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Although their ancestors date back to ancient times - including a reference to their use in rabbit hunting in ancient Greece - the beagle later rose to true prominence during the Tudor and Elizabethan eras in Britain when they became an important part of royal hunting expeditions.

Since then, the beagle has been depicted in numerous prints and paintings as loyal helpmate on the hunt, and more recently has won modern pop culture status as Snoopy ... "the world's most famous beagle."

Part of the hound family of dogs, their acute sense of smell continues to make them popular with rabbit hunters,

Government agencies, as well, regularly employ them as canine detectives helping to sniff-out illegal imported goods at trading ports worldwide.

Loving, loyal, and curious are only a few reasons why beagles make the Top Ten list each year.

Today, the happy-go-lucky beagle's main claim to fame is as a favorite family pet, making annual appearance on Top Ten lists of most popular dogs for its robust good health and even-tempered personality.

Their worldwide popularity was affirmed when beagles were named top dog at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City in both 2008 ("Uno") and 2015 ("Miss P").

Beagle behavior & personality

A wanderer by nature due to its highly developed sense of smell, the beagle requires special attention when spending time outside. Proper leashing or secure gates are a necessity for the inquisitive hunter, who may run off in all directions if allowed the opportunity.

Generally calm and good natured, the beagle is basically a pack animal who delights in being surrounded by familiar adults, children or other pets. Although somewhat shy of strangers, they generally warm to them quickly and for this reason they are not considered the best of guard dogs.

Despite their reputation for being difficult to train, it has been shown that with proper handling - based on positive reinforcement - an easily distracted beagle will eventually come to heel.

Beagle care & health

12 years is the average life span of beagles, which are prone to several beagle health problems that may require treatment during their lifetimes usually centering around the eyes, ears, or nasal system.

As they grow older, beagles may also suffer from joint diseases or heart problems mainly due to inactivity or excess weight.

Therefore, careful monitoring of food and exercise are important throughout its life and most especially as the beagle reaches old age.

More information about Beagles around the Web:

American Kennel Club - Get expert Information on the official standard, with scale of points, breed varieties, Beagle history, photo gallery, videos.

Beagles on the Web - Directory of Beagle rescue services, pure breed and Beagle-mix adoption bulletin boards, daily photo, FAQ, related resources.

Beagles Unlimited - Check out the online edition of the popular magazine with extensive information & feature articles on their use as rabbit hounds including photos, beagle health & training tips, related chat rooms, bulletin board, directories and databases, and beagles for sale classified ads.

Dog Owners Guide Profile : The Beagle - Good intro to the breed with overview of their physical characteristics, behavior & temperament, grooming & health tips, related resources.

Beagle Information & Pictures - Fact sheet on beagle origins, temperament, exercise needs, grooming tips, care and health problems, plus galleries of dog and beagle puppy photos.

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