The Beagle
The Beagle dog breed is a medium-sized hound. Beagles are scent hounds used primarily for hunting rabbits to larger hares. Friendly and lovable, the beagle has been the dog breed of choice for everyone from President Lyndon Johnson to Charlie Brown. Their non-threatening demeanor has led the USDA, along with its counterparts in Australia and New Zealand, to use beagles to search airplane passengers for contraband. Sadly, their trusting, gentle temperament means beagles are also the most commonly used dog breed in animal experiments in the US.
The Beagle's Behavior
According to Wikipedia, Beagles tend to be gentle-tempered and friendly. Still, some people think they can be stubborn and hard to train. Beagles are generally not aggressive and work well with children.
Remember that the Beagle breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behavior. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.
Beagle's Physical Characteristics
Here are characteristics of the beagle
Size: 13-15 inches
Coat: medium-length hound dog-style coat
Color: The American Kennel Club's breed standard does not make a big deal of color, saying any "true hound color" is acceptable. According to Wikipedia, the most common beagle coat types are: tricolor (white with large black and light brown spots), Two-color varieties (white with lemon, red,), Tick-Varieties (white or black with different color spots).
Eyes: large, brown or hazel.
Ears: long, fairly broad.
Skull: fairly long and slightly domed.
Muzzle: squared and medium-long
Nose: nostrils large and open
Tail: slightly curved and shorter than most hound tails
Beagle's Origins and History
Below are some quick facts on the history of the beagle breed, according to Wikipedia.
Country/Region of Origin: United Kingdom
Original purpose: hunting hares
Name: The origin of the word "beagle" is uncertain. Possibly it comes from the French begueule (meaning "open throat", or "loudmouth") or from an Old English, French, or Welsh term beag, meaning "small." Other possibilities: the French beugler (meaning "to bellow") and the German begele (meaning "to scold").
Historical notes: Edward III had a pack of up to 120 hare hounds with him on the battlefield during the Hundred Years' War. It is thought that these were likely either beagles or ancestors of beagles.
