Origins of the Beagle are unknown, although small hounds called Beagles
have been known of since at least the 1300s. These dogs were used for hunting
small game such as the hare and quail. The breed as it is known today was
bred during the mid-nineteenth century at the kennel of Parson Honeywood
in England. Although there was a type of dog in the United States that was
also called the Beagle, breeders in the American South began importing the
English version in the late nineteenth century. The United States National
Beagle Club, founded on the English type was formed in 1888. These dogs
began to be used in field trials and were soon divided into two classes,
based on height: thirteen to fifteen inches and under thirteen inches. The
height limit in England is sixteen inches.
The major qualities of the Beagle are that he has admirable courage and
stamina. He is gentle, trustworthy, and cheerful.
The Beagle has the appearance of a miniature Foxhound. He has a square body.
His head is moderately long and slightly domed with ears that set low and
hang down the side of the cheek. The ears are to be long enough that, when
stretched forward, they will reach the end of the nose. The Beagle is a
strong, muscular dog with a deep chest, straight legs, and round feet. His
tail should be set high and carried with a slight curve. The coat of the
Beagle is of medium length, hard and close. The preferred colors of the
coat are white on the chest and legs, black on the sides and back and neck
and tan elsewhere. However, any hound color is acceptable.
Name withheld by request of Atlanta, GA writes:
Truly woman's best friend.
Our family pet was a Beagle as I was growing up, and I absolutely adored
that dog. He wasn't too bright, but what he lacked in brains he made up
for in affection. When my husband and I decided to get a dog, I persuaded
him into adopting a Beagle puppy. Our little guy is only five months old,
but he already knows the basic obedience commands and is potty-trained and
crate-trained. Our pup greets us with a "full-body wag" rather
than a tail wag, and we've taught him how to give us hugs on command. He's
the best sight to come home to.
Name withheld by request of Washington writes:
These are the best family dogs.
Beagles are incredibly intelligent, loving, playful dogs. They make
great family pets. We have a 13" female Beagle and she just loves to
play with our two little boys AND our two Siamese kitties. She likes to
run around the house and then jump into my lap for a cuddle. She's very
quiet. I don't know why anyone would say Beagles are barkers, I've found
her to be a very quiet dog. She also hasn't been too difficult to housetrain,
you just have to make sure you let your puppy out for a potty after each
nap and within 30 minutes of a meal. It works. Definitely not a watchdog.
Just LOVES attention from everyone, won't bark at strangers ... more interested
in licking them. A great family pet.
Angie7407@aol.com of Seattle, WA writes:
Beagles are the best housepets.
I had a Beagle growing up and remember this happy, cheery animal always
wanting attention. My recent Beagle acquisition has changed my attitude
and life. I moved into an apartment in the city. She functions beautifully
in the house when left with several toys to play with during the day. We
take daily walks with her off the leash and she stays close except to say
hello to other dogs and people. I would definitely recommend this dog to
a person in an apartment who likes to take walks in the area they live/work.
A Beagle will be your biggest admirer for the rest of your life.
Name withheld by request of Ohio writes:
Great little guys who live to sniff.
Beagles are dear, kind, loving little creatures. I grew up in a Beagle
kennel, and several were my closest friends. They are gentle with children,
but tough enough to stand child's play. If you get a Beagle, he should really
be trained for tracking. It just is not fair not to allow him to use his
nose. As house companions, it can be hard to stop a Beagle from baying.
You need to be a good dog trainer to do it.
jenmarieh@msn.com of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland writes:
Such a pleasure!
My husband and I wanted a dog for quite some time, and we wanted to
be certain we chose the right one for us. After much research, we finally
decided on a Beagle. Our sweetheart is now two years old and the most wonderful
companion. We did have quite a lot of trouble with him for the first year
... after all, he was a puppy! And when we moved from Ontario to Newfoundland,
he suffered severe anxiety problems. Since then we have nursed him back
to himself and he has become the most loving, adorable pleasure to have
around. Not a day goes by that we don't say to each other, "Isn't he
wonderful?" and "What a sweetheart." We love our little Beagle
boy, and he is so very smart. When we decided to get a Beagle, we were warned
that Beagles could be stubborn. Yet, he's been through obedience training
and done very well. He listens to us when we speak, he does what we ask
of him (except come back if he's distracted outside ... this will never
change!), he learns tricks faster than our Border Collie, and he tells us
what he wants. Amazing! I recommend this breed to anyone who has time to
spend with it. Beagles do require a lot of attention and deep love. In return
they will give you the same.
loveissuicide@smashing-pumpkins-rule.zzn.com of California writes:
Be careful p; they will wander.
