How to Care for Your Beagle's Coat
The exact origin of the breed of dog known as the beagle
is unknown but it is thought that this sturdy breed
descended from a blend of various English hunting dogs.
The breed was registered with the American Kennel Club
(AKC) in 1885. Since that time the beagle has gained
popularity not just for its hunting ability, but also
for its appeal as a family pet. 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.
Because of their short, easy to manage fur, grooming
your beagle is a fairly easy task. A yearly bath and
occasional dry shampoo is enough to keep these small
dogs clean. The AKC and other beagle experts recommend
several grooming techniques for this affable breed.
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. The ears,
feet, and eyes along with the coat need consistent grooming.
The long, pendulous ears are prone to infection as water
and bacteria can easily become trapped inside. The nails
may require more or less trimming depending on your
dog's activity level. Beagle eyes need special care
because their long eyelashes may become ingrown.
If you do not feel comfortable grooming your beagle,
there are many pet groomers available to maintain your
dog's appearance. They can handle, in particular, tricky
areas like trimming your beagle's nails. Services are
relatively reasonable. A "puppy package" may include
a puppy wash, brush, nail trim, and style and costs
approximately $10-$60.
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.
Your beagle's nails need to be trimmed regularly just
like any other dog breed. There is no set frequency
for when nails should be trimmed since length depends
on your beagle's activity level. If you can hear his
nails clicking on the floor it is probably a good time
for trimming. If you choose to trim your beagle's nails,
use a quality nail clipper and make sure to have a special
powder or cream to stop bleeding of any accidental cuts.
Because beagles have longer eyelashes than other dogs,
eyelashes need to be monitored and carefully trimmed.
An ingrown eyelash will be very uncomfortable for your
beagle and will require surgery to correct.
Remember that to care for his coat, brush him at least
once weekly. Beagles rarely need to be bathed but can
be dry-shampooed occasionally.
About the Author
For more information on the beagle
dog |
Dog Pound
