What's There to Know About a Beagle?

I am going to continue today profiling breeds, and my selection is a beagle. This isn't a dog with many misconceptions, but I don't think too much is known about this breed. My post today will go over general information about the breed, and hopefully give you knowledge you didn't have before!

Physical Description:

Height: About 13 inches

Weight: Between 18-30 pounds

Life Expectancy: About 12-15 years

The Beagle is a medium-sized dog bred originally for hunting purposes. This breed has an especially good sense of smell which can sometimes be a distraction during training.

His coat is short and will be tricolored (a combination of black, brown, and white). It will lie close to his body and should be fairly hard to the touch.

Personality:

This breed is always full of energy and is perfectly suited for a family environment. All around this dog is very happy-go-lucky and will adapt to just about any environment with ease. He is very eager to please and intelligent making him a breed that can be at times mischievous. During training he may become bold and will be easily distracted by anything that catches his nose or attention!!

Exercise:

Considering this dog was bred for hunting it shouldn't surprise you to know that he LOVES taking long walks! Since he is full of energy, two long walks daily are recommended - this will help him settle down and be more mild-mannered around your household.

Living requirements:

The Beagle does well (as mentioned above) in just about any situation or environment. If you have an apartment, he will fit in fine there (just make sure you take him on those daily walks!!). If you have a house, keep him in a fenced yard or on a chain as he is likely to run off if he smells something interesting!

Common Health Issues:

The main thing you have to watch out for in this breed is the ears. Since they are long and floppy, there are many risks that could occur. This includes heat and moisture becoming trapped in the ear canal resulting in an ear infection. To avoid any type of problem, make sure you clean your Beagle's ears out on a regular basis.

A serious problem affecting many Beagles is epilepsy and seizures. Medication can be prescribed to you by your veterinarian to treat and/or eliminate the attacks.

Another serous problem that occurs in Beagles is congenital heart disease. If your puppy is purchased from a reputable breeder, screening can be done to catch this problem early on.