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.

These sturdy dogs have an independent spirit yet they are pack animals too. This makes beagles excellent family pets since they view their human family members as part of their pack. Beagles have an excellent sense of smell and a natural affinity for the chase.

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.

Beagles, like other dogs, require regular maintenance of their nails. These may require more or less trimming depending on your dog's activity level. If nails are not trimmed, they may become infected and painful for your beagle to walk on. Eyes and eyelashes are another area that should be groomed. Beagle eyes have a characteristic sad expression. They are usually brown or hazel and have longer eyelashes than other dogs. It is important to make sure beagle's eyelashes do not grow into his eye as surgery will be required to correct this condition.

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.

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.