Information About Beagle Grooming

July 16th, 2008 Posted in Pets

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by Michelle Adams

The history of the breed of dog called beagle is largely unknown. Some say the breed dates back to 200 A.D. The breed began to be referred to as “Beagle” in the 1800s. Beagles have been popular as hunting dogs and family pets as far back as 19th century England. This sturdy, independent breed was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1885. Hunters relied on the specific bark of the beagle as it scented out its prey and appreciated its affinity and enthusiasm for the chase. Though still used as hunting or scent dogs due to their superb sense of smell, beagles are also loved for their affable temperament.

Beagles are pack animals to the extreme and view a human family as their pack. They become very lonely and distressed when left for long periods of time. Their intense sociability is just one of their positive aspects. Beagles have an excellent sense of smell as well as a friendly temperament. Beagles are also attractive physically; they are short haired, with a sturdy body structure, and brown eyes with a characteristically sad expression. Beagles come in various colors (and all are accepted in competition by the AKC) but they are most often represented in the tri-colored shades of black/white/tan.

Grooming your beagle can include everything from brushing his fur to trimming his toes and even eyelashes. Grooming is a way to care for your beagle’s appearance and maintain his overall health. Whether you choose to groom your beagle at home or take him to a veterinarian’s office or pet groomer, it is important to know the areas specific to your beagle that require special attention.

If you choose to groom your beagle at home there are several areas specific to the beagle that require special attention. The ears, feet, and eyes along with the coat need consistent grooming. Because the beagle has long, pendulous ears, water and bacteria may become trapped inside and infection may develop. Because ears are prone to infection, it is necessary to keep them clean to maintain your beagle’s health.

If you choose grooming your beagle at home, be aware of the several areas specific to the beagle that require special attention. The ears, feet, and eyes along with the coat need consistent grooming. The ears are prone to infection and it is necessary to keep them clean to maintain your beagle’s health. The nails may require more or less trimming depending on your dog’s activity level. If nails are not trimmed, they may become very infected and painful for your beagle to walk on. Beagles have longer eyelashes than other dogs and it is also important to make sure eyelashes do not become ingrown.

Grooming your beagle involves several guidelines. Because beagles have long, pendulous ears, these can be prone to infection due to water or bacteria becoming trapped inside. Check your beagle’s ears at least once per week to make they are clean and free of infection. A good rule of thumb is to wipe his ears whenever he is being brushed.

Follow these guidelines to care for his problem areas. Because they are prone to infection due to water or bacteria becoming trapped inside, the long, pendulum-shaped beagle ears should be checked at least once per week to ensure they are clean and free of infection. Remembering to do this at each brushing is a good rule of thumb.

When grooming your beagle’s nails, trim them with a quality nail clipper. There is no set frequency for when nails should be trimmed since length depends on your beagle’s activity level. When you can hear your beagles’ nails clicking on the floor it is probably a good time for trimming. Use high-quality nail clippers and take your time. If your beagle is hard to handle when using nail clippers you may want to have a professional groomer do the clipping.

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