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Beagles come in a variety of colors but the traditional tri-colored black, tan, and white are the most commonly accepted colors. The so-called "Classic Tri" has a solid black saddle. The "Dark Tri" has faint black markings that are mingled with brown as the predominate color. Other tri-colored Beagles have coats that are mostly white but broken up by black and brown. These types of colored patterns are often referred to as a "pied" pattern. Two-colored combinations are also possible and include a reddish, or orange, or rust coloration, or a lemon coloration. Another combination may lean more toward the coco, or liver, darker browns, and even grays are possible. In any case, Beagles will loose much of their color as they age... the orange Beagle becoming eventually the lemon colored Beagle, for example.

Beagles love the companionship of other Beagles and function exceptionally well in a pack. Having two or more Beagles as house pets is not at all uncommon, for example, and homeowners need not fear having two or three Beagles living inside of their home. Once the leader of the pack is chosen they work well with the other members of that pack unless they are provoked into action. Choosing a pack leader is done in several ways. Usually, the larger or older dog will become the leader, but aggression and other personality traits may also determine who becomes leader of the pack. In other words, sometimes there is a natural leader or a dog who is born to lead, so to speak. Another way of saying that is, sometimes a particular dog in the bunch will fight to become top dog. Human intervention can also play a large role in choosing that leader. First, because said human ought to be that leader, training his or her dogs to obey commands. Secondly, said human can intervene and select the dog leader... train him or her and then allow the other dogs to follow suit. In other words, as pack leader the dog owner can choose the qualities that they want to foster and then choose the dog that best displays that trait or a dog that is easily molded to meet that criteria.

Beagles are super friendly dogs having a mild mannered disposition. They are intelligent dogs and can easily pick up on the expectations of their owners. Beagles have very individualized personalities. This often comes with its pros and cons. Each Beagle may excel in one area when given a task to perform, while others may have one trait that is hard to break, they also displaying a very stubborn streak of independence. Generally speaking, however, Beagles love to please and they love to frolic and play. They will also seek out the warmth and comfort of a human body or a stroking hand. Matter of fact, out of all the breeds, Beagles are among the most popular choice for homeowners. Because of their pleasant personalities Beagles make great house pets and playmates for anyone who has children.

Beagles have 220 million scent receptors and for this reason make excellent detector dogs for the police or airport security where they can be trained to sniff, stop, point, or bark when an illegal substance is found, or a combination of theses. Some writers seem to suggest that Beagles do not make very good watch dogs due to their friendly natures. I am not all that certain of that, but only because Beagles like many other breeds are very territorial and will protect that territory from intruders by barking or by producing a unique baying sound. In this sense they make excellent watch dogs alerting their owners whenever another animal enters their space. They will bark at other neighborhood dogs and cats, for example. And yes they will even bark at people passing by. That barking sound alone can act as a deterrent to anyone attempting to enter your premises unlawfully. Once inside of that territorial space, however, they are easily won over by food or attention, and so, in this sense, they may not make good watch dogs. Or, perhaps, a better way of wording that, is to say, they are not attack dogs and will not attack people who enter their space unless they are attacked first.

Beagles have short smooth hair and do not shed as much as other dogs. Perhaps the most distinguishing Beagle trait are their velvety rounded ears which partially cover their eyes but do not reach their nose. Beagles are easy to care for and have very few health problems. Their life expectancy is usually about 12-15 years but with proper diet and exercise Beagles can live 15-18 years and beyond. When they are not engaged in activities Beagles are quite content with spending the remainder of their time sleeping. For this reason they are not apt to become disruptive when left alone and will gladly sleep away their day while they await your return should you be a working person. The downside of course is that they have a tendency to become too sedentary, excessive weight gain becoming a problem especially in their later years. And along with that inactivity comes some health problems like arthritis, lung and breathing conditions as well as possible heart problems. Usually, however these things do not seem to make their appearance until the Beagles 7th - 10th birthdays.

