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Beagle

Lively and intelligent animals, Beagles are the smallest dogs in the hound group.  They are very independent and will roam, if given the opportunity.  Highly vocal dogs, they howl, especially when left alone, and they love digging.  Beagles were bred in Britain, as early as the fourteenth century, from small Foxhounds to create a dog suitable for hunting alongside people on foot, and were adept at chasing rabbits and hares.  During the 1950s, Beagles were the most popular family pets in the United States, and this is reflected in the character Snoopy, the enigmatic Beagle in Charles M. Schulz's long-running cartoon strip, Peanuts.

Breed Category

Hound

Temperament

Beagles are affectionate and friendly and make popular family pets because they are good with children.  Rigorous obedience training should be started at an early age; Beagles tend to display a variety of behavioral problems--including howling, digging, and the tendency to roam.

Appearance

The Beagle's short, weatherproof coat comes in the classic hound colors of white, tan, and black.  A typical Beagle has a handsome, almost square muzzle and intelligent, dark brown eyes.  The ears are large with rounded tips and hang down beside the cheeks.  The body is muscular and taut, and the tail is carried up, though not over the back.

Size:    Height at withers 13-15 in

Weight:    18-30 lbs  

Exercise Requirements:    Considerable--daily walks and off-leash runs in fenced area

Grooming Requirements:    Minimal

Life Expectancy:    13-14 years

Things to Consider

1. Prone to some hereditary health problems

2. Excessive barking

3. May be difficult to train

 

Source

Information taken from "DOGS: An Owner's Guide"

Writer and Editor: Helen Stillwell

Photo taken from www.akc.org