Brief History of the Beagle Breed

submitted: May 8th 2008 | by: MichelleAdams | Total views: 35 | Word Count: 598 | PDF View | Print Article

There are few breeds of dogs that are as popular in this country today as the Beagle. This compact pup is big on personality, and with patient and persistent training, can be a welcome addition to many homes. But how did the Beagle end up in this country? This breed of dog has a long and interesting history that can be traced back to the early years of civilization. It is thought that Beagle-type dogs existed in early Greece, and later in England. It is also possible that Beagles were used in countries like France and Italy.

The Beagle as we know it today was probably brought from France to England in the early part of the second century, where packs of this breed were often owned by royalty and used for the primary purpose of hunting hares. This is why this dog has been bred to sniff out the location of these animals and chase it back to where his hunter is lying in wait. The Beagle is a direct ancestor of the Talbot hound, as are Foxhounds and Southern Hounds, and all of these dogs were bred specifically for hunting purposes. While Beagles are still often used for hunting to this day, many more are simply enjoyed as happy, friendly family pets.

The Beagle spent many years in England developing as a breed by many in the field. During the middle of the 1800's, Reverend Phillip Honeywood began breeding Beagles that are the closest to the dogs that we are familiar with today. However, these animals were bred for function rather than looks.

England was most definitely the country that can be credited for the development and preservation of the Beagle breed. However, this dog came to the United States in 1876, where the breed was not cared for in the same careful way that it had been in England. General Richard Rowett of Illinois changed that by importing Beagles from England and maintaining careful record keeping of the breeding that took place with these dogs. By 1885, the American Kennel Association recognized Beagles as an official breed, and in 1888 the National Beagle Club was formed. This is the year that a standard for this breed was established.

The good news is that a man named General Richard Rowett decided to import English Beagles to breed, and completed the process in a deliberate and careful fashion. This resulted in Beagles making an appearance with the American Kennel Association in 1885, and standards being established for this breed by 1888, when the National Beagle Club was formed. Today, Beagles are still used as hunting dogs, although many more are simply enjoyed as family pets, due to their abundant energy and friendly natures.

Beagle can make the perfect pet for many families since the characteristic of this breed is usually a friendly, social nature. However, the popularity of breeds like Beagles has led to the establishment of many puppy mills where dogs are bred for profit instead of health and quality of the animals.

Unfortunately, the history and the popularity of this breed has led to many Beagles getting bred in puppy mills, meaning that you need to do your homework before purchasing a Beagle to ensure that you are getting a dog that will be healthy and social.

It is also helpful to understand the history of the Beagle so that you have a good idea of what these dogs were bred for and what you should expect from your own pet. Beagles that are carefully chosen can bring their owners and families plenty of love and fun for many years to come.

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About the Author

About the author: Michelle Adams is a passionate lover of the Beagle and has a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Beagle. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Beagle Training plus a whole lot more.


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1: Brief History of the Beagle Breed
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