Beagle
Beagle
Made famous by the Peanuts character, Snoopy, Beagles were bred in England as trail hounds, used to hunt rabbits and hares. Beagles are scent hounds and have a tendency to ignore everything but the interesting scent when hunting. A very energetic breed of dog, Beagles are social, curious, intelligent and brave. They are also likely to get into trouble as their hound dog instinct can take over in an instant should a Beagle catch a whiff of an exciting or interesting scent. Male Beagles will grow to an average height of 14 to 16 inches and average weight of 22 to 25 pounds; females, 13 to 15 inches and 20 to 23 pounds. On average, a Beagle will live 12 to 15 years. Most Beagles have a tri-color coat, consisting of red and white, orange and white or lemon and white. It is a short to medium length coat that requires no more than minimal care – regular brushing and bathing only when necessary. Beagles will shed, but not excessively. They have long, wide ears and brown or hazel eyes that often times look like pleading 'puppy dog' eyes. They have a distinct, and often times, familiar baying sound that they make when hunting prey. It is this distinctive howl and ability to pick up on strange scents that make them excellent guard dogs.
