Beagle Hound

The Beagle hound is a very ancient hunting breed. Dogs with a good nose were used in ancient Greece and France. The breed got its name from the Celtic word “beag.” The appearance and talents of the breed were brought to perfection in the medieval England, although Beagles of the Middle Ages were much smaller than their descendants we know today. There were three varieties of the Beagle popular with the monarchy and nobility: Glove Beagles and Pocket Beagles famous for their small size, and Singing Beagles notorious for their melodious voice. In the 19th century, the breed established its modern looks. Beagles became larger, stronger, and more agile to track foxes.

The Beagle hound was introduced to America in 1876. The American variety of the breed is smaller, as these dogs were aimed at hunting rabbits. The only difference between the American and European varieties of the breed is the size of the dogs. While the AKC (American Kennel Club) recognizes two size varieties of the breed: under 13 inches at the withers and under 15 inches at the withers and rejects larger dogs, in Great Britain, large Beagles well correspond to the breed standard.

The Beagle hound of today is used for hunting small game: raccoons, hare, rabbits, and birds. The talents of the Beagle are numerous: it tracks and chases the game, retrieves it on land and water, digs and climbs. Beagles are widely used for detecting drugs, arson, termites, and prohibited plants. They are very useful in searching and rescuing people in emergencies. Friendly personality, loyalty and easy upkeep make this breed a popular pet. Beagle hounds are very intelligent and faithful, which makes them excellent therapy animals. Because Beagles trust anyone, they cannot be used for personal protection and guarding the property.

Beagles are rather independent and self-assured, but they are bred to hunt in packs, so they love companionship of humans, dogs or other animals. They should not be left alone for long, because without communication, these dogs can become neurotic and destructive. A Beagle hound explores and chases everything that attracts its attention, so it should not be left unsupervised in public places.