The Beagle Breed

As I surf the web in order to write this Brief History of Beagles one thing is becoming increasingly clear, no one is really sure about the lineage of the Beagle. What most writers seem to suggest is that the modern day Beagle was an offshoot of the English Foxhound, the Northern Beagle and the Southern Beagle. Others seem to suggest that the Beagle is also an offshoot of the Talbot, Bloodhound, Greyhound, the Harrier or a combination of these. Since the Talbot, North Country Beagle and the South Country Beagle as well as the Harrier are now extinct it is almost impossible to trace the Beagle's heritage back to its original source; and more so because we don't have many pictures or drawings of Beagles to guide us. The one shown here is of the Caynsham's Foot Beagles of 1885. They are clearly Beagles and they are clearly in a pack, and from this one picture alone we can say that Beagles existed in the 1800's as a breed of hunting dog.

Beagle-Type Dogs

While researching material for this History of the Beagle, we are told that Beagle-Type dogs may have existed prior to the 1st century but we are never told what a Beagle-Type dog really means. Based upon the history of the Beagle name which we will explain later on we can only assume that a Beagle-Type dog was merely a reference to a small or short breed of hound used for hunting on foot. We can assume this because all types of domesticated canines were considered hounds (from the 14th century Old English hund meaning hound or a type of dog. The picture shown here is of a Beagle-Type dog around the turn of the 19th century. It is short and stocky with a shortened muzzle and semi-elongated ears. Whether this particular dog was overweight or lacked refined features as the picture's caption suggest we do not know. What we do know is that the Beagle existed in the early 19th century. What we don't know is the exact year this painting was done.

If we use size as our criteria, then the earliest Beagle-Type dogs can be traced to 5th Century Greece during the time of Xenophon of Athens (354 B.C. - 433 B.C.) the Greek historian and philosopher. In his 'Treastise on Hunting', he mentions a scent hound used to hunt hares that were followed on foot. There is also some evidence to support the claim that Beagle-Type dogs were present prior to 1016 A.D. in the 'Forest Laws of Canute' which exempted small hounds capable of running down a stag from leg mutilation, but more than likely, this document was written in the Middle Ages to help support the existence or the lore of the 'Forest Laws of Canute'.

Beagle-Type dogs may have existed for 2,000 years but the modern-day Beagle was originally developed as a stable breed in Great Britain in the early to mid 1800's. Writings from the 1800's speak about the existence of a miniature Beagle. There are references to the 14th century Glove Beagle and the Pocket Beagle but some writers back then seem to suggest that they may have been one in the same. Both Glove and Pocket Beagles are extinct but in recent years breeders are trying to recreate this breed but without any success; and those that do claim success are probably malformed runts and therefore unacceptable as a stable breed. In researching this History of the Beagle I wonder if the 1800 experiments produced a smaller hound which may or may not have produced individual strains of both Beagle and Basset; the Beagle emanating from Great Britain and the Basset out of France. This is pure speculation on my part, but it does beg the question: Is it possible that dog Historians of the day confused the two breeds. In other words, were references to a small glove-like or pocket-like hound references to a stunted Basset Hound and not to the Beagle. I realize that I am complicating matters by asking these questions... but still, the mind has to ask: Did a pocket Beagle exist or was the phrase Pocket Beagle merely a reference to a hounds size?

Edward II and Henry VII are both said to have had packs of Glove Beagles, (Mitten Beagles) one of the earliest known Beagles because it was small enough to fit on a gloved hand; and whose music was that of a small reed. In his History of the British Dog, written in 1866. the English poet Gervase Markham wrote,

"The small mitten-beagle, which may be companion for a ladies kirtle, and in the field will run as cunningly as any hound whatere, only their musick is very small like reeds."

