Beagle dog, health care, temperament, breed and training beagle puppies

The beagle is a hound that ranges from small to medium in size.



Beagles are scenthounds, and were traditionally used for tracking game. Today however, hunting beagles are not very common – beagles as pets are a lot more popular due to their pleasant, amiable temperament. To some extent however, due to their natural tendency and skill at detecting and following scents, beagles are also used as sniffer dogs by various customs and law enforcement agencies.

Beagles have been around for nearly two hundred years, although they have changed considerably in size and appearance.



There were also two main types of beagles – rough-coated and smooth-coated – but today all beagles are smooth coated. The fur is medium length, and is typically white with black and brown. Beagles puppies are tend to be mostly white, with black patches. The modern beagle is between 13 and 16 inches in height, has a slightly broad face with a relatively short and square muzzle (for a hound), and long, soft, rounded ears.



The eyes are large, with a soft expression to them. A beagle typically has a strong neck and broad chest, narrow waist, rather short, strong legs, and a short, white tipped tail. Beagles tend to be muscular, active dogs, and need plenty of exercise, without which they tend to put on weight.
Beagles are intelligent dogs, and also have an excellent disposition. They are rarely aggressive by nature, and neither are they shy, nervous dogs. They are usually very friendly, which is why they do not make for very good guard dogs. In general, beagles respond well to praise and food rewards, and this combined with their intelligence makes them quite easily trainable. However training beagles can be difficult at times, because of their independent nature and their tendency to get completely absorbed in tracking scents that interest them. This behavior is in fact what they have been bred for, and is therefore practically impossible to change.

Like most small to medium breeds, beagles live for around 12 years. Beagles are usually healthy dogs, and do not have too many serious congenital problems. However, spinal problems are not uncommon, and you should watch out for them. Beagles are also susceptible to ear infections due to their long, droopy ears. However, this can be easily prevented by keeping the ears clean and dry at all times. Epilepsy is also rather common among beagles, but this can be treated quite easily.