The Beagles exact history is shrouded in mystery. It is believed by some that the Beagle has been around since before the time of Christ. The word Beagle is believed to come from the Celtic "Beag", meaning small. The Beagle, looking very much like a small Foxhound, could well have gotten it's name in this way. Whether or not the assumption that the Beagle has been around since before the time of Christ is based on this interpretation of the origin of its name I cannot say. It is more likely that the name Beagle was given to the little hound much later than the times of Christ. The ancient "Beagle" was likely bred to fit its master's need than bred to any standard of size and function like we see today. The ancient "Beagle" would likely have been a much larger classification of canine in Celtic times, ranging in size from that of a Foxhound down to a Dachshund, leading me to believe that the actual naming of the breed came to be somewhere nearer its standardization. Being a bit of a Celtic history hobbyist, and finding the Celtic word "beag" believable as the origin of the name "Beagle", it is likely that the popularly held belief that the origins of the small hound called the Beagle lie in ancient France and Southern Britain is accurate.
       The Beagle of today...The "Modern" Beagle was likely "perfected" in the hills and fields of ancient France and Britain. Nobles and royalty, having vast resources at their disposal, owned and managed large packs of Foxhound. The lower nobles and common man, having the desire to hunt but far less resources to put towards the task, developed a small, cheaper to maintain hound...the Beagle.
     The Beagle is often thought of as an English dog. In large part this is true. The Beagle has been hunting hare in the English countryside for centuries. Recognized by the AKC as recently as the 1957, the National Beagle Club was actually founded in the late 1880's and held its first field trials in 1888. The Beagle has since become one of America's favorite breeds.

Behavior Basics

(for additional general info on Hounds relating to the Beagle...see the Coonhound page..."The Nature of the Hound" section of this site)

In a "Brief History of the Beagle" I mentioned

The "Modern" Beagle was likely "perfected" in the hills and fields of ancient France and Britain. Nobles and royalty, having vast resources at their disposal, owned and managed large packs of Foxhound. The lower nobles and common man, having the desire to hunt but far less resources to put towards the task, developed a small, cheaper to maintain hound...the Beagle.

       The Beagle of today is still very much the "common mans" dog. With a temperament approaching New York bravado and possessing a strong "mid western" work ethic, this tough and resilient little hound is more suited to life with your local Ironworker than the socialite.The Beagle is a dog's dog. Sometimes referred to as "the big dog in a little dog body" the Beagle, is a durable, strong willed hunting dog. Typically not yappy like other small breeds, the Beagle is a highly affectionate and loyal friend. Bred for centuries to work in large packs, the Beagle loves company and will prove to be problematic if left alone for long periods regularly. This breeding has also afforded the Beagle a strong pack drive. The Beagle actively understands the function of pack dynamics and will seek to develop a dynamic where ever it goes. This makes it a highly adaptive breed that can function well in a large variety of lifestyles. The Beagle will not view you as its master, but as a member of its pack...all be it a funny looking, upright walking, hairless member, but a member all the same. The strong pack drive of a Beagle makes the Beagle a highly interactive family member. The Beagle WILL function as a MEMBER of your family. The Beagle will not do well in households more accustomed to the "seen and not heard" manner of dog ownership. The Beagle will offer you loyalty and respect and, like many people, demands the same in return. Those who do not return interaction will find the Beagle a troublesome and sometimes quarrelsome dog to live with.  
     The Beagle is often wrongly accused of being stupid. Do not confuse its stubbornness with stupidity. The Beagle is, as are many hounds, a stubborn dog...but not a stupid dog. The stubborn, headstrong nature of the Beagle is by intention not fault. As you will read in the Beagles as hunters section, the stubborn nature of the Beagle is a necessary part of the Beagles performance in the field. The Beagle is an intelligent dog with profound problem solving ability when properly motivated. Assuming your Beagle is stupid is inviting trouble. A Beagle owner saying "I never thought in a million years he/she could get into that" is not uncommon.
     So what motivates your Beagle. There are two main motivators in a Beagles life...its nose and its stomach. The Beagle will eat just about anything and will follow its nose right out into traffic to find it. The Beagles mighty nose is one source of the myths about a Beagles intelligence. Prone to "nose deafness"...or sniffing instead of listening..it is not that your Beagle does not hear you, it is that what ever he/she is scenting is entirely more captivating. This independence should not be viewed as a nuisance but as its nature and one of the factors that make the Beagle a Beagle. If you want your Beagle to come to you, about the only thing that will over ride his temporary deafness is its stomach. Beagles love to eat. With an appetite boarding on gluttony, it can sometimes be difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
     The Beagle is a merry little dog with a big dog demeanor. Friendly to the point of fault, adaptable, and easily maintained, the Beagle is a rough and tumble dog that will enjoy your company. The Beagle works well in a wide variety of climates and environments but will act out (sometimes quite creatively) if it feels its affection and respect are not returned. The Beagle is an easy dog to live with but probably not the good choice as a first dog to own. Persons accustomed to highly obedient breeds, like Labradors, who hang on their masters every command will find the Beagle a challenging housemate. All in All the Beagle is dog that will openly and honestly enjoy you as much as you enjoy him/her.