Another 15th or 16th century reference of the early Beagle was the Pocket Beagle, a smaller version of the modern-day Beagle ranging in height from 8-10 inches. It was called the Pocket Beagle not because it fit in anyone's pants pocket but rather because it was small enough to fit the saddle bag pocket of horseback riders. During a hunt, for example the larger hounds would track and run down their prey while the Pocket Beagle hitched a ride inside of the horseback rider's saddle bag. Then when the larger hounds got tired or when they reached their prey, the horseback rider would release his Pocket Beagles for the remainder of the chase. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have a pack of Pocket Beagles to which she called her "Singing Beagles" because of their baying voice when they gave chase. But in her case, she used her Singing Beagles to entertain her guest while they were sitting at table and even allowed them to mingle among her guests.

If all of this be true, then Pocket Beagles existed during the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. They did not originate from the 1800's for example. Still, my mind has to ask, were they considered Beagles in their own right, or were they merely a Beagle-Type in origin? We also ask, What part did the Pocket Beagle play in the 18th century development and creation of the modern-day Beagle? We further ask, Why did the Pocket Beagle become extinct?

Foxhounds

Foxhounds, so named because they were bred and raised to hunt fox and drive them out of their fox holes. They are also used to guard herds of horses and sheep against predators. Foxhounds are scent hounds with strong hunting instincts. They are large hunting dogs that work well in a pack. Sportsmen from around the world will ride on horseback as they follow their pack of hounds.

Foxhounds are energetic hounds that can travel several miles in order to track down their prey. Generally speaking there are four main types of Foxhounds: 1). The Welsh Foxhound; 2). The English Foxhound; 3). The American Foxhound; and 4). The black and tan Foxhound is also the state dog of Virginia.

The Welsh Foxhound

The Welsh Foxhound originated in the British Isles and existed during the Roman Empire. Welsh Foxhounds were well suited for working in the mountainous and rocky terrain of Welsh country. They were highly regarded by the Welsh folklore, bards singing odes to them. According to the ancient Welsh Laws these prized animals were placed on par with horses although a well trained hound cost twice as much... 240 pence worth.

The Welsh Hound has a long history it being developed and trained solely for the purpose of hunting in rocky mountainous terrain. People living in other parts of the United Kingdom where railways and roads were prominent did not select Welsh Hounds and for obvious reasons. The Welsh Hound was and is bred solely as a hunting dog, has inbred hunting instincts to the point where city dwellers cannot and should not raise this hound as a house pet. It cannot be contained and requires open spaces. The Welsh Hound lives and breaths for the out of doors, for example.

The English Foxhound

The English Foxhound is a hearty breed, has great stamina and can run all day with very few rest periods. It is a social animal and will get along with other dogs and animals including, horses, sheep and cattle.

The history of the Foxhound is a rather interesting one. We know for example that the English Foxhound was specifically bred from a mixture of other dogs and for the express purpose of hunting for sport. Prior to this time period, the Deerhound and the Staghound, (both similar in appearance to each other as well as to the Greyhound) were used by the nobility of England to hunt deer, venison meat forming part of a rich man's diet.

The Scottish Deerhound is an ancient breed and existed before recorded history. We are told that the Deerhound is similar to the Greyhound but heavily boned making it larger and slower. It also has a rough coat to meet the needs of the cool, wet, hilly Scottish terrain. When we compare its speed against the Greyhound, although the Greyhound will outrun it on a flat surface, the Deerhound will outrun the Greyhound on a mountainous or hilly surface. This made it ideal for tracking and hunting deer. Hence the name, Deerhound. Now, the Beagle is not related to the Deerhound at all, (unless of course, the Deerhound and the Greyhound be related somehow)... but what interest me here was the fact that in the 19th century the Deerhound was used to recreate the closely related Irish Wolfhound which had become extinct. This tells us that breeds that have become extinct can be recreated if the cross bred dogs have the proper genes. It tells us that the Pocket Beagle can be recreated if breeders can find and pair the originating breeds that first created the Pocket Beagle.

By the 16th century, however, although Deer meat was scarce, the thrill of the hunt persisted and many sought to find a suitable replacement for the sport of the chase alone.

