The exact origin of the breed of dog known as the beagle is unknown but it is thought that this sturdy breed descended from a blend of various English hunting dogs. The breed was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885. Since that time the beagle has gained popularity not just for its hunting ability, but also for its appeal as a family pet. Beagles are pack animals to the extreme and view a human family as their pack. They become very lonely and distressed when left for long periods of time. Their intense sociability is just one of their positive aspects. Beagles have an excellent sense of smell as well as a friendly temperament. Beagles are also attractive physically; they are short haired, with a sturdy body structure, and brown eyes with a characteristically sad expression. Beagles come in various colors (and all are accepted in competition by the AKC) but they are most often represented in the tri-colored shades of black/white/tan.
Because of their short, easy to manage fur, grooming your beagle is a fairly easy task. A yearly bath and occasional dry shampoo is enough to keep these small dogs clean. The AKC and other beagle experts recommend several grooming techniques for this affable breed.
If you choose to groom your beagle at home there are several areas specific to the beagle that require special attention. The ears, feet, and eyes along with the coat need consistent grooming. Because the beagle has long, pendulous ears, water and bacteria may become trapped inside and infection may develop. Because ears are prone to infection, it is necessary to keep them clean to maintain your beagle's health.
Beagles, like other dogs, require regular maintenance of their nails. These may require more or less trimming depending on your dog's activity level. If nails are not trimmed, they may become infected and painful for your beagle to walk on. Eyes and eyelashes are another area that should be groomed. Beagle eyes have a characteristic sad expression. They are usually brown or hazel and have longer eyelashes than other dogs. It is important to make sure beagle's eyelashes do not grow into his eye as surgery will be required to correct this condition.
Grooming your beagle helps care for his appearance and maintains his overall health. Whether you groom your beagle yourself or have your veterinarian's office or pet groomer do the grooming, take care of specific areas such as your beagle's ears, nails, and eyes. Weekly brushing and occasional bathing will help to maintain a healthy coat.
Follow these guidelines to care for his problem areas. Because they are prone to infection due to water or bacteria becoming trapped inside, the long, pendulum-shaped beagle ears should be checked at least once per week to ensure they are clean and free of infection. Remembering to do this at each brushing is a good rule of thumb.
When grooming your beagle's nails, trim them with a quality nail clipper. There is no set frequency for when nails should be trimmed since length depends on your beagle's activity level. When you can hear your beagles' nails clicking on the floor it is probably a good time for trimming. Use high-quality nail clippers and take your time. If your beagle is hard to handle when using nail clippers you may want to have a professional groomer do the clipping.
The Michelle Adams believes in yearly baths for her pets. Her pets do not agree.
Beagle grooming can be performed by owners or professional pet groomers.
Michelle Adams is someone who has researched many breeds of dogs, including the Beagle. Since breeding brings certain instincts and behaviors into play with different types of dogs understanding the history of your Beagle will better equip you to work with your new pet. Although some of the history is a bit hard to trace, there is plenty of good Beagle information out there to give you a good understanding of the origin of your new pet.
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