The History of Beagle Dogs
Beagles look like miniature English Foxhounds. According to "Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds" (D. Caroline Colie, Ph.D, 2005, 2nd edition), the beagle is the far older of the two breeds and may have been one of the breeds responsible for the creation of foxhounds. Beagles are known for their friendliness, large appetites and incredible ability to track a scent.
Origins
Beagle ancestors did not differ much from modern-day beagles. They are considered a breed native to the British Isles, well established before the Romans arrived, used to hunt hares.
Influences
In the 1800s, English beagles were crossed with scent hounds from France in order to improve the dog's tracking abilities to hunt fox.
New World
The first mention of beagles in America was in 1642. The National Beagle Club began in 1888. Beagles were divided into two classes for showing, at 13 inches tall and up to 15 inches tall.
Warning
In the last 10 years, there has been a rise in dogs advertised as "teacup beagles" or "pocket beagles" for sale. National breed clubs like the AKC do not recognize this beagle variation. Beagles that grow to be less than 10 inches tall tend to be in poor health.
Fun Fact
A beagle did not win Best In Show at Westminster, America's premier dog show, until 2005. The lucky dog was K-Run's Park Me In First, better known as Uno.
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