King Henry VIII chose the fox as his prey and creating a new breed of dog became the challenge of the day. Breeders began to experiment until a new breed was created for the task. History has it that the English Foxhound was created by carefully mixing three breeds, the Greyhound, the Fox Terrier and the Bulldog. The Greyhound was chosen for speed. The Fox Terrier was chosen for its hunting abilities. The Bulldog was selected for its resolute and steadfast desire to hunt down its prey. The result was a new breed of dog known as the Foxhound.

The American Foxhound

The American Foxhound did not originate in America but was imported from the British Isles, Ireland, and France as people from those countries migrated here. When Robert Brooke came to Crown Colony in America he brought his pack hounds with him, for example.

The Brooke family has a 300 year tradition of Foxhounds and most of the American Foxhounds owe their lineage back to Brooke Foxhound. Foxhounds can also be traced back to George Washington who got some of his Foxhounds from the Marquis de Lafayette of France as a gift. It is said that these hounds looked similar to the American Bluetick Coonhound. It is also said that many of George Washington's Foxhounds were descendants from the Brooke Family of hounds. They say that a mixture of the two groups formed what we now know to be the American Foxhound.

The American Foxhound is a favorite household pet of Virginia and has become their state dog. The standard American Foxhound is 21-35 inches tall when measured at the withers and can weigh 65-75 pounds. It is a tall, lean looking dog, has long straight-boned legs with a narrow chest. History has recorded that these dogs were fed a diet of dog bread (cornbread) but today their diet is much improved. Their head is domed and they have a long muzzle. Their eyes are brown or hazel. The American Foxhound has short, coarse fur with colors ranging from the tri-colored black, tan, and blue. Or it can be reddish in color.

When comparing the various dog breeds, the American Beagle shows a strong resemblance to both the English Foxhound and the American Foxhound, except to say that the Beagle is a smaller, shorter dog with a shorter muzzle, fine smooth hair... and of course with the traditional rounded ears. But generally speaking, there is a striking resemblance to the Foxhound especially in Beagles standing higher that the traditional 13-15 inches.

The Northern Hound or Northern Beagle

The Northern Hound (also known as the Northern Beagle) was a popular breed of scent hound that originated north of the Trent river but bred in Yorkshire England. Like its cousin the Southern Hound it became extinct during the early part of the 1900's. The best description that we have is that it was a large bony hound with a squarish head and long trailing ears. William Nicholson writing in the British Encyclopedia tells us that the North Country Hound was kept by the "dashing class of sportsman" of England.

In describing the Northern Hound when compared to the Southern Hound, poet Gervase Markham writing in the early 17th century wrote that the Northern Hound had,

...a head more slender, with a longer nose, ears and flews more shallow, back broad, belly gaunt, joints long, tail small, and his general form more slender and greyhound-like...

Apparently, the Northern Hound did not possess a deep melodious voice but had instead a "little shrill sweetness" of a voice, wrote John Henry Walsh, editor of The Field. The same author writing for Stonehenge's The Dog, in Health and Disease (1859) believed that the Northern Hound, the Southern Hound and the Talbot may have been distinct separate breeds but in 1859 makes no distinction between the three breeds, claiming them to be one in the same.

From this short description we can at least deduce that the Northern Hound had a less pronounced dewlap, slobbered less than the Southern Hound and was more slender in appearance than either the Southern Hound or the Talbot, suggesting (at least to me) that the Northern Hound owed its lineage to the Greyhound, although this is an unsubstantiated opinion of the current author.

The Southern Hound or Southern Beagle

The Southern Hound (also known as the Southern Beagle) may have originated from Normandy or France but no longer exist, it dying off completely during the late 1800's to the early 1900's. Traces of the bloodline can be found in the gene pool of other dog breeds, however. Many writers believe that the Southern Hound was an offshoot of the English Talbot, a white deep-throated scent hound, also extinct. The Southern Hound was a tall, heavy dog with a square head, long ears, long bony body but with a deep chest. The reader will please note that the picture shown here does not accurately display the characteristics described. This is not a picture of a square headed dog, for example. At some point the Southern Hound was mixed with the Greyhound to help give it more speed.

