Post by charmingnancy on Jan 12, 2009 12:22:17 GMT -5
Beagle
Group: 2- Hounds
Origin: Great Britian
Purpose: The English variety of the Beagle was used to track fox; the American variety was used for rabbit hunting.
Description: The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game.
Breed Standards and Scoring- Appearance:
Coat and Colour: A close, hard, hound coat of medium length. Any true hound colour.
Head: The skull should be fairly long, slightly domed at occiput, with cranium broad and full. Muzzle of medium length - straight and square-cut, the stop moderately defined. Nostrils large and open. Jaws level. Lips free from flews. Eyes large, set well apart – soft and hound-like – expression gentle and pleading; of a brown or hazel colour. 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.
Neck: 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.
Forequarters: Shoulders sloping – clean, muscular, not heavy or loaded – conveying the idea of freedom of action with activity and strength. 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.
Body: Back short, muscular, and strong. Chest deep and broad, but not broad enough to interfere with the free play of the shoulders. Loin broad and slightly arched, and the ribs well sprung, giving abundance of lung room.
Hindquarters: 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.
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.
Faults: A short, thin coat, or of a soft quality. A very flat skull, narrow across the top; excess of dome, eyes small, sharp and terrier-like, or prominent and protruding; muzzle long, snipey or cut away decidedly below the eyes, or very short. Roman-nosed, or upturned, giving a dish-faced expression. Ears short, set on high or with a tendency to rise above the point of origin. 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.” Straight, upright shoulders. Out at elbows. Knees
knuckled over forward, or bent backward. Forelegs crooked or
Dachshund-like. Feet long, open or spreading. Very long or swayed or roached back. Chest disproportionately wide or with lack of depth. Flat, narrow loins. Flat ribs. Cow-hocks or straight hocks. Lack of muscle and propelling power. Open feet. A long tail. Teapot curve or inclined forward from the root. Rat tail with absence of brush.
Disqualification: Any hound measuring more than 15 inches (38 cm) shall be disqualified.
Scale of Points:
Head
Skull- 5
Ears- 10
Eyes- 5
Muzzle- 5 = 25
Body
Neck- 5
Chest and shoulders- 15
Back, loin and ribs- 15 = 35
Running Gear:
Forelegs- 10
Hips, thighs and hind legs- 10
Feet- 10 = 30
Coat- 5
Stern- 5 = 10
TOTAL: 100
Size:
There shall be two varieties:
• 13 inches (33 cm) – which shall be for hounds not exceeding
13 inches (33 cm) in height;
• 15 inches (38 cm) – which shall be for hounds over 13 inches (33 cm) but not exceeding 15 inches (38 cm) in height.
Weight: 18 to 30 lbs.
Temperament:
The Beagle has an even temper and gentle disposition. Described in several breed standards as "merry", they are amiable and generally neither aggressive nor timid. They enjoy company, and although they may initially be standoffish with strangers, they are easily won over. They make poor guard dogs for this reason, although their tendency to bark or howl when confronted with the unfamiliar makes them good watch dogs. Beagles are intelligent, but as a result of being bred for the long chase are single-minded and determined, which can make them hard to train. They are generally obedient but can be difficult to recall once they have picked up a scent and are easily distracted by smells around them. They do not generally feature in obedience trials; while they are alert, respond well to food-reward training, and are eager to please, they are easily bored or distracted.
Health:
Beagles may be prone to epilepsy, but this can be controlled with medication. Hypothyroidism and a number of types of dwarfism occur in Beagles. Two conditions in particular are unique to the breed: Funny Puppy, in which the puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back and although normally healthy, is prone to range of illnesses; Hip dysplasia , common in Harriers and in some larger breeds, is rarely considered a problem in Beagles. Beagles are considered a chondrodystrophic breed, meaning that they are prone to types of disk diseases.
In rare cases, Beagles may develop immune mediated polygenic arthritis (where the immune system attacks the joints) even at a young age. The symptoms can sometimes be relieved by steroid treatments.
Their long floppy ears can mean that the inner ear does not receive a substantial air flow or that moist air becomes trapped, and this can lead to ear infections. Beagles may also be affected by a range of eye problems; two common ophthalmic conditions in Beagles are glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. "Cherry eye", a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and distichiasis, a condition in which eyelashes grow into the eye causing irritation, sometimes exist; both these conditions can be corrected with surgery. They can suffer from several types of retinal atrophy. Failure of the nasolacrimal drainage system can cause dry eye or leakage of tears onto the face.
Average Lifespan:
The median longevity of Beagles is about 12.35 years, which is a typical lifespan for a dog of their size.
History:
The Beagle's origin is uncertain but it is believed that his ancestry dates back to 200 AD when he was bred to track small game by scent. Early development of the breed took place in Great Britain and was introduced in the United States in the 1870s. Previous to 1870, in the Southern United States, the then called Beagles resembled more of a straight-legged Basset or Dachshund. By this time, however, the first imports were brought in from England and breed type was established. In 1888, the National Beagle Club was formed and held its first trial. Beagles appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons from the 1950s with the Peanuts character Snoopy (billed as the "the world's most famous Beagle").
