Beagle is one of the breeds of hunting dogs, which is characterized by mobility, mischievous disposition, well-developed scent. These are curious animals with a light, friendly, but purposeful character.
Breed characteristics
The ancient hunting breed of dogs called the beagle is today considered one of the most popular in the world. British scientists were engaged in the breeding of such pets, for this reason the dog has English roots. Beagle - a small animal, has a strong physique and growth from 33 to 38 centimeters. The head of a representative of this breed is characterized by massiveness, a dome-shaped, but at the same time not rough outlines.
The muzzle is not pointed; there are no wrinkles or folds on it. The nose is black in color, the lips are slightly sticking out and slightly sagging. The eyes of representatives of this breed are usually black or hazel. Like other hunting dogs, the beagle has an elongated neck, which helps the animal to follow in its tracks. The ears of the pet are long, they are pressed against the cheekbones.
The animal is characterized by an athletic figure, short muscular limbs. The fur is dense, of small length, the same in all parts of the body. A feature of the breed is three-colored wool. In the color, the presence of black, red, white colors is mandatory, while the tail has a snow-white hue. The weight of a male of this breed is about 11 kilograms, and females - 10.
This pet has an excellent character, the animal always obeys its owner and executes commands. Beagles love children, along with them dogs are ready to aggressively explore the territory, play active games, tirelessly run and jump.
This animal simply emanates joy and love of life, it does not show aggression, so if you are a dull and depressed person, then a beagle is not a pet for you.
Content Features
Beagles are best kept in an enclosure or in a fenced area. The pet prefers space and freedom of action. It’s not worth getting such a dog if you are a tenant of an apartment in a high-rise building, as this dog barks and howls quite loudly. Most likely the neighbors will be unhappy with the constant noise coming from the animal.
Care
The beagle is a clean creature, so leaving, although very simple, is necessary for him.
- Cleaning the coat with a damp cloth and combing. Since the fur of the representatives of this breed is not long, it is enough to comb the pet once a week. More often it is necessary to carry out this procedure during a molt of a dog. Dogs rarely need bathing, it is advisable to do this only in case of urgent need and severe contamination of the coat. It’s enough to bathe the beagles once a year, as their hairline is characterized by a repulsive function.
- Visual examination. The eyes of dogs are an indicator of their state of health. For the purpose of prevention, they are checked every other day. For these procedures, the owner should buy a special dog eye care product. In the presence of secretions, the organs of vision are wiped with a preparation applied to a cotton swab. If the animal has a dull look and constantly has problems with the eyes, then it should be taken to the veterinarian.
- Examination and cleansing of the ears once a week. Due to the fact that the external organs of hearing are pressed to the cheekbones, they are poorly ventilated, so the animal may experience problems associated with the ingress and development of bacteria. With timely inspection and cleaning of the ears, the risk of serious diseases of the beagle’s ears can be avoided.
The representative of this breed does not need to trim the claws, they are quite short and grind on their own. Walking an active pet is worth twice a day, while the time spent in the fresh air should be at least an hour. If the pet runs up and gets tired, it will behave calmer indoors, which means that the house will be quiet.
Food
Beagle puppies, like adult representatives, can eat dry food or homemade food. As soon as the baby is born, the owner will need to choose the type of baby food, as mixed feeding for thoroughbred dogs is unacceptable. It is necessary to feed the puppy about 5 times a day, gradually reducing the number of meals. An adult dog should eat twice a day.
This pet does not have food measures, so the owner should monitor his meals. Every day, a beagle who eats natural foods should eat the following foods:
- lean meats;
- fish of marine species from which bones are extracted;
- meat products and animal liver;
- pitted turkey;
- dairy and dairy products;
- fruits vegetables;
- cereals;
- boiled eggs.
It is forbidden to give a pet smoked meats, sweets, seasoned and too salty dishes.
Also, do not give pork, and meat is thawed before serving or poured with boiling water. In order for the dog to brush its teeth, it needs to give bones or calf tails once a month.
If a thoroughbred dog eats industrial feed, then it’s worth buying premium quality product. For puppies a separate line of this product is produced. If the animal has not finished eating dry food, then it will be better to throw it away for 120 minutes.
Health
The activity of the beagles indicates that they are in good health. The owner must remember to regularly vaccinate his pet in order to protect him from dangerous ailments. The most common diseases of a hunting dog include the following:
- otitis media;
- eye diseases, for example, glaucoma, cataract;
- epilepsy;
- diabetes;
- hepatitis;
- spinal disc disease;
- lymphosarcoma;
- dermatitis.
You should not expect ease in training such an animal. For the baby to learn to carry out any commands, the owner will need a lot of patience. Dog breeders noticed that the pet works well for treats. Representatives of this breed can be used to search for living creatures in the wake. But the safety qualities of the beagle are not at a high level, since he is very loyal to people. The cost of a puppy is about $ 400, and an adult pet can be bought 4 times more expensive.
Advantages and disadvantages
The hunting dog, the beagle, like other representatives of the animal world, has its own advantages:
- friendly character, non-aggressive;
- endurance;
- attractive appearance;
- hunting skills, good scent.
There are not so many minuses in the animal, however, dog breeders note that such a pet can not be without attention for a long time, otherwise it can spoil furniture and home decoration. Also, the beagle is difficult to train, can be cunning and stubborn. Due to the excessive activity of animals of this breed, they should not be wound up by old people, lazy or busy people. By cons can also be attributed high level of credulity, this baby can leave with an outsider if he calls.
Content Benefits:
- Feels great both in an apartment and in a private house;
- the animal lacks excessive salivation and a specific smell;
- when molting does not create trouble with cleaning and care, as it has a short coat;
- does not show legibility in food.
The content of the beagles may cause some difficulties. The disadvantages of growing such a pet include its gluttony, which entails obesity and other health problems. This dog also barks loudly, and not all neighbors may like this.
The mobility of a hunting pet can create discomfort when it is walking, as the dog may get under the car or run away.
Reviews
Beagle is a breed of dog that many people love. The owners of these animals have already appreciated their activity, friendliness, love of life. Feedback from dog breeders suggests that with such a pet, no one will have time for boredom. The dog takes root well in the family and quickly finds a common language with all its members, including children. Also, the owners of the beagles argue that the dog needs to be raised and trained from a young age, otherwise the activity of the pet will become its big minus.
This is a small breed of dogs, animals do not create difficulties in the maintenance and care. From a hunting dog, a pet turns into a pet with which you can have fun.
In the next video you will find more information about the Beagle dog breed.