| The Beagle is a sturdy and attractive dog | | | | up a scent. |
| with a full blast of energy. Originally bred | | | | |
| to track fox, this breed has a great sense of | | | | Size: Beagles are among the smaller scent |
| smell and like other scent hounds, will | | | | hounds which com in 2 varieties, the first |
| likely to ignore you and everything else when | | | | stands about 13in at the shoulder and the |
| hot on a scent trail. | | | | other is more than 13 but not exceeding 15in. |
| | | | He weighs between 18-30lb. |
| For this reason, extra care must be taken to | | | | |
| make sure that he does not wander off. He is | | | | History and origin: This breed is one of the |
| a happy dog that loves children and gets | | | | smallest of the hounds. He is an ancient |
| along well with other pets. | | | | breed that has been a great companion to |
| | | | sportsmen for hundreds of years. The Beagle |
| The breed standard describes this dog as A | | | | was first mentioned by name in writings |
| merry hound whose essential function is to | | | | published in 1475. |
| hunt, primarily hare, by following a scent - | | | | |
| bold with great activity, stamina, and | | | | They were used to hunt in packs for hare and |
| determination - alert, intelligent, and of | | | | were first imported into the United States |
| even temperament - a sturdy and | | | | for this purpose. They have hunted many |
| compactly-built hound, conveying the | | | | different quarries in different climates |
| impression of quality without coarseness. | | | | including jackal, wild pig, and deer. |
| | | | |
| Although this breed is affectionate and | | | | In the United States and Canada, they are |
| intelligent, he requires patients and | | | | used as gun-dogs to seek out and retrieve |
| persistent training from the first day of | | | | game and to hunt by scent in competitive |
| training because of its stubborn nature in | | | | Field Trials. |
| which he is easily distracted. | | | | |
| | | | Feeding: Because this breed is likely to put |
| It is very rare to find scent hounds, | | | | on weight, 1-2 meals per day are sufficient |
| including the Beagle, in the obedience ring | | | | for an adult Beagle with no tidbits. |
| because their nose often overrules their | | | | Recommended amount of feeding is 1-1 cans |
| brain. Also similar to other scent hounds, | | | | (13.3oz size) of meat diet with added |
| the Beagle was bred to bark, bay, and howl to | | | | biscuits in equal amount or 3 cupfuls of a |
| alert the hunter to his location during the | | | | complete dry food. |
| hunt. | | | | |
| | | | Exercise: Daily exercise such as walks and |
| He may run away and is not likely to come | | | | occasional runs is required for this breed. |
| when called so you may need a secure fence | | | | |
| that he cannot get under or over. Always | | | | Grooming: Their shedding coat is tough, |
| keep him on leash whenever you take him out, | | | | weatherproof, and requires very low |
| otherwise he may take off the second hi picks | | | | maintenance grooming. |