Sources:
CKC
Canada's Guide to Dogs
Wikipedia
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 2- Hounds
Origin: Great Britian
Purpose: The English variety of the Beagle was used to track fox; the American variety was used for rabbit hunting.
Description: The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game.
Breed Standards and Scoring- Appearance:
Coat and Colour: A close, hard, hound coat of medium length. Any true hound colour.
Head: The skull should be fairly long, slightly domed at occiput, with cranium broad and full. Muzzle of medium length - straight and square-cut, the stop moderately defined. Nostrils large and open. Jaws level. Lips free from flews. Eyes large, set well apart – soft and hound-like – expression gentle and pleading; of a brown or hazel colour. 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.
Neck: 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.
Forequarters: Shoulders sloping – clean, muscular, not heavy or loaded – conveying the idea of freedom of action with activity and strength. 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.
Body: Back short, muscular, and strong. Chest deep and broad, but not broad enough to interfere with the free play of the shoulders. Loin broad and slightly arched, and the ribs well sprung, giving abundance of lung room.
Hindquarters: 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.
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.
Faults: A short, thin coat, or of a soft quality. A very flat skull, narrow across the top; excess of dome, eyes small, sharp and terrier-like, or prominent and protruding; muzzle long, snipey or cut away decidedly below the eyes, or very short. Roman-nosed, or upturned, giving a dish-faced expression. Ears short, set on high or with a tendency to rise above the point of origin. 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.” Straight, upright shoulders. Out at elbows. Knees
knuckled over forward, or bent backward. Forelegs crooked or
Dachshund-like. Feet long, open or spreading. Very long or swayed or roached back. Chest disproportionately wide or with lack of depth. Flat, narrow loins. Flat ribs. Cow-hocks or straight hocks. Lack of muscle and propelling power. Open feet. A long tail. Teapot curve or inclined forward from the root. Rat tail with absence of brush.
Disqualification: Any hound measuring more than 15 inches (38 cm) shall be disqualified.
Scale of Points:
Head
Skull- 5
Ears- 10
Eyes- 5
Muzzle- 5 = 25
Body
Neck- 5
Chest and shoulders- 15
Back, loin and ribs- 15 = 35
Running Gear:
Forelegs- 10
Hips, thighs and hind legs- 10
Feet- 10 = 30
Coat- 5
Stern- 5 = 10
TOTAL: 100
Size:
There shall be two varieties:
• 13 inches (33 cm) – which shall be for hounds not exceeding
13 inches (33 cm) in height;
• 15 inches (38 cm) – which shall be for hounds over 13 inches (33 cm) but not exceeding 15 inches (38 cm) in height.
Weight: 18 to 30 lbs.
Temperament:
The Beagle has an even temper and gentle disposition. Described in several breed standards as "merry", they are amiable and generally neither aggressive nor timid. They enjoy company, and although they may initially be standoffish with strangers, they are easily won over. They make poor guard dogs for this reason, although their tendency to bark or howl when confronted with the unfamiliar makes them good watch dogs. Beagles are intelligent, but as a result of being bred for the long chase are single-minded and determined, which can make them hard to train. They are generally obedient but can be difficult to recall once they have picked up a scent and are easily distracted by smells around them. They do not generally feature in obedience trials; while they are alert, respond well to food-reward training, and are eager to please, they are easily bored or distracted.
Health:
Beagles may be prone to epilepsy, but this can be controlled with medication. Hypothyroidism and a number of types of dwarfism occur in Beagles. Two conditions in particular are unique to the breed: Funny Puppy, in which the puppy is slow to develop and eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back and although normally healthy, is prone to range of illnesses; Hip dysplasia , common in Harriers and in some larger breeds, is rarely considered a problem in Beagles. Beagles are considered a chondrodystrophic breed, meaning that they are prone to types of disk diseases.
In rare cases, Beagles may develop immune mediated polygenic arthritis (where the immune system attacks the joints) even at a young age. The symptoms can sometimes be relieved by steroid treatments.
Their long floppy ears can mean that the inner ear does not receive a substantial air flow or that moist air becomes trapped, and this can lead to ear infections. Beagles may also be affected by a range of eye problems; two common ophthalmic conditions in Beagles are glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. "Cherry eye", a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and distichiasis, a condition in which eyelashes grow into the eye causing irritation, sometimes exist; both these conditions can be corrected with surgery. They can suffer from several types of retinal atrophy. Failure of the nasolacrimal drainage system can cause dry eye or leakage of tears onto the face.
Average Lifespan:
The median longevity of Beagles is about 12.35 years, which is a typical lifespan for a dog of their size.
History:
The Beagle's origin is uncertain but it is believed that his ancestry dates back to 200 AD when he was bred to track small game by scent. Early development of the breed took place in Great Britain and was introduced in the United States in the 1870s. Previous to 1870, in the Southern United States, the then called Beagles resembled more of a straight-legged Basset or Dachshund. By this time, however, the first imports were brought in from England and breed type was established. In 1888, the National Beagle Club was formed and held its first trial. Beagles appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons from the 1950s with the Peanuts character Snoopy (billed as the "the world's most famous Beagle").
Sources:
CKC
Canada's Guide to Dogs
Wikipedia
Pictures:
Photobucket