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Beagle

The American Kennel Club recognizes two separate varieties of Beagle: the 13-inch for hounds less than 13 inches and the 15-inch for those between 13 and 15 inches .English and American varieties are sometimes mentioned. However, there is no official recognition from any Kennel Club for this distinction.



History
In the 1840s, a standard Beagle type was beginning to develop: the distinction between the North Country Beagle and Southern Hound had been lost, but there was still a large variation in size, character, and reliability among the emerging. By 1887 the threat of extinction was on the wane: there were 18 Beagle packs in England .The Beagle Club was formed in 1890 and the first standard drawn up at the same time. The following year the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles was formed. Both organizations aimed to further the best interests of the breed, and both were keen to produce a standard type of Beagle, By 1902 the number of packs had risen to 44 .As a pedigree dog, Beagles have always been more popular in the United States and Canada than in their native country. The National Beagle Club of America was formed in 1888 and by 1901 a Beagle had won a Best in Show title.

Appearance
The general appearance of the Beagle resembles a Foxhound in miniature, but the head is broader and the muzzle shorter, the expression completely different and the legs shorter in proportion to the body They are generally between 13 and 16 inches high at the withers and weigh between 18 and 35 lb with females being slightly smaller on average. They have a smooth, somewhat domed skull with a medium-length, square-cut muzzle and a black (or occasionally liver), gumdrop nose. The jaw is strong and the teeth scissor together with the upper teeth fitting perfectly over the lower teeth and both sets aligned square to the jaw. The eyes are large, hazel or brown, with a mild hound-like pleading look. The large ears are long, soft and low-set, turning towards the cheeks slightly and rounded at the tips. Beagles have a strong, medium-length neck (which is long enough for them to easily bend to the ground to pick up a scent), with little folding in the skin but some evidence of a dewlap; a broad chest narrowing to a tapered abdomen and waist and a short, slightly curved tail tipped with white. The white tip, known as the "stern" or "flag" has been selectively bred for, as it allows the dog to be easily seen when its head is down following a scentThe tail does not curl over the back, but is held upright when the dog is active. The Beagle has a muscular body and a medium-length, smooth, hard coat The front legs are straight and carried under the body while the rear legs are muscular and well bent at the stifles.

Colors
Beagles appear in a range of colors. Although the tri-color (white with large black areas and light brown shading) is the most common, Beagles can occur in any hound color. Tri-colored dogs occur in a number of shades, from the "Classic Tri" with a jet black saddle to the "Faded Tri" where the faint black markings are toned with brown. Some tri-colored dogs have a broken pattern, sometimes referred to as pied. These dogs have mostly white coats with patches of black and brown hair. Two-color varieties always have a white base color with areas of the second color. Tan and white is the most common two-color variety, but there is a wide range of other colors including lemon, a very light tan; red, a reddish, almost orange, brown; and liver, a darker brown. Liver is not common and is not permitted in some standards.

Character
Beagles are intelligent, but as a result of being bred for the long chase are single-minded and determined, They are generally obedient but can be difficult to recall once they have picked up a scent and are easily distracted by smells around them. They do not generally feature in obedience trials; while they are alert, respond well to food-reward training, and are eager to please, they are easily bored or distracted. Beagles are excellent with children and this is one of the reasons they have become popular family pets, They also generally get along well with other dogs, Although bred for hunting, Beagles are versatile and are nowadays employed for various other roles in detection, therapy, and as family pets, Beagles are used as sniffer dogs for termite detection in Australia and have been mentioned as possible candidates for drug and explosive detection .Because of their gentle nature and unimposing build, they are also frequently used in pet therapy, visiting the sick and elderly in hospital In June 2006, a trained Beagle assistance dog was credited with saving the life of its owner after using his owner's mobile phone to dial an emergency number.

Care
The beagle is a low-maintenance breed. Feed your beagle high-quality dry dog food, not "people food" like table scraps. If you use treats as rewards while training, break each treat into three or four small pieces and give one piece at a time. Beagles love to eat and are good beggars. Brush your beagle 1-3 times a week. This breed sheds moderately. A beagle doesn't require special grooming. Beagles are very people-oriented and like to be around you.

Training
Remember that beagles tend to be stubborn, which means you must be consistent, patient and positive while training them. Praise works better than punishment. Keep your beagle's weight down. Overweight dogs will have more health problems, including heart trouble and arthritis. Be prepared to enjoy 12 to 15 years with your dog - this is the beagle's average life expectancy.