We had two Beagles until they went out one snowy night and followed
their noses into the forest to never be seen again. These obsessed sniffers
have an unstopable will to follow their nose. If you're not careful they
could wander off and not come back. They are very vocal dogs and can fit
in with a family. They are so cute, who can resist? Ours got along okay
with cats and very well with other dogs. They are food-motivated and very
hard to housebreak. Food can be a very effective means of training them,
they love food, so watch their weight. They don't really chew that much,
but do like to get into the garbage ... again, it's all in their nose!
glaffy@netscape.net of Michigan writes:
A sweet hound.
Beagles are great with children, don't require much grooming, bathing,
etc., and are usually very friendly. They are scent hounds, so they get
distracted easily by scents and will run off following a scent trail. Beagles
should be kept indoors or in a securely fenced area. They should be trained
in at least basic obedience from an early age and they are extremely motivated
by food which can be used as a training aid. Because of their "food
lust" they WILL overeat, so watch the amount they receive carefully.
They are wonderful dogs for hunting small game, especially rabbits. Beagles
are very sweet dogs with big, soft brown eyes that can melt your heart.
My Beagle has received her CD (Companion Dog title) from the AKC and will
soon be ready to compete in more advanced obedience trials and agility trials.
Other Beagles have also done well in these sports, so it CAN be done, but
more patience and work is required to obedience train Beagles than with
more traditional obedience breeds. In summary, a Beagle is not the best
dog for everyone, but can be an excellent companion for the right family.
Name withheld by request of Tampa, FL writes:
Happy little hounds; strong in body and heart!
I have two little Beagles who are absolutely the greatest housepets.
They are very easy to take care of, requiring little grooming. They have
minimal shedding and do not have a "doggy odor." My dogs are not
big barkers, in fact, my female is practically mute. The male only barks
for a reason, but believe me the volume of his bark can take the paint off
the walls! It is really quite funny. He "tells" on the other dog
if she is doing something she isn't supposed to (digging holes) or has taken
one of his toys. Neither dog ever has barked when someone comes to the door,
so this breed is not watchdog material. They think all visitors come to
see them!
These are very loving dogs. No one can pass my female without stopping to
give her a hug (it's the eyes). My male is a kid-magnet and the happiest
little guy in town. Both dogs let my five-year old daughter hug and kiss
on them. They sleep with my husband and me in the bed at night (OK, I really
love these dogs).
These are also very clever dogs. My female learned to let the male out of
his crate when he was little. She then learned how to let herself out of
her own crate! The funny thing is that the only time she ever opened her
own crate was when food was involved. Beagles will figure out how to get
to something they want. Sometimes I see their eyes practically sparkle with
mischief. Food is their greatest motivator.
I find it better to have two Beagles as they can use up most of their excess
energy on each other.
As I sit down tonight after all the chores are done in the evening and pet
my two little hounds as they lay by my side on the couch, I will remember
the guy who wrote that hounds are not meant to be housepets and then ...
my dogs and I will have a howling good laugh! They are really the best!
mmpete812@yahoo.com of Centerville, OH writes:
Great family pet and lovable lap dog.
To all those who think the Beagle won't make a good housepet, let me
tell you - think again! Our Beagle, who is currently two years old, is a
GREAT pet. He loves to play with our eight-year-old, tries to get our cat
to play with him, likes to be held and petted and then curl up either in
your lap or next to you on the couch. Beagles, while stubborn, CAN be trained.
It will take some work and some maintenance, but it can be done. Our's is
trained so well that 75 percent of the time you don't need to use a voice
command, simply a hand gesture.
Things to be aware of: Beagles are prone to epilepsy, allergies and weight
problems, among other things. If you love your dog then be kind to it, and
keep it at a healthy weight. Beagles love food so much that this can be
hard to do, but is a must.
Another important note: Because Beagles are such a popular breed you must
research very carefully, and be wary of breeders with extremely low prices,
puppies "always" available, no background info on sire/dam, etc.
Since all it takes to register an animal with the AKC is the sire's and
dam's name, "puppy papers" don't mean you've found a quality animal!
Responsible breeders may be hard to find, but it's worth the wait and effort
- don't bring home an animal who might end up sick in a couple of years
and break your heart by passing over the Rainbow Bridge much too soon. Pets
are a lifetime friend, so spend the time to find the right one!
smv@dp.net of Fayette City, PA writes on 2/20/01:
Great house pet and hunter wrapped into one dog.
Whoever said good hunting dogs couldn't be house pets are definitely wrong.
Our 1 1/2 year old Beagle, who is a house pet, was running rabbits at 7
months old. He comes from a great bloodline. When opening the door, we tell
him to go to the jeep , to go hunting, and he runs and sits next to the
jeep door. He hunts no more than 20 feet from my husband, and never has
to chase after him.
