The Beagle is a small dog that for years has been chosen in many homes to be the family dog, which is understandable because they are beautiful and sociable dogs, as well as being very affectionate with children.
Despite keeping its strong hunting instinct almost intact, it is usually a loyal and friendly dog that is always eager to please its owner, although it can be a bit stubborn at times.
It integrates without any problem into a home environment and in a short time manages to become one more member of the family. Do you want to know more about him? Let’s go there.
Index of contents
- 1 The Beagle and its character
- 2 Characteristics of the Beagle breed
- 3 The training of a Beagle
- 4 What care does a Beagle dog need?
The Beagle and its character
The Beagle is a very intelligent and sometimes quite naughty dog. Those are the two virtues that make him a companion so dear to the smallest of the house. Once installed in our home, they adapt quickly and participate in everything that happens around them.
Their natural temperament inclines them to always be close to people and other animals in their environment. Always hungry for company and care, they hate being alone for a long time. When this happens they are prone to howling, being able to cause inconvenience to the neighbors.
Another of its most outstanding characteristics is its exceptional traceability, inherited from its origins as a hunting dog. They are born, curious, restless and very funny explorers although somewhat stubborn at times.
Characteristics of the Beagle breed
The Beagle is a medium-sized dog with an average life span of about 12 years. Adults weigh around 15 kg and reach between 35 and 40 cm in height at the withers.
Its complexion is square, that is to say, its height and length are practically the same. Its head is large in relation to the size of its body, although the heads of the females are slightly thinner. Its neck is long and its muzzle is large and wide, as befits a sniffer dog.
The position of their eyes, much more separated than in other races, gives them that adorable expression. Its ears are long, rounded and soft to the touch.
The moderately long tail of the Beagle is in motion most of the time. Precisely on the tail there is a curious fact: to be considered a true Beagle, the tip of the dog’s tail must be white.
This feature was introduced centuries ago by breeders so that the dog was visible when it was crawling with its muzzle pressed to the ground.
The coat is short and very resistant to water. The variety of colors is enormous: white, black, mottled, brown, red, lemon and even blue, although the tricolor variety is the most common.
The training of a Beagle
Educating a Beagle requires a lot of patience. The first and most important thing we have to do is set the limits and make it clear who is in charge.
Finding the right balance between award and correction is important. As negative as constantly scolding the dog is praising and over-rewarding him.
Also keep in mind that even though the Beagle is considered an intelligent dog, it needs your time to learn. The key is in repetition and consistency.
Be patient, because it is easy for a Beagle to get lost. By possessing such a developed sense of smell, the dog can catch a certain smell and put all his attention on it, losing concentration.
This is part of the nature of this breed, so you have to accept it and not get frustrated. But despite everything, and although it may seem like an arduous task, training a Beagle is always a fun experience.
What care does a Beagle dog need?
As with any other breed, it is necessary to take care of the grooming and hygiene of the Beagles to ensure that their coat is always kept in the best conditions. With warm water and a sponge will suffice. We should brush him regularly, especially in times of hair change, in spring and autumn.
They also need daily exercise to ensure good fitness and good health. In addition to this, these dogs need a balanced and good quality diet that meets all their nutritional needs, being recommended to browse the BARF diet for dogs.
If we live in an urban environment and we only have a small garden, it should be perfectly fenced, because the Beagle is a great excavator and it is very easy to find the weak point of a fence or a garden gate through which to escape . In addition to letting them run around in a “Beagle-proof” garden, it is recommended to go for a walk with him for at least an hour each day.
It should also be known that the Beagle is prone to suffering from certain health problems such as hypothyroidism, which manifests itself in symptoms such as obesity and hair loss. Fortunately, the treatment against this ailment is usually simple and very effective. Other fairly common conditions in Beagles are so-called “canine epilepsy,” which is an inherited condition, and back problems.