Beagle Grooming

The beagle dog breed dates back historically to 19th century England. The breed was registered with the American Kennel Club in the 1880s. It is thought that beagles are derived from inter-breeding of several kinds of harrier and other hunting dogs. Beagles have gained popularity not only for the skill on the hunt but also for their sociable 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.

Physically, beagles are attractive, small to medium sized dogs with a solid body construction. They are known for their brown eyes and characteristically sad expression. Their coats come in a variety of color patterns. Many are tri-colored in shades of black/white/orange or black/white/yellow. Grooming your beagle is made easy because of their short, sleek fur.

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.

brooming your beagle helps care for his appearance and maintains his overall health. Whether you groom your beagle yourself or have your veterinarian's office or pet groomer do the grooming, take care of specific areas such as your beagle's ears, nails, and eyes. Weekly brushing and occasional bathing will help to maintain a healthy coat.

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.