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.

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 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.

Whether you groom your beagle at home or a professional pet groomer takes care of grooming your beagle, follow these guidelines to maintain your beagle's target areas of ears, nails, and eyes. 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.

The long, pendulum-shaped beagle ears can be prone to infection due to water or bacteria becoming trapped inside. It is important to check your beagle's ears at least once per week to ensure they are clean and free of infection. A good method is to wipe the ears whenever he is being brushed.

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.