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About the Beagle
History
of the Beagle
Beagles,
as a breed, have been in existence for quite some time, although
their precise origins are only vaguely known. Beagle-type dogs are
described in documents dating from 400 B.C. Greece and A.D. 200 Britain.
The Romans are also thought to have transported to England with them
small rabbit hunting hounds and bred them with the local hounds.
Talbot Hounds were brought to England from France during the Norman
Conquest in 1066 and are considered to be ancestors to the Southern
Hound, the Beagle and the Foxhound.
Beagles
became quite popular with the British monarchy in the 1300 and 1400's.
Edward II and Henry VII both kept packs of Glove Beagles, so named
since they were small enough to fit on a glove. Elizabeth I kept
packs of Pocket Beagles which were only nine inches high at the withers.
By
the 1400's Beagles existed in Britain, Italy, Greece and France.
The word "beagle" has two possible origins. It either originates
from the Celtic word "beag" which means small or from the
French word "begle" meaning "useless or of little
value".
By
the 1700's two types of hounds existed for hunting rabbits: the Southern
Hound and the much quicker North Country Beagle. Since fox hunting
was becoming increasingly popular, Beagles were being kept less and
less in favour of Foxhounds. Fortunately for the continuing existence
of the Beagle, farmers in England, Ireland and Wales continued to
keep packs to hunt with.
In
the mid 1800's Reverend Phillip Honeywood established his pack in
Essex, England which is thought to be the progenitor of the modern
Beagle. He was breeding for hunting skills though, not looks. A fellow
Englishman, Thomas Johnson, was responsible for breeding lines of
Beagles that could hunt and look attractive.
Beagles
were imported into the United States in 1876 and accepted as a breed
by the American Kennel Club in 1884.
Breed
Standard - American Version
Head:
The
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 inturning 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.
Defects: A
very flat skull, narrow across the top; excess of dome, eyes small,
sharp and terrierlike, or prominent and protruding; muzzle long,
snipy or cut away decidedly below the eyes, or very short. Roman-nosed,
or upturned, giving a dish-face expression. Ears short, set on high
or with a tendency to rise above the point of origin.
Body:
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 the angle
of the jaw, however, may be allowable.
Defects: A
thick, short, cloddy neck carried on a line with the top of the shoulders.
Throat showing dewlap and folds of skin to a degree termed "throatiness."
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.
Defects: Straight,
upright shoulders. Chest disproportionately wide or with lack of
depth.
Back,
Loin and Ribs:
Back: short,
muscular and strong.
Loin: broad
and slightly arched, and the ribs well sprung, giving abundance of
lung room.
Defects: Very
long or swayed or roached back. Flat, narrow loin. Flat ribs.
Forelegs
and Feet:
Forelegs: Straight,
with plenty of bone in proportion to size of the hound.
Pasterns: short
and straight.
Feet: Close,
round and firm. Pad full and hard.
Defects: Out
at elbows. Knees knuckled over forward, or bent backward. Forelegs
crooked or Dachshundlike. Feet long, open or spreading.
Hips,
Thighs, Hind Legs and Feet:
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.
Defects: Cowhocks,
or straight hocks. Lack of muscle and propelling power. Open feet.
Tail: Set
moderately high; carried gaily, but not turned forward over the back;
with slight curve; short as compared with size of the hound; with
brush.
Defects: A
long tail. Teapot curve or inclined forward from the root. Rat tail
with absence of brush.
Coat: A
close, hard, hound coat of medium length.
Defects: A
short, thin coat, or of a soft quality.
Color: Any
true hound color.
General
Appearance: A miniature Foxhound, solid and big for his
inches, with the wear-and-tear look of the hound that can last
in the chase and follow his quarry to the death.
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