The Beagle is a cheerful hunting dog primarily used for hunting, originally for rabbit hunting, relying on scent. Brave, highly active, with endurance and determination. Alert, intelligent, and even-tempered. Friendly and vigilant, showing no aggression or timidness.

Beagle

English Name

Beagle

History

The Beagle is the smallest in the hunting dog category. Originating from ancient Greece. The mixed peoples of the Romans and French once kept this dog for rabbit hunting. The dog was introduced to England in 1066. Due to its small size, it was often carried in pockets, so it was called the Pocket Beagle, from which the modern Pocket Beagle was developed. Elizabeth I, William II, and George III all kept this breed and used it for hunting in the hills of Braydon in the County of Saxony. The British Beagle Club was established in 1895 and landed in the United States after several years. Because the Beagle has ancestry as a rabbit hunting dog from ancient Greece, it was later trained as a fox-hunting dog, hunting in packs and achieving impressive results. It was subsequently used as a laboratory animal, and among canine research animals, only the Beagle is internationally recognized for use. Nowadays, it is raised at home as a companion animal or kept in packs as hunting dogs.

Temperament

The Beagle is small in size, easy to train and capture, called "moving like the wind, calm like a pine." Cute appearance, cheerful temperament, endearing movements, lively, quick reactions, very affectionate to owners, understanding, pleasant barking voice, increasingly popular as a family dog.

Suitable Owners

Because the Beagle is a hunting dog, its need for exercise exceeds other dogs, so it requires sufficient daily activity to meet its required exercise amount. It is not suitable for people who work or the elderly.

Breed Standards

Size

Height: 33-41 cm

Weight: 8-14 kg

Head

The head is relatively long, with a slightly rounded occiput; the skull is broad and full.

Ears: The ears are set slightly low, long, extending forward nearly to the tip of the nose, with a very fine texture, quite wide, almost never standing erect, close to the head, the inside edge slightly curving towards the cheek, with rounded tips.

Eyes: Large, widely set, possessing a gentle, hound-like gaze, with an elegant and pleading expression, color hazel or brown.

Muzzle: Moderate length, straight, with a clear square shape.

Mouth: Flat, lips not drooping, nostrils large and open.

Faults include: head too flat, narrow or too rounded skull, small eyes, sharp or terrier-like eyes, protruding eyes, muzzle too long, thin, appearing cut off under the eyes, or muzzle too short, Roman nose, or upturned nostrils resulting in a snub-nosed appearance. Ears short, placed too high or raised to inappropriate positions.

Body

Neck and throat: Neck light and graceful, rising smoothly from the shoulders, strong but not resistant to shoulder movement, length moderate. Throat neat with no skin folds; slight wrinkles at the junction with the lower jaw are allowed.

Faults: Neck thick and short, set straight on the shoulders. Excess skin on the throat, loose skin to the extent of "dewlap".

Shoulders and chest

The Beagle's shoulders are sloped, muscular, tidy, neither heavy nor resistant to the shoulder. Can move freely, appearing powerful and lively in motion. Chest deep and wide, but not so wide as to hinder normal scapular movement.

Faults: Shoulders too straight, chest width disproportionate or lacking depth.

Back, loin and ribs

The Beagle's back is short, muscular and firm. Loin broad and slightly arched. Ribs well sprung to provide ample space for the chest cavity.

Faults: Back too long, loose or arched. Loin flat or narrow. Ribs too flat.

Forelegs and paws

Forelegs: Straight, with adequate bone substance, proportionate to overall size of the hound.

Pasterns: Short and straight.

Paws: Compact, round and firm, pads full and hard.

Faults: Elbows turning out or bending forward, slanting backwards, bowed forelegs or sausage-like legs. Paws long, loose or splayed.

Hindquarters, thighs, rear legs and paws

Hindquarters and thighs solid, muscular, providing strong drive. Knee joints strong, set low. Hocks firm, symmetrical and moderately bent. Paws compact and firm.

Faults: Cowhocks, hocks too straight, lacking muscle and drive. Spread out paws.

Tail

The Beagle's tail is set slightly high, carried happily but not carried over the back, slightly curved, appearing somewhat short relative to body size, with dense coat on the tail.

Faults: Tail too long, carried in a teapot curve, or inclined forward from the base. Lacking hair, like a rat’s tail.

Coat

The Beagle’s coat fits closely to the body, hard, with medium length typical of hounds.

Faults: Coat short and thin, coat soft in texture.

Color

Beagle colors: any proper hound color.

Genetic Diseases

Genetic diseases: Dwarfism, hip dysplasia.

Common diseases: Periodontal abscess, gingivitis, tartar, glaucoma, corneal dystrophy, fleas, lice, mites, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, third eyelid protrusion, increased intraocular pressure, obesity, intervertebral disc disease, otitis externa.