The Southern Hound had excellent scent and tracking abilities but was rather slow footed. For this reason it was used primarily to hunt deer and hare who would eventually tire. As hunting fox became increasingly more popular, the Southern Hound lost favor with sportsmen but were still used in conjunction with Foxhounds. In time, the Southern Hound was breed with other dogs giving rise to the Otterhound/Terrier until it eventually died away completely. In 1881 breeder Edwin Brough said that he used his Southern Hounds to produce the modern Bloodhound.

John Henry Walsh, editor of 'The Field' once wrote that the Northern Hound and the Southern Hound could be differentiated by the extra fold of skin around the throat of the Southern Hound known as the 'dewlap but we do not have any pictures to draw our inspiration from. We are also told that the Southern Hound had a deeper more melodious voice than the Northern Hound. Whatever be the case, many of the modern hound breeds are believed to have Southern Hound blood in their gene pool, including the Bloodhounds, Coonhounds, Otterhound, Foxhounds, Harrier, Terrier, and yes, even our dearly beloved Beagle among others.

The St. Hubert Hound

The St. Hubert Hound or the Sleuth Hound was a scent hound. They were leashed and used in pairs to hunt deer and wild boar. According to legend the St Hubert Scent Hound was developed in 1000 AD by the monks of St Hubert Monastery located in Belgium.

In the 1200 hundreds, the monks of the Abbey of St Hubert gifted several pairs of black Hubert hounds to the king of France. In the 1500's Charles IX said that they were slow and suitable for those with gout. Another writer, Jaques de Fouilloux described them as strong dogs but having low short legs. This leads me to suspect that perhaps Charles IX and Jaques de Fouilloux were describing a type of Basset Hound; and I say this because the word Basset itself means rather low. Although extinct, the St. Hubert Hound is now represented by the English Bloodhound and American Coonhound.

The direct reference to size in and of itself would make for a strange curiosity because a similar etymology exist for the Beagle name. It is a curiosity, at least to me because the Basset Hound is a cross between the Bloodhound, the Artésien Normand, and the Basset Artésien Normand. It would appear that a similar bloodline can be traced back to the Bloodhound for both Beagle and the Basset and that a relationship between the two breeds is therefore not too far fetched. And for this reason I have placed a comparative picture of each breed to show their similarities and their differences. Now, I am not saying that Beagle and Basset emanate directly from the same exact bloodline, but merely suggesting that both breeds at one time or another were crossbred with the Bloodhound as well as other dog breed combinations. The Basset with the Artésien Normand, and the Beagle with the Northern Hound and Southern Hound, for example. At best it shows the importance of the Bloodhound and at the very least it shows that a great deal of experimentation and human intervention took place to create the various breeds. It tells me that man was attempting to crossbreed in an attempt to develop physical attributes as well as hunting traits and that some kind of competition were going on to create the perfect dog. Perhaps an attempt was made to produce a dog with shorter ears, for example. There is a hint of intrigue here, and my mind has to ponder the idea that perhaps the Middle Ages was the time period when man produced the first true Beagle. But alas, this is pure speculation or wishful thinking on my part and I do not have any facts to back it up. I must leave it up to the reader to decide if there are any similarities or differences.

The English Talbot

In the 11th century, William the Conqueror brought the Talbot hound to Britain. The Talbot was a predominantly white, slow, deep-throated, scent hound derived from the St. Hubert Hound which had been developed in the 8th century. At some point the English Talbots were crossed with Greyhounds to give them an extra turn of speed.

The Bloodhound

Bloodhounds weigh from 80 to 110 lb, although some can weigh as much as 160 lb. They have coarse fur but do not have any hair. Bloodhounds are black and tan, liver and tan, or red.

Bloodhounds have an affectionate, gentle, and even-tempered nature, but may be difficult to train as housepets because of their inherent instinct as scent hounds. Once used to hunt deer and wild boar thy are currently used by the police and airport security as detector dogs to track and hunt down people suspected of criminal activities.

