Beagle: Personality, Care, and Adoption

Un hunting dog later became an ideal companion dog. beagle He's cheerful, curious, lively, and intelligent. He exudes optimism, which he also shows with his highly contagious good humor. He's also affectionate and very attached to his owner, so much so that he's been called a shadow dog. Among other things, the famous SnoopyCharlie Brown's inseparable companion, belonged to this breed. Generally, it is a medium-sized dog that can live up to 12-15 years. There are two sizes: taller and shorter. The former stands around 30 centimeters tall and weighs 10 kilograms. The latter, on the other hand, stands around 30-40 centimeters tall and weighs 15-20 kilograms. Among the positive traits, it is worth noting that the beagle does not drool or snore.

Index of topics

Origins

The beagle's origins may date back to ancient Greece, although we know for certain that it was the Normans who used it for hare hunting and brought it to England. The breed was first mentioned in the "Laws of the Forest" of King Canute (995-1035), and later became the favorite dog of many English monarchs, including Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603). In her honor, a particular breed of very small beagle was named the Elizabeth beagle. In England, after many centuries, despite having become a companion dog, the beagle is still the most popular and used hound for hunting rabbits, pheasants, and especially hares, which it chases until the animal is physically exhausted.

Features

A vigorous, active and resistant dog, “with a compact build”, the It describes The ENCI (Italian National Breeding Organization). It is a small hound, "the height at the elbow is approximately half the height at the withers." Its weight typically ranges between 10 and 20 kg; the height at the withers for males is 38 cm and for females 33 cm. It has drooping ears and a short coat of various colors. It comes in two sizes: the smallest ones are approximately 30 cm tall, while the larger ones reach up to 40 cm.

Character

They are very affectionate dogs, even with children, with a cheerful and sunny disposition, sociable and playful. They have only one weakness, if we can call it that: they are extremely greedy! Here are some other characteristics.

They love company and hate solitude.
They are lively, energetic and enthusiastic about any activity that is proposed to them. Even the DIY games for dogs They're a great idea to get them involved.
They love the outdoors and a bit of sport in company.
They are sociable.
They have a strong predatory instinct that pushes them to move away especially when walking outdoors.

Types of Beagles

We were saying that there are two main types of beagles: one smaller and one larger. Furthermore, their coat color can come in many different shades and combinations. What are they?

The hair tricolorThe most common color combination is black, hazelnut, and white. The tricolor coat sometimes features speckles and spots of color.
The hair two-colored, for example red and white, hazelnut and white, white and black etc.
the mantello piebald, that is, with colors that do not form well-defined spots but mix with each other.
The coat broken (broken) with basic white and areas of color here and there.
The hair monochrome White.

Cure

Due to its hunting origins, the beagle tends to wander off when out in the wild, especially if it smells something. So be especially careful when walking it. The beagle's coat, which is dense and has a smooth undercoat, should be brushed once a week, but it doesn't need frequent bathing. Keep its ears clean, however, as they are long and pendulous, making them particularly delicate.

Health

The beagle is a generally healthy dog and without major problems, however it can suffer from some disorders and pathologies, such as:

cataract
retinal dysplasia
cryptorchidism
glaucoma
epilepsy

Pay particular attention to the ears, which can easily be attacked by parasites and infections.

How to adopt a beagle

You can buy a beagle from authorized breeders or, better yet, adopt one from a rescue center dedicated to this breed. There are many beagles looking for a new home.

Supply

Feeding varies depending on the age of the dog:

Puppies up to 3 months old should eat on average 3 times a day
adult dogs only twice a day.

The quantities vary depending on the physical activity performed by the dog, preferring a higher protein diet if they are particularly active.

Is a beagle suitable for city life?

Beagles adapt well to apartment life, but they need regular outdoor activities. Short walks aren't enough; they need to be able to run and burn off energy for at least an hour (or more) a day. They're very energetic dogs, requiring constant exercise. Also, keep in mind that they tend to bark a lot.

How long does he live?

The average lifespan of a beagle is around 12 15-years, but it's important to have your dog undergo regular veterinary checkups. This is also because they tend to suffer from hypothyroidism and have particularly delicate ears, prone to various types of infections.

beagle-harrier

As its name suggests, this dog, whose paternity is disputed between France and England, was born from a cross between the Beagle and the Harrier. It is a pack dog for hunting on horseback, but it adapts very easily to living in a familyGentle, loyal, and never aggressive, the Beagle-Harrier is also a suitable companion for children. Its eyes are dark, its ears are pendulous, its fur is thick, its muzzle is long but not square, and its head has the typical braccoid structure. Its ideal weight is between 20 and 25 kilograms.

Beagle: character, care and adoption