As far as a house pet, he is fantastic. We cage trained him, which only
took 2 weeks. After a couple months, we let him have the run of the house,
while we are at work. Which is about a 6 - 8 hour day. He did go through
the "chew everything I see" stage, but eventually he grew out
of it. He is wonderful, and I wouldn't trade him in for anything. He knows
when you are upset or happy. He always puts a smile on your face. And no
matter how mad you think you get at him, one look at his eyes, and you forget
why you were mad.
MGuay@webtv.net of Raynham, MA writes on 11/5/00:
What more could you ask for?
I breed, raise, train and field trial Beagles. After having had over a dozen
different dog breeds as pets over the years, I feel the Beagle is the best
all around family pet. They have a big dog's spirit in a small compact body.
They are such "easy keepers" that you can have several of them
and still not have the work invovlved in caring for one big dog. They are
excellent companions - will act as lapdogs, yet will bark fiercely in protection
of you and the family should a stranger approach. They are fun, spontaneous
and easy going - they are great travelers and explorers. Beagles bond with
you. They look at you with such love and affection you can actually feel
their emotion. With kids they are excellent - they are eager playmates,
and withstand a lot of affection and attention without ever tiring of it.
I have not had a single one bite; they are gentle and passive dogs, and
males are a gentle nd pssive a females. I have never had to worry about
the neighborhood kids coming to play with my dogs or pups. You just don;thave
the fears about aggression you can have with some of the larger fiercer
breeds. They also are great in that they require very little in the way
of grooming - some of mine stay clean all by themselves, and actually wash
up as a cat would! They shed so little, that they are great house pets -
there is no need to vacuum up their hairs every day as with some breeds,
and in fact, both my cats shed way more hair than any of my beagles. Although
I suffer from asthma and allergies, these dogs are so short haired and shed
so little that they don't bother me; I have had other dogs that have actually
made me sick with asthma. Although begales are little dogs, they are not
wimps - they are courageous dogs who will chase a fox or coyote in the morning,
act as a watchdog all afternoon, play with the kids after dinner, and then
curl up in bed with you at the end of the day. Lastly, I love beagles because
they are such HAPPY dogs - they are so good natured that some of their enthusiam
is bound to wear off on whomever they meet! Beagles give more in love and
affection than they expect to receive in return or require in terms of care
- it is sure nice to come home to such a loyal loving hound at the end of
the day!
EShook@Hotmail.com of Ohio writes on 4/29/00:
Great dogs with some training, but not for everyone.
Beagles are a hunting breed. You can't expect them to cling to you like
a companion breed or a herding breed. They are good companions but very
high energy dogs. If you want a quiet companion you should get another reed.
They are intelligent, sometime too much for their own good. With proper
training a Beagle may be a good dog for you.
doggirl1357@hotmail.com of the US writes on 3/10/00:
A very good hunter and household pet.
The Beagle, a hound, is a very good breed to have with children. They are
not HUGE, in fact, not that big at all, and they don't eat a whole lot.
They do good in dog shows too. However, they need room to run or be walked
daily. They are very smart, but NEVER abuse it, or for that matter, any
dog. Beagles should be fed 1-2 cups of dog food a day, and fresh water daily
too. The Beagle IS NOT for people who cannot play or walk it daily. Housetraining
is nessary early in puppyhood if kept in the house. Beagles are short-haired
and need to be brushed once a week. These dogs are very active, and need
to be walked for 30 minutes at least. There are two kinds of Beagle, 13
inch and 15 inch. There once was beleved to be a "Teacup Beagle"
in the 1500's. No such dog lives now. Beagles may be gunshy at first if
made a hunting-dog. Otherwise this dog is highly recommended, but do your
homework and study the breed and know the Beagle before you buy.
SHowarth@concentric.net of Los Angeles, CA writes on 1/17/00:
Beagles are the best - beautiful, loving and incredibly smart.
Based on 13 years experience with a Beagle, it is hard to explain what a
loving, intelligent dog a Beagle can be. True, Beagles are bred to hunt
- without any training, my first Beagle (who came from field champions)
KNEW to chase his prey in a circle, so it would come back around to the
hunter. We were not hunters, but understanding his intuitive methodology
allowed us to wait patiently for him to return to us - rather than crashing
through the woods after him. If raised as family companions - i.e., indoor
dogs - Beagles are totally affectionate and loving. They are also very good
with children. Though our last beagle was almost never around children,
she was totally gentle with little ones - even when they were tormenting
her. As for intelligence? Once I realized that my Beagle was TOO smart -
and almost as obstinate as I am - I did much better. I fully believe that
she understood not only tone of voice and behavioral context, but also words.
