The Beagle is a hunting dog that uses scent to track game. It is a member of the hound group and in addition to being hunting dogs used to track game such as rabbit and other small game, they are also used for their keen sense of smell as scent hounds at airports to detected prohibited products being imported from other countries.
History of the Beagle
Although the Beagle as we know it today began being bred in the United Kingdom in the 1830 as a combination of other breeds of the hound group, including the Talbot Hound, it is believed that the Beagle has been used for its sense of scent for over 2000 years. There are traces of the Beagle breed to as far back as ancient Greece and the dogs have been depicted in paintings, books and even on film since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The Beagle was a very popular dog bred in England and became recognized by the AKC in 1884. Early depictions of the Beagle in paintings do not resemble the image of the modern day Beagle.
Appearance of the Beagle
The Beagle is said to look quite a bit like the Foxhound although the muzzle of the Beagle is shorter. It is a smaller breed hound that is about 14 inches high and will weight around 25 pounds on the average. They have a large nose and their eyes are usually large and wide. The coloring of the Beagle is usually a mixture of black, tan and white. Field dogs will be smaller than dogs that are bred for show and the spotting will not matter as much on the field dog.
There are several different varieties of Beagles and crossbreeds of the Beagle have been used as far back as the 1850s as hunting companions with the Beagle often being cross bread with a terrier so that it could retrieve. There is a distinction between the English and the American Beagle with the English Beagle being slightly larger than the American version of this breed.
Use Of Beagle
Beagles were mostly used for hunting small game such as rabbits. They were considered to be the ideal hunting companion for those who were just beginning hunting. When hunting in the undergrowth, they are often preferred over spaniel. Many hunters who hunt rabbit and other small game will hunt with more than one dog and the Beagle will stay with the pack, which can be very helpful if you are expecting a long hunt. For the most part, the Beagle is ideal for rabbit hunting as it is quick and can easily flush out the rabbit due to its agility and remarkable sense of smell. They have always been popular with those who wish to follow behind during the hunt, such as beginning hunters or those on horseback, because they will not stray yet will actively seek to flush out game.
They are not used for hunting waterfowl and are most often used for upland hunting. They will flush out game to assist the hunter, but do not retrieve.
In temperament, the Beagle is a good companion dog and easy to train. It is not known to be an aggressive dog at all, is very amiable and will get along with family members as well as other dogs.
