What Makes a Beagle Famous

By Richard Cussons
2008-03-09

What Makes A Beagle Famous

Do you know Snoopy, coined as the world's famous beagle? The cartoon
character Snoopy became so popular among kids and even among adults. It
has became popular not just in television shows, magazines and films
but also in different collectibles such as mugs, pillows, towels, bags
and other stuff. What's in a beagle that makes him famous?

The
beagle, a medium-sized dog is a member of the hound group. These scent
hounds, primarily developed for tracking hare, rabbit and other game
are better at ground-scenting. Moreover, their sharp sense of smell and
tracking instinct are the reasons why they are used to detect
prohibited agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine.

These
medium-sized dogs are generally between 13 to 15 inches at the withers
and weigh between 20 to 25 pounds. This breed's muscular body is
covered with medium-length, smooth, hard coat and comes in a range of
colors. The most common is the Tricolor, white with large black areas
and light brown shading. There is also Classic Tri as well as Faded
Tri. Beagle may also appear in two-color variety with white as the base
color.

Their happy temperament is another reason why they are
chosen as pets by most dog lovers. These pack animals enjoy company and
can get along well with other dogs. They are also good with children.
Despite their intelligence, beagles can be hard to train because they
are bred to become single-minded and determined ideal for long chase.
They have their minds of their own and tend to follow their own sense
of smell that's why they are sometimes difficult to recall.

This
breed can live for up to twelve years. They are known to have less
inherited health problems but they are prone to epilepsy,
hyperthyroidism, ear infections because of their long floppy ears and
eye problems such as glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. In rare cases,
beagles at a very young age can be affected by immune mediated
polygenic arthritis, a condition wherein the immune system attacks the
joints.

Since they are primarily developed to hunt hares, their
stamina is great and energetic. They do not tire easily when exercised
however, regular exercise is necessary because inactive beagles may
become obese. Beagles rely on their owners to regulate weight and
owners must also be aware that this breed eats whenever there is food
around. Something for owners to watch out! Their nature as working dogs
may lead minor injuries such as cuts and sprains so make sure to bring
along with you the necessary items when you're out for hunting.



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