The English Harrier

The Harrier, yet another English hunting dog is slightly smaller than the Foxhound but a little larger than the average Beagle. It stands 19-21 inches tall when measured at the withers and can weigh up to 45-60 pounds.

The first known Harrier pack was established by Sir Elias de Midhope in 1260 and there is evidence showing that it was recognized by the American Kennel Club as early as 1885. The Harrier is used to hunt hare... hence the name, Harrier. The history of the Harrier is unclear. It is either a bred-down version of the Foxhound or it is a mixture of the Foxhound, Bloodhound, Talbot, and/or Basset Hound. Another theory believes that it was a crossbred between the English Foxhound, the Fox Terrier, and the Greyhound.

The Beagle Harrier

Bred in the 19th century by Baron Gerard, a Frenchman, the Beagle Harrier is a cross between the English Harrier and the Beagle.

The Beagle Harrier is smaller than the English Harrier but larger than the average Beagle. It is considered to be a medium size dog standing approximately 18-20 inches tall when measured at the withers and weighs about 40-45 pounds. Beagle Harriers are tri-colored scent hounds with colors ranging from the traditional Beagle black, tan and white to the fawn and greyish tones of the English Harrier. The Beagle Harrier has a muscular body with a thick but smooth coat. Beagle Harriers have a pleasant, relaxed disposition, are extremely loyal, and make excellent house pets because they are also good with children.

The Smooth Fox Terrier

The Fox Terrier has a long history and can be traced back to 54 B.C. England by the ancient Romans who observed that the small Fox Terrier's behavior of chasing down its prey by 'going to earth', apparently a common Roman expression back then.

The painting shown here is of a white Fox Terrier named Pitch created by Sawrey Gilpin in 1790. An engraving of this painting made prior to 1810 was accompanied by the words, "It would be necessary to notice Colonel Thorton's terriers if they were only on account of his justly celebrated Pitch, from whom are descended most of the white terriers in the kingdom." Later dog writers of the 20th century believed that Pitch was a cross between the Terrier and the Greyhound. Yet another theory suggests that the Fox Terrier helped to form the basis of the Beagle Harrier saying, that it (the Beagle Harrier) was a crossbred between the English Foxhound, the Fox Terrier, and the Greyhound. If this were so, then the Beagle Harrier has the genes of the Fox Terrier in its bloodline; and for this reason I have introduced Pitch in this current article about the History of the Beagle.

The Greyhound

Since the Greyhound is mentioned in so many places as a possible ancestor of the Beagle I will place a short description here and let the reader decide if the modern day Beagle owes its lineage to the Greyhound.

The Greyhound is a large, slender, super fast sight hound, bred for coursing game and racing, reaching speeds of 39 miles per hour. The greyhound is 27-30 inches tall when measured at the shoulder withers and can weigh 60-90 pounds. Greyhounds come in a variety of colors including the traditional bluish-gray, white, fawn, black, and red to name but a few. Its color patterns can also vary and can be either solid, patchy, striped, or, it can form a combination of both patterns and colors.

My Conclusions and Etymology of the Beagle Name

In writing this short History of the Beagle it was my hope to trace the lineage of the Beagle back to the earliest known Beagle. I was not looking for a Beagle-Type dog but rather looking for a Beagle in its own right... a pure breed Beagle, so to speak, realizing that in reality there is no such thing as a "pure" breed, each dog breed having the wolf and perhaps the coyote as its common ancestor making every breed of dog thereafter a mut of sorts until its 2nd or 3rd generation, or until the bred becomes stable in its own right, and in more modern times recognized by the various kennel associations. Still, I was hoping to find a Beagle prior to human breeding intervention... a Beagle that was a Beagle naturally. Instead, I found a history in dispute as to the Beagle's lineage, so that I am left with more questions than answers.

