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Report: For The Beagle Fans

The friendly little Beagle must have a lot going for him. Ever since the 1950’s when he took over the number one spot in popularity in the dog world, according to the old American Kennel Club registrations, he has managed to stay in the top ten as one of the nation’s favorite purebred dogs.

There are a lot of good reasons for this well-established popularity. First, and perhaps most important of all, the Beagle is among the least expensive of the purebred breeds, which automatically puts it within the reach of more dog lovers and families that may not want to spend too much money on a purebred for the kids.

A good, sound pet Beagle puppy can be purchased for anywhere in the several hundred dollar range. Show quality puppies are less than five hundred dollars at most breeders. Those for which a breeder is willing to guarantee championship, or have been trained to chase rabbits, will cost more perhaps.

Beagles which have already won championships in the show ring can take you right up to the upper three or four figure category, but such qualifications are not necessary to have an upstanding Beagle that will last years to come.

In addition to its down-to-earth, reasonable price range, the Beagle has many other enchanting features which set it apart from other canine aristocrats. For instance, there is an absolute minimum of care and grooming involved. There is hardly any shedding, and no long silky coat to keep untangled – an absolute dream for anyone that does not get excited about daily brushing and care for matted coats.

Nor are there any feathering ears, feet, and tail to gather burrs or stickers when they play outdoors with the children – and they LOVE to play with the little ones!

Another point in their favor is that they are hunting hounds, which means they have healthy appetites so you don’t need to worry about pleasing finicky eaters. (Hunting hounds are widely known for being heavy eaters to fuel their energy expenditure).

And should you decide to have that “one litter” you will find that Beagles are easy whelpers, have moderate-sized litters, and the puppies are without a doubt among the most adorable of any breed. A strong selling point if you can bear to part with even one puppy!

The size of the Beagle is also an advantage. It comes in two acceptable sizes according to the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed – the first size is under 13 inches and the second is from 13 to 15 inches at the shoulder. It is an average-to-small size dog which fits into any type of house, apartment, or kennel.

This ideal size assures the owner that the dog is substantial enough to withstand the rough and tumble onslaught of young children without sustaining broken bones, yet will be cozy in any atmosphere, so long as it is lives inside with the family.

Too many owners buy an exotic looking dog, many times a toy or miniaturized purebred, because it is the current rage or it appeals to them personally, which actually ends up being far too small and breakable for children to roughhouse with and really enjoy.

All dogs love to romp with children so it is up to the parents to provide a dog which can keep up with the activities of every member of the family without the risk of personal injury. Veterinary bills for fractures and internal injury are more common than most people would believe and are generally attributable to mismatched dogs and owners - hence, the Beagle is always the best choice!

Bring On The Beaglers!

The most significant reason for the fast-growing popularity of the Beagle is the new surge of activity and interest in the sport of Beagling. Not only is the dog excellent as a house pet, but it is also a great credit to its owner in the field, since it is so proficient as a trailing hound.

There is no better dog in the world than the Beagle when it comes to chasing after rabbits, and unlike other hunting hounds the Beagle is happy to merely track down the elusive hare. It does not need to experience the satisfaction of the kill to enjoy the hunt.

This means that parents – as Beagling today is a family enterprise – can enjoy the outdoors with their children and their dogs without the undesirable and potentially dangerous association with guns and killing.

Beagling is within the realm of sport and not the shoot-to-kill massacre that hunting forays that other breeds can turn out to be. The cry “Tally Ho” need no longer be a death knell.

Another exciting aspect of Beagling is that the dogs are small in size and can be followed on foot rather than on horseback. This keeps expenses down, and physical fitness is an added advantage. There are many Beaglers today who choose to jog after their dogs rather than merely follow along behind smartly attired in traditional livery.

To attest to the wide appeal of Beagling today all you need to do is look at the records for field trials in the United States. By the early seventies there were nearly ten thousand field trials held each year, with almost a quarter of a million starters. Of these trials and starters the Beagles were by far the most popular and account for the greater majority of events - and not without good reason.

The Beagle possesses many of the necessary qualifications which assure a fine performance in the field. They are fast for their size and have a great deal of stamina, a keen nose, and endurance. The American Kennel Club states in their booklet of rules and regulations that the purpose of the trial is for the Beagle to find game and pursue it in an energetic and decisive manner. As any Beagler will tell you, Beagles fit the bill on all accounts!

The History Of The Sport Beagling

The sport of Beagling goes way back into history. British royalty was primarily responsible for the success of Beagling, and names such as Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, Henry VIII, William the Conqueror, the first Prince of Wales, King James I, and William of Orange, to name a few, were all keen on the Beagle dog breed and Beagling.

Beagles were also well represented in the great paintings of the Elizabethan era. Royalty was frequently painted in full court Regalia, bedecked in the crown jewels, and with their favorite little dogs on their laps; or on horseback in the fields with their Beagles running alongside, while the country squires were portrayed gathered outside the inns and taverns with their dogs after the last chase over the lush English countryside.

Beagles also made their impression on the famous writers of the era, gaining mention in the literally world through the works of Sir Walter Scott, Dryden and William Somerville, William Shakespeare in his play “Twelfth Night” has his Sir Toby Belch refer in a most complimentary manner to Maria as “a Beagle true bred.”

With all due respect to “The Hound of the Baskervilles” we find that the famous English master detective writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, makes mention also of a Beagle in his Sherlock Homes tale, “The Missing Three-Quarter”. The Beagle in the story was a member of the Cambridge University Beagle Pack.

Many of the colleges of that day maintained  packs as part of the college sports curriculum, which were supported by grants of subscriptions. They were great sporting attractions and were the forerunners of today’s field trials.

The spirit and personality of the Beagle which has always stood out in the field is also a factor in its increasing numbers and successes in the dog show ring. The outgoing personality, even temperament, and desire to please cannot help but catch the eye of the judges. This may account for its success and accomplishments in the obedience ring as well.

In addition to its desirable size and smooth, compact appearance, the color patterns on the Beagle are appealing and attractive to many people. While the tri-color markings are the most desirable, the red and whites, and the lemon and whites are also beautiful and equally acceptable in the show ring.

Bring On The Pocket Beagle

The admiration of the Beagle has become so great that we may even see a resurgence of popularity for the pocket, or miniature Beagle. The pocket Beagles are those which measure in at ten inches or less at the shoulder, yet are the same type of dog in every other respect.

Pocket Beagles were a favorite with Queen Elizabeth who used to carry hers around in her sleeve, much like the Chinese carried their Pekingese. As a matter of fact, some of our Beaglers today who are breeding pocket Beagles manage to carry them home from the fields in the pockets of their bush jackets, so their name is not at all inappropriate.

The only detrimental feature seems to be that the pocket Beagle is often the same size as the very same rabbit it is chasing, and a distraught owner may find himself digging his pet out after it has followed the hare right down into its hole (quite funny if you think about it!).

Only The Best!

When you combine the attractive color pattern, the ideal size for any type of living accommodations, the outgoing personality, the realistic price, minimum care, and easy feeding and whelping, together with the competence of the Beagle in the field, there is little wonder that Beagles and Beagling have become an all-American sport that almost everyone can enjoy!

No matter how you look at it, the Beagle is one of the best buys if you want a purebred dog!

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