Beagles as Hunters.

The Beagles has been a favorite of American huntsmen since its introduction to "the new world". Most often associated with hunting Rabbit and Hare, the Beagle is an a very talented hunter. The strong work ethic, physical endurance, and breath taking agility of this stout little hound make them quite a joy to watch in the field.
      I have heard it said that hounds, as pets, retain more of their hunting instinct than other breeds.(this is most often a derogatory reference to the Beagles stubbornness and difficulties in areas of general obedience.) I cannot say that I agree with that statement entirely. There are surely some behavioral differences between hounds as pets and other breeds of hunting dog like Labradors or Spaniels. These differences rise more from the nature of these dogs bred purpose than from the retention of instinct. Labradors, Spaniels, Pointers, and other popular pet hunting dogs are bred to work afield as their masters right arm. These dogs and their masters are a cooperative team working towards a common goal. Obedience and the ability to follow commands is beneficial to the dog as well as the hunter. The Beagle hunts from the other end of the spectrum. The Beagle was bred not only to follow command...but more importantly to follow its nose. The Beagle was bred to hunt of its own accord...to scent, trail, and chase its quarry on its own, without instruction from the huntsmen if necessary. The Beagle is many times sent out to range a field and will wander out of sight of its master. With no master to offer commands or directions, the Beagle must be able to make its own decisions and work of its own accord. These are skills a Beagle must have in order to perform well in the field. The Labrador was bred to serve its huntsmen. The Beagle was bred to hunt as an individual. This difference in purpose is perhaps the greatest source of a Beagle's occasional indifference to spoken command as well as its problem solving abilities. A Beagle who continues sniffing instead of heeding a command to come is not ignoring his master out of spite or arrogance, but is simply doing what he was bred to do. This is something to keep in mind when considering a Beagle. If you are accustomed to an obedient dog, the Beagle may not be your best choice. The Beagle can be trained, they take to any form of positive reinforcement training quite well...this training will however require a bit more patience and more effort on your part than with other breeds.






     

Beagles as pets

     
  We have already touched on a few things about Beagles as pets. While the Beagle may not be the worlds most obedient dog, that does not make it a bad choice for a pet. I usually tell people that the Beagle is not for the faint of heart. People who do not like a dog on their furniture, a dog who is liable to roll in anything stinky, a dog who acts very much like a dog will find the Beagle troublesome. The Beagle is however a great family dog. Beagles typically adore children and view them as some of the best entertainment a dog could ever be blessed with. The Beagle loves to have fun...kids love to have fun...the two usually do very well. The Beagle is as well a very friendly breed. While they may never do well as a guard dog, they will warn you of someone's approach ...barking usually just long enough to be petted. The Beagle is as well a very adaptable dog. They typically adjust very well to nearly any environment and are as happy on the couch being petted as they are at play. Issues of aggression or related behavior are rare. Your Beagle will however need a bit more supervision than other breeds ...issues like a Beagle darting out the front door to go roaming when the pizza man comes are fairly common. The Beagle has a wanderlust. The Beagle will require you to work as its parent and, like a child, that work is ongoing. Persons who cannot tolerate having another "kid" around the house should probably find another breed. All in all the Beagle is an easy dog to own for those who have a bit of patience and good sense of humor. The Beagle is a fun and interesting pet that will be as likely to make you laugh as it is to make you cry with its antics and adventures.

Beagles as Rescues

I am sometimes still amazed by this little dog. After nearly a decade in rescue, the Beagle still surprises me with its resilience and adaptability. While every dog is as different as their histories, as a general rule of thumb the Beagle does very well as a rescue animal. There are always hurdles and always situations with each individual...the degree of which is normally dependant on why the dog came to rescue in the first place...but even some of the most grossly mistreated dogs we have encountered have moved on to become happy bouncing Beagles. The pack dynamic of the Beagle makes it very cognitive of its environment, thus...to a Beagle ...a new environment is a new life and they adjust well. A patient hand and kind heart will make the worst Beagle come around. So adaptable is this breed that even those owner turn-ins who sight behavioral issues ...those issues are typically short lived once the dog is brought here. The Beagle wants to be a happy dog and will do the work it needs to get there...your only job is encouragement.

A Beagles Health

The Beagle is now rated the 4th most popular pet breed. This popularity makes them candidates for Commercial and "backyard" breeders and that will surely have an adverse effect on their health in the coming years. Overall the Beagle is still a healthy breed. The constant introduction of quality stock from professional breeders and hunters keep the genetics of the breed strong. There are always health issues but the Beagle has very few that are common enough to be called characteristic of the breed. A few problems that do show up are bad knees, some liver and digestive problems, and epilepsy. None of these problems are any more common in the Beagle than any other breed however. As always, research, careful selection of breeder and pup will go a long way to having a healthy adult. The Beagles biggest problem is obesity.