should be white, and the eyes, dark brown or hazel, are to convey an expression that is "soft and hound like" and "gentle and pleading." The ears are to be set low, long with rounded tips, and should reach nearly to the end of the nose when drawn out. The tail is sturdy and moderately long, and should be carried gaily, but not curled over the back.
This energetic little hound is very alert, active and even tempered. The beagle is very outgoing, almost to a fault, and is constantly in need of companionship because it has been bred to be a pack dog. If that companionship doesn't come from other dogs, the beagle will demand it from its owner. It is important that the owner establish himself as "pack leader" and set the rules, or the beagle will find numerous opportunities to run the household.
Beagles are usually not aggressive toward other dogs, but they will protect their territory by growling or posturing when appropriate. It is not uncommon for the beagle to play with intruders once they are not regarded as threats.
Healthy beagles are extremely hardy and are not fussy about their living quarters. They can tolerate temperature extremes, from North Dakota winters to Florida summers, if given proper care. They should, however, been given a lot of time outdoors because of their desire to hunt. If not given that opportunity, they will find other ways, often destructive, to entertain themselves.
In the early 1900s, hunters in rural neighborhood began to organize beagle clubs and hold field trials for hunting rabbits. The number of clubs has grown steadily as has the popularity of the sport. During 1987, 309 beagles earned their Field Championships (as compared to 241 Conformation Championships in the same year). Because of differences in breeding for different purposes, there seems to be a division in qualities between the conformation dog and the field dog. Rarely does a Conformation Champion ever receive a Field Championship and vice versa. A hound of great courage, beagles will literally hunt until they drop. They can be trained to hunt many types of game, including hare, pheasants and raccoons.
Sometimes much maligned for performance in the obedience ring, beagles may just be misunderstood. Although a highly intelligent dog and excellent problem solver, the typical beagle is easily distracted by scent and can quickly become bored. The handler must understand the beagle for obedience training to be rewarding for both dog and master.
Temperament is the most important factor in deciding if a beagle will make a good obedience ring candidate. Shy or easily frightened dogs should be avoided. The best dogs are those who are alert, attentive and willing to please. Unlike a working dog, who has been bred to hang on its master's every word, beagles are bred to hunt and will set their own agendas. In the beagle's eyes, the cricket crossing the hound's path on the long down-stay is probably more important than the will of the handler.
Relatively speaking, few beagles earn obedience titles. In 1987, 17 earned CDs, five achieved CDX Titles, and two were awarded Utility Degrees. However, this number is growing, probably because of more handlers introducing their dogs to the sport. Training a beagle in obedience can give the dog confidence in the show ring for conformation, and will most certainly produce a much better behaved pet if trained properly.
There is no magic formula for successful obedience training, but gentle persistence and making the sessions fun for the dog and handler makes the time well spent. Food works well in motivating beagles, but that should only be used in the initial phases of training. Again, the handler must establish himself as pack leader so the beagle knows who's in charge. Beagles are quick to spot an "easy mark," and will quickly take advantage of a passive handler.
The handler must also understand that it may be difficult to obtain high scores that are needed for placements, but he should seize this opportunity as a challenge. If the handler doesn't understand that perfection is nearly impossible to achieve and overworks the dog, the beagle will come to realize that obedience training is no longer fun. The mischievous hound may then create new antics to amuse himself, raising the ire of an unsympathetic handler. Bottom line: Maintain a sense of humor inside the obedience ring.
Find out more about the USDA Beagle Brigade
Beagles aren't often thought of as working dogs, such as the German Shepherd Dog, but these hounds have found their place in serving the government. In a pilot program launched in the mid-1980s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recruited beagles to sniff out contraband food being brought into the United States through airports. These dogs, part of the "Beagle Brigade," sniff baggage for prohibited food articles to battle pests that endanger the nation's farm products. The USDA chose beagles because they wanted dogs that could do the job without being intimidating to travelers. The cute, cuddly beagles were naturals since they are so friendly and have very powerful noses. The dogs are trained to detect beef, pork, citrus fruits and mangoes, although occasionally lime-flavored shaving cream causes quite a stir!
Unlike some breeds that bond to one family member, the beagle bonds to everybody, especially children. However, just as with any other breed, beagles need to be properly socialized and shouldn't be left alone with young children. Beagles play very rambunctiously and can accidentally inflict injury on youngsters. They especially like to play with their mouths by grabbing at things and chewing. Most accidents occur when beagles become overly excited and mistake a hand for a chew toy.
Beagles are relatively inexpensive to care for and require little maintenance since they are very clean animals and don't need frequent baths. They are not yappy dogs, but they do have three distinct voices: the bark/growl, the howl and the half-howl, which is an cross between a frantic bark and a howl. The half-howl, usually reserved for the sighting of quarry, is certain to draw attention from neighbors at 6 a.m.
It's no secret that beagles roam. They should be properly fenced when left alone or it's possible the dog will never see home again. Unfortunately, beagles are targets for thieves because they make such good hunters and pets, or they can be sold to research laboratories. Sadly, beagles are one of the top experimental animals, ironically because of the very qualities that make them such good pets: friendliness, gentleness and eagerness to please.
Active, healthy beagles will eat themselves to death if given the chance. Obesity can be a problem, especially in middle age when the dog starts to slow down and doesn't exercise regularly. Beagles live longer than many of the large breeds. The average life span is about 14 years, although 17 years is not unusual. Most slow down around 12 years.
It's not hard to love a beagle. This versatile dog has much to offer dog lovers as a hunter, show dog or faithful companion. Once you invite a beagle into your home, you have found a loyal friend for life.
©1995, 1997 by Patricia M. Robidoux. All rights reserved.
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All Regal Beagle Pages ©1996-2000 Patricia M. Robidoux. All rights reserved.
Page last revised June 23, 2000
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