Posted by Jeanne on April 8, 2009
The Beagle is a dog that officially belongs in the hound group. This group is divided into two classes – those that hunt with their eyes, like the Greyhound and the Borzoi, and those that hunt with their noses, like the Dachshund and the Bloodhound.
The Beagle is a nose hunter, too. If you take a Beagle into the field, he’ll be off on the trail of a rabbit before you can say, “Go get him!” If you live in the country and rabbits keep digging up your garden, get a couple of Beagles and your rabbit troubles will be over. The Beagles will not only chase rabbits oft your property but woodchucks and moles as well.
When a Beagle is on the trail of game, he often goes through grass and brush so high that it it were not for his white-tipped tail sticking up in the air you wouldn’t know where he is. As long as you see his tail up, you know the Beagle has his nose down. As soon as the nose comes up off the ground, the tail comes down to a level with his body, sticking almost straight out.
The reason for this up and down signaling of the tail is that the dog can’t bark to let you know where he is as long as his nose is down tracking game. His tail has to tell you his location. But, as soon as he can bring his nose up, he can bark to signal where he is and he doesn’t need his “flag.’
There are big Beagles and there are small Beagles – whatever kind you have, you know that yours is a popular breed.
Posted by Jeanne on November 19, 2008
Beagles are suitable to many types of hunting. The larger ones are used largely for hare hunting, on foot, and are run in packs. The smaller ones are more often kept for rabbit and sometimes for drag hunting. They all give musical tongue and have wide popularity.
- Skull – Should be fairly long, slightly domed at occiput, with cranium broad and full.
- Ears – Ears set on moderately low, long, reaching when drawn out nearly, if not quite, to the end of the nose; fine in texture, fairly broad – with almost entire absence of erectile power – setting close to the head, with the forward edge slightly in turning to the cheek – rounded at tip.
- Eyes – Eyes large, set well apart – soft and houndlike – expression gentle and pleading; of a brown or hazel color.
- Muzzle – Muzzle of medium length – straight and square cut – the stop moderately defined.
- Jaws – Level. Lips free from flews; nostrils large and open.
- Neck and Throat – Neck rising free and light from the shoulders, strong in substance yet not loaded, of medium length. The throat clean and free from folds of skin; a slight wrinkle below die angle of the jaw, however, may be allowable.
- Shoulders and Chest – Shoulders sloping – clean, muscular, not heavy or loaded – conveying the idea of freedom of action with activity and strength. Chest deep and broad, but not broad enough to interfere with the free play of the shoulders.
- Back, Loin and Ribs – Back short, muscular, and strong. Loin broad and slightly arched, and the ribs well sprung, giving abundance of lung room.
- Fore Legs – Straight, with plenty of bone in proportion to size of the dog. Pasterns short and straight.
- Feet – Close, round and firm. Pad full and hard.
- Hips and Thighs – Strong and well muscled, giving abundance of propelling power. Stifles strong and well let down. Hocks firm, symmetrical and moderately bent. Feet close and firm.
- Tail – Set moderately high; carried gayly, but not turned forward over the back; with slight curve; short as compared with size of the dog; with brush.
- Coat – A close, hard, hound coat of medium length.
- Height – Height not to exceed 15 inches, measured across the back at the point of the withers, the dog standing in a natural position with his feet well under him.
- Color – Any true hound color.
- General Appearance – A miniature foxhound, solid and big for his inches, with the wear-and-tear look of the dog that can last in the chase and follow his quarry to the death.