Other favorable attributes: "low maintenance" - no fancy roomers
needed; minimal shedding; small, but solidly built - a real dog. I cannot
imagine choosing any breed other than a Beagle - and I cannot conceive of
any other breed outranking a Beagle!
beaglersq@msn.com of U.S. writes on 11/1/99:
Can be wonderful, intelligent family members.
Those people who think Beagles cannot be wonderful family pets are very
much mistaken. Not only can Beagles make great family pets, but they can
then go directly out to the woods and hunt with you (if you have trained
them to do so). Your average beagle is FAR from stupid. Beagles are simply
stubborn. Taking a Beagle through obediance is a must for the new Beagle
owner. If you'd like to hunt with you Beagle (and still have the dog at
the end of the day) you must train them for hunting. The best field trial
and gun dog champions in the world didn't come by it without some training.
And learn to ignore those "sad hound" eyes, that's part of their
charm...it's also the way they get around doing what you have instructed
them to do. In short, if you want a loving, affectionate dog and have the
patience and time to train a dog, then a beagle may be the best dog you
could ever want.
dreamreality@wish.net of Rijsbergen, The Netherlands writes on 10/24/99:
Greatest dogs you will ever know.
If you are looking for a dog who make you laugh, make you cry, make you
angry, made glad, in shorter words have all the emotions you ever want to
feel, you have to take a Beagle! Beagles are the most wonderfull lovely
persons on earth. I know by experions, I live together with 11 of them.
I almost feel one of the pack and that feels good!
skyridgedogs@hotmail.com of Arkansas writes on 10/10/99:
This is a happy, gentle, loving dog with a great personality.
The Beagle is a breed that can live with anyone - young or old, rich or
poor. This is a dog that does not think "mean thoughts," but wants
to love a family with devotion and enthusiasm. I you are a hunter, sedentary
couch potato, dog show person, or performance event person - it doesnt matter.
If that is what you want that is what your Beagle will want.
sloviter@aol.com of Boston, MA writes on 10/6/99:
Not for everyone, but can be an excellent pet.
On Christmas Eve 1995, I was with my husband's family on vacation in the
somewhat rural hills of North Carolina when we heard our then 4 month old
beagle, Zach, making unexplainable, terrifying, noises in his cage. When
we rushed to him, he was experiencing what we later found out to be a grand
mal seizure - an epileptic fit. When we returned to Boston after a marathon
24-hour drive back north, our vet tried to determine the cause of the seizure.
She wanted to rule out epilepsy because he was so young, but after several
more grand mal seizures, our 5 month old beagle was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Zach took phenobarbitol tablets for most of his three years, which reduced
his seizures from several a day to once a week. In the beginning, the drug
did not affect his behavior or abilities. He was the lively, adorable, loving
beagle we had known to love, but, after a year and a half, he noticeably
became more disoriented and incontinent. By the time he was three years
old, he had no idea who we were, where he was, or what he should do.
Despite Zach's unfortunate medical history, he was - in his prime - a quintessential
beagle: always curious, extremely friendly, and fun. We had bought Zach
knowing what beagles were like, and we were prepared for his propensities.
However, Zach's epilepsy fundamentally changed who and what he was. Of course,
throughout Zach's life, we never faulted him, faulted his breeder and lamented
his short end of the stick.
The moral of the story is that we should not have been so eager to bring
home the first beagle we met and should have been more wary and inquisitive
about his background. A caveat to any potential dog owner: be responsible.
Research the breed. And, interview breeders and be prepared to walk away.
We probably should have.
Name withheld by request of Florida writes on 10/5/99:
I have seen stones with more intelligence than a beagle.
Beagles are nice dogs, but they are called hounds because that is what they
do, they hunt. That means they will run for days on a scent, forget where
they live, and disregard everything except finding the scent. They do not
make good house pets, Why? That is simple....because they are hounds and
hounds were meant to hunt, not sit in your lap and watch TV. If you want
a lap dog, look elsewhere. If you want to hunt and tramp through woods,
get a Beagle.
Name withheld by request of Ontario, Canada writes on 10/1/99:
Generally a GREAT dog, love kids!
Beagles are known as those little hounds that always have thier nose to
the ground! They are GREAT with children but like any other breed needs
obedience training. Beagles are lead by thier noses! and they LOVE food!
Beagles are stero typed as Un-Trainable, well they are not, you need a GOOD
trainer & you have to go to ALL the classes not just 4 out of 10 because
you think you've learnt everything trust me there is A LOT more! Beagles,
love kids & make a good family pet, Trust me I was born into a Beagle
family & I've had them all my life.