Hardy, Sweet and Inquisitive. The beagle is a medium-sized breed belonging to the
scent hound sporting group. It is a popular choice for pet owners because of
its size and calm temperament and is useful for hunters because of its
sharp sense of smell.
Hey guys, Dogtor Pete here. In this video I am going to review
the Beagle dog breed from a veterinarian's perspective
in order for you to know exactly what to expect when deciding on getting a Beagle.
The word "Beagle" is thought to have derived from old
French, either meaning "small" or "open throat", a possible connection to
the dog's musical bay. Beagle like dogs can be traced back all
the way to the 1300's where they were used in a popular sport,
called "hare hunting" in England. Multiple variations of this
breed existed, with some being so small that you can
even fit them in your pocket! Hence the name, "Glove Beagle". The breed
developed over the years and in the late 19th century they became
popular competitors both on the field and in exhibitions.
Soon after, this dog with the melodic howl came to
be one of the most preferred family pets in the world.
Having a solid structure, the Beagle resembles the Foxhound. Hunters can
follow the dog on foot, and the tuneful bay of the Beagle aids
hunters in locating the dog from a distance. Because of its moderate
size, the Beagle can even be carried to the hunting site where it can then dash
into the dense undergrowth to look for its target. The dog receives protection
against the thick underbrush from its short and coarse coat
and by being an amicable dog, the beagle makes for a great pack hunter,
mixing well with other dogs. His nose is probably the most important part of his
anatomy and you will often find his head close
to the ground searching for an interesting trail to follow.
Beagles have almost 50 times more scent scepters than humans,
making them excellent at picking up scents. Known to be amongst the most
friendly of the hound breeds, the Beagle was developed to be a pack
hunter, which explains his fondness for exploring the outdoors
and its enthusiasm for trailing. This independent breed can be quite stubborn
and does bark and howl, and sometimes you'll just see him
running off on a trail on its own. Because it is also an
incredibly tolerant, calm and adventurously playful dog, the Beagle
also makes for a perfect pet for families with other pets
and children. They can be quite boisterous and might grab your child's
hand when playing though, so they need to be
properly socialized and supervised with very young children.
Because of their pack dog heritage, Beagles enjoy company
and does not want to be left alone. Beagles are also not the best protection
or guard dogs, because they are usually friendly
with everyone they meet. The Beagle is a social dog that is
particularly well suited to the company of humans
and other dogs alike. They do adapt well to small apartments,
given that they are taking on daily leash-led walks. This breed can withstand
temperate climates and is therefore able to live outdoors
for most seasons, as long as it is provided with proper bedding
and an enclosed warm shelter. With its short coarse coat,
the Beagle does not require extensive grooming. Occasional brushing to
encourage turnover of hair and to prevent hair
buildup in your house is all that is needed to keep your
Beagle looking healthy and vibrant! A fenced backyard is a
necessity for a scent hound such as a Beagle. They are
great escape artists and likes to wander off, and seeing that
they are targets for thieves who would steal them
and perhaps sell them to research laboratories where they will be used in
experiments, make sure that your beagle is
microchipped. Beagles do quite well with positive reinforcement
obedience training but ,will most likely switch off
when treated harshly. Adolescent Beagles are full of energy
and will need ways to work it off. When they mature,
the Beagle can become fairly lazy and will be more than happy to just lie
around the house all day. There are also food thieves
and might raid your garbage bin when given the chance. They are prone to
obesity though, so make sure to limit treats and only
give them their daily food requirements. Since Beagles are drop-eared dogs, air
does not circulate well in the ear canal and they are therefore
prone to getting ear infections. So make sure to check their ears every
week for signs of infection. The Beagle has an average lifespan of 12
to 15 years. While this breed is generally healthy
overall, there are some ailments that are known to affect this breed.
Because of their super nose power and small, cute friendly nature,
the "Beagle Brigade" was formed where a team of beagles, alongside
their human counterparts, are used to patrol baggage claim areas
to sniff out contraband food items in more than 20 international airports in
the US! All in all, the Beagle is a fun-loving,
inquisitive and people-orientated breed with an average rating of...
7.3 out of 10! Beagles are great active companions
for both adults and kids alike, but by being hounds, they can also be stubborn
and mischievous and will therefore require patient, creative, obedience
training techniques. Thank you for watching this video. Let me
know down in the comments if you own a Beagle
and if you agree with my evaluation of this breed? Also feel free to give
suggestions on what breed you would like me to review next? If you are new to
my channel, consider subscribing, as I'll be posting
new videos on interesting pet related topics every week. As always,
have a lekker day and I'll see you in another video
next week. Cheers!