Information on Loughborough

Beagles and Where They Came From

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Beagles and Where They Came FromBy Michelle Adams

The Beagle has become a fashionable breed of dog in the United States over the past century or so. In fact, in the 1950's, this breed enjoyed a brief stint at the number one spot for most sought after dogs in this country. But the Beagle's roots go back much farther than 100 years or so - and could possibly date back to around 400 B.C. in Greece. Documents show that a Beagle type of dog may have been in existence at this time.

However, the Beagle as we know it probably originated in England in the early years of the second century. Royalty in Great Britain was known to keep packs of these hounds for hunting purposes. The Beagle was originally bred to hunt hares, and is quite adept at sniffing these creatures out and luring them back to the location where the hunter is waiting. To this day, Beagles can still be used for hunting, although many are simply family pets to be enjoyed.

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. Another Englishman, Thomas Johnson took that breeding a step further to combine the greatest of both worlds - an attractive dog that was a competent hunter as well. Beagles came to the United States at about this time, although the same care was not taken at first to preserve the breed.

A man in Illinois by the name of General Richard Rowett imported Beagles from England and began the careful process of breeding high quality dogs. In 1885, the American Kennel Association began to recognize the breed of Beagle, and by 1888, standards were established for these dogs and the National Beagle Club was formed. Since that time, Beagles have continued to be one of the most fashionable choicesin dogs in this country, due to their looks, skills and temperaments.

If you are considering Beagle as a family pet you can rest assured that you will be getting a dog with a rich and colorful history. Whether you plan to use your dog as a hunting companion or simply a companion to curl up on the couch with on cold winter nights, this dog can fit the bill. 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.

By understanding a bit of the history of the breed and collecting other types of Beagle information you will go far in helping yourself to find the right dog for you. You can find this information through articles like this, by studying websites on the Internet and by talking to your veterinarian or responsible breeder. The right dog will bring your family joy for years to come. Enjoy your Beagle!

Michelle Adams is a dog lover who has spent plenty of time researching the history of the various breeds of dogs, including the Beagle. Because of the specific breeding that Beagles have undergone, understanding the history of the Beagle can help you to better work with your own pet. There is plenty of Beagle information available including the interesting history of your pet. Articles like this and interviews with experts in the field will help you to understand where your Beagle came from and why he acts the way he does.

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Reputable Breeders Do Not Breed Pocket Beagles

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Reputable Breeders Do Not Breed Pocket BeaglesBy Michelle Adams

A pocket beagle was a very fashionable breed of dog back in the 1300's and 1400's with royalty and prized by the royal family. They were called pocket beagles because they were measured at no more than 9 inches at the shoulders. Currently the American Kennel Club, the standard that many breeders use for determining the health and other important factors of a dog breed, only recognize beagles that are 13 inches or 15 inches in size. So what happened?

Pocket beagles are considered to be the results of either very bad breeding or a dog that has serious health problems. In the early 1900's the line recognized by official American and British pocket beagle breeds was declared extinct and today you cannot get a pocket beagle that is officially recognized by the widely accepted breeders' standards in the world. But yet there are many breeders that maintain they are breeding pocket beagles.

There are breeders who claim to be breeding a completely healthy pocket beagle called the old English pocket beagle. If you search the internet you will find scores of these breeders and many of them belong to breeding organizations that may not be the main ones recognized by the major dog shows however they are still organizations that only propose healthy and ethical dog breeding. So it makes you wonder where the battle of words comes from when it comes to the pocket beagles.

Breeders themselves can be held accountable if they are selling what they call pocket beagles when they know that the beagles they are selling are really unhealthy beagles with conditions such as hip dysplasia or epilepsy. While it is not out of the realm of possibility to think that there are ethical breeders out there who are breeding healthy old English pocket beagles it is your duty as a dog owner, or prospectivedog owner, to be sure of what is going on before you get yourself involved.

