Appearance

The Beagle is a small but sturdy intelligent looking hound that bears a resemblance to the English Foxhound. They have a wide, round head, a square muzzle, wide nostrils, dark eyes and long and broad pendulous ears. They have circular feet and carries its tail in a lively manner. The coat is short and sleek but dense, and the coloring varies with the most common being the triple combination of black, tan and white. Other coloring includes red and white, tan and white, lemon and white and blue shading.

History

Though hunting hounds have thrived in England since the Roman occupation, Beagles probably appeared in the 18th century as a mixture of several hounds. Hunters found them handy as relentless chasers of foxes and rabbits. The breed standard was made in the 1860s, coming from a particularly good strain of Beagles, and in 1888 the National Beagle Club was formed to hold agility and obedience contests. Beagles to this day are celebrated hunters, sporting dogs and pets.