Even the etymology of the Beagle name seems to be in dispute. My copy of Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridged Second Edition says that the word beagle is derived from the Old English begele meaning, small dog. According to the "Etymological Dictionary of the English Language by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat, the "Beagle, is a dog (Unknown) M.E. from begle meaning Squire of Low Degree." Others sources suggest that the Beagle name is derived from the Old English or Gaelic beag, meaning little. Wikipedia uses The Oxford English Dictionary and repeats the same information adding that the first mention of the Beagle by name in English literature dates from ca. 1475 in the Esquire of Low Degree. All of the above definitions would seem to point to the Glove and Pocket Beagles of the 14th century.

Other sources suggest that the Beagle name corresponds to the sound a Beagle makes. For example: Some suggest that the Beagle name comes from the French word begueule (meaning "open throat" or from bayer meaning "open wide" and gueule "mouth." Other possibilities include the French beugler (meaning "to bellow") and the German begele (meaning "to scold"). All references to the mouth and throat area. To me, the French version could just as easily point to the Basset Hound as its source and not to the Beagle. This would be a logical conclusion and for the following reasons: First, because the Basset was created and bred in France around the same time period as the English Beagle. Secondly, the Basset is clearly recognizable by its pronounced dewlap and can be described as having an "open throat." Thirdly, the Basset is also capable of howling... Or perhaps we could say, that Bassets howl and bellow loudly.

When looking for the meaning of dog names, I've noticed that the various breed of dogs were so named after a particular trait inherent in that breed or a trait that sets that breed apart from another breed. For example, the Fox(hound) is a hound that hunts fox and was bred for that specific purpose. When looking for the Beagle's history we are left with two main conclusions... the Beagle name is either derived from its size or its voice. I will go with the former, logic dictating that if the Beagle breed were first created by the English, or Welsh then the Beagle name was probably derived from the same source.

If we go with the French version for the Beagle only we are lead to believe that the Beagle's voice were so unique and unusual to warrant its own name. This kind of thinking may be a fallacy giving the Beagle a bad rap, many people believing to this day that Beagles are the only dogs capable of producing a baying or howling sound when nothing could be further from the truth.

I may not be an historian, but logic dictates to form a conclusion based upon the country of origin. My conclusion is this: I accept the Old English, begele meaning, small and Gaelic beag meaning "little" for the origins of the Beagle name. Still, we are left with the question: How many dogs were small enough to be given the title of Beagle... How many Beagle-Type dogs were there?

Beagle-Land Beagles

When I look at our Beagles they seem similar in appearance to the English Foxhound, the Welsh Foxhound, the Southern Hound, and Harrier types but much shorter except for Barum, the whitish Beagle in the foreground. Rusty, the lemon colored Beagle who is laying down directly behind Barum has the same deep-throated barking voice as did our Barum. Their sound cannot be described as a howl but a definite bark. The only time Barum barked was when others passed by our yard, he saying, "Stay away, this is my territory." And if Rusty could speak he would say, as he often does, "Hello, hello!... I am here! I am here! Come and talk to me!" Travis is the traditional tri-colored Beagle laying down next to Barum's tail; and KC is the sniffing Beagle near our back fence. Both Travis and our KC will produce a definite baying sound, but only if they are on the scent of a smaller animal. And if they could speak they would both say, "I can smell you... know you were here and I will find you and track you down."

In writing this "Brief History of the Beagle," what I've attempted to do here was to give a brief history and description of each breed and let the reader decide where their American Beagle comes from. I should also tell the reader that I am not a professional writer and that most of the information posted here was gathered by reading the materials of Wikipedia and various other web sites, who in turn seem to have gotten their information through Wikipedia either directly or indirectly, most other sites quoting from Wiki verbatim. I should also tell you that wherever possible I have tried to place what I've read in my own words in an attempt to rewrite the information I've come across. And except for my own personal knowledge and experiences with our Beagles there is nothing new here, except perhaps my opinions which are not historical in nature. I am for all intensive purposes a knowledge seeker and lover of Beagles and not a dog historian. I therefore cannot attest to the factual accuracy of any information presented here. Still, I hope you have enjoyed reading my article and have gained some insight as to the History of the Beagle.