It is very difficult to look into the eyes of what is being called a modern day pocket beagle and think that there could be any kind of controversy surrounding such a cute small animal. But there are breeders that claim they are more than able to offer healthy modern day pocket beagles and then there are the main breeders' organizations that claim that the breed went extinct over 100 years ago. It is a very difficult discussion.

There are very specific criteria that a dog must meet when it is being classified as one breed or the other and the main breeding organizations of the world consider a dog outside their criteria to be unhealthy. Are old English pocket beagle breeders selling unhealthy dogs? To this point there has been no major outcry to stop the breeding of modern day pocket beagles so the debate will rage on for some time to come.

Michelle Adams is someone who has researched many breeds of dogs, including the Beagle. Since breeding brings certain instincts and behaviors into play with different types of dogs understanding the history of your Beagle will better equip you to work with your new pet. There is plenty of Beagle information available including the interesting history of your pet. Articles like this and interviews with experts in the field will help you to understand where your Beagle came from and why he acts the way he does.

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History of Beagle Mixed Breeds

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History of Beagle Mixed BreedsBy Michelle Adams

The beagle dog breed dates back historically to 19th century England. The breed is thought to have descended from the "Harrier," a medium sized English hound used for hunting. Beagles were officially registered as a breed with the American Kennel Club in the 1880s. Though beagles derived from inter-breeding of the Harrier and other hunting dogs, they are viewed as a pure breed today. A beagle mix is also gaining popularity. Mixes may be the result of two purebred dogs of different breeds or may be "mutts" that result from the mating of a purebred and a dog of questionable ancestry.

A beagle mix may have gained popularity due to the desirability of many of the beagle's traits. Mixing breeds results in hybrids with characteristics of both breeds. Mixed breeds also may retain some of the beagle's positive qualities such as excellent sense of smell, sociable temperament, and characteristic physical traits such as sad brown eyes and tri-colored, short fur.

A mixed breed is actually a "mutt,' or what many would call "All American." A beagle mix that results from breeding a purebred beagle with a non-registered dog would be considered "All American" because, like many Americans, it has an uncertain ancestry. A crossbred beagle on the other hand can trace its ancestry since it is the result of mating two purebred dogs of differing breeds. Crossbreeds, or hybrids, can be registered with the American Canine Hybrid Club though they cannot compete in AKC competition. Some examples of recognized hybrid beagle mixes are: the "Poogle" (Beagle/Poodle), "Puggle" (Beagle/Pug), and "Beabull" (Beagle/Bull dog).

A beagle mix will have characteristics of both its parents. Even in crossbreeding, the resulting puppies, for example, "Poogles" will have a mixture of the traits of both beagle and poodle. Purebreds are so fashionable (and expensive) because there is consistency in temperament, body dimensions, and knowncharacteristics of their specific breed. Purebred beagles are also eligible for AKC (American Kennel Club) registry and competition.

There are fans of the purebred beagle as well as the beagle mix, whether crossbreed or mutt. The most fashionable dogs to crossbreed with beagles are pugs and poodles. "Poogles" and "Puggles" are favorites among many dog lovers, in part, due to their cute-sounding names. These "designer dogs," are bred to have traits of two pure breeds. Many believe crossbreeds have overall better traits such as temperament and health due to being out-bred. They are the result of parents with two separate types of genetics and which gives them a wider variety or diversity of traits to choose from and may make them genetically superior to purebred dogs.

Purebred dog fans disagree. They maintain that a "Puggle" cannot compete (literally and figuratively) with a purebred, documented beagle. Though purebreds are the result of in breeding and may have genetic defects due to this, they also have a known ancestry. They are able to compete against other pure breeds. Purebreds also have the advantage of being predictable in body structure, overall temperament, and health. A buyer or breeder knows what they are getting with a pure breed. There is no predictability of the traits a crossbreed or mixed breed will have.

The owner of two cats, the Michelle Adams loves both- regardless of lineage. Beagle mixed breeds are becoming more and more popular. The mixed breed dog is becoming fashionable and this article is specific to Beagle information