Beagle, also known as the Bichon Frise, belongs to the hunting dog group. It is popular in the United States and ranks fifth among the most popular dogs in America. Its popularity is still rising. It is also one of the famous dog breeds in the world.
The name "Beagle" is said to be derived from the French word "beagle," which means small. In the United Kingdom, this dog is considered a hunting dog. In addition to its small size, it is fast and agile, making it particularly suitable for hunting rabbits. Therefore, it is named "hunting dog". The barking of the Beagle is louder and more melodious than other hunting dogs, and it is praised as the "bell of the forest".
Beagle originated in ancient Greece and is the smallest breed among all hunting dogs. According to records, the Romans and the Franks used to raise them, and their main job was to catch rabbits, which is how they got their name. In 1066, they were introduced to England. Because of their small size, people often carried them in their pockets, so they were also called Pocket Beagles, which are the ancestors of modern Beagles.
It is said that Beagles have a deep connection with the British royal family. Queen Elizabeth I, King William II, and King George III all owned Beagles. During the 16th to 17th centuries, hunting was popular in England, and the British royal family also kept many famous dogs to accompany the royal members on hunting trips. The small and strong Beagle was trained as a hunting dog for small game, with rabbits being considered the most agile and precious species. Therefore, Beagles mainly hunted rabbits. Because of their outstanding ability to catch rabbits and their numerous achievements, they were given the nickname "rabbit killer," and over time, they were simply called Beagles. Until later, as hunting declined, Beagles began to transform into family dogs. However, when they first became family dogs, they were not very popular due to their excessive energy and difficult training. It was not until professional dog trainers and veterinarians helped that they gradually adapted to human family life and eventually became a breed of family dogs.
Beagles used to work as hunting dogs in the hilly areas of Blithfield, Staffordshire. In 1895, the Beagle Club of England was established, and a few years later, the breed was exported to the United States.
Because Beagles are descendants of rabbit hunting dogs in ancient Greece, they are often trained as foxhounds. They often work in groups when chasing prey and have excellent results. They have also been kept as experimental animals in laboratories. Among the research results using dogs as experimental animals, only Beagles have received international recognition.
The Beagle Club of America and the American Kennel Club have conducted a rough estimation: there are currently about 100,000 Beagles worldwide, and the majority of them are kept as family dogs.
This dog especially loves to play, so it consumes a lot of energy and is not suitable for office workers and the elderly.
In addition, it will bark when unhappy or bored, which will disturb people around and make it unsuitable for keeping in urban apartments. Especially when it has companions, it loves to bark and make noise incessantly, so it is best to only keep one of this dog and train it from a young age to correct its bad habit of barking indiscriminately.
1. Canine Infectious Diseases
Dogs are susceptible to infectious diseases, including canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Common clinical symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, bloody stool, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked paws, etc.
These highly infectious and lethal diseases often occur in dogs during or after weaning, or around one year old. Puppies are more susceptible and have a lower cure rate, often resulting in sequelae.
Prevention:
When bringing a dog home, it is recommended to choose a dog through legitimate channels, and give the dog vaccinations on time. Regular disinfecting of the house is also necessary. Do not take the dog outside for a walk until it has completed its vaccination. Avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and do not allow others to touch the dog's mouth and nose.
2. Canine Skin Diseases
Dogs often contract various skin diseases while walking outside. If a dog is accidentally infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi, the risk of long-term difficult recovery is high. So all dog owners must be vigilant. Clinical manifestations of canine skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulcers, purulent discharge, hair loss, scab formation, etc.
Prevention:
In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, avoiding darkness and dampness. Regular disinfection of the dog's living environment is also important. Internal and external deworming of the dog should be done regularly. Use special dog shampoo, comb the hair regularly, and supplement vitamins and fish oil.
3. Canine Parasites
Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which often cause skin diseases and gastrointestinal diseases in dogs. They can also cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats, affecting the quality of life and physical development of dogs. Dogs with parasites are often weak and lethargic.
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Prevention:
When feeding, dog owners should be careful to avoid giving dogs non-sterilized raw meat or unknown sources of meat. Internal deworming should be done every three months, and external deworming should be done once a month. When going out, prevent the dog from eating or licking indiscriminately or going into the grass. After returning home, be sure to check carefully.
Diet:
Do not eat foods with excessive salt content, which will aggravate intestinal burden. It is best to feed specialized dog food.
Grooming:
After the basic brushing is done, you can start using a comb to groom the fur. Sometimes, even though the brushing has been done once, there may still be some small tangles, so you must use the comb again to thoroughly groom, pick out the tangles, and keep the hair smooth and knot-free.
The method is to hold the comb with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger below, first use a wide-toothed comb to smooth the fur, and then switch to a fine-toothed comb to straighten it out. Remember, never start with a fine-toothed comb, otherwise the hair is easily broken. Also, control the strength when grooming, keeping the movements as gentle as possible, and avoid pulling too hard, otherwise the hair will break and the dog will feel pain. In addition, in order to prevent static electricity, it is best to use a metal comb for dogs.
Cleaning of Ears and Eyes:
A dog's ears, especially those with large and long ears like Beagles, are prone to ear infections. Therefore, regular cleaning and inspection of the ears are absolutely necessary.
First, sprinkle a little ear powder into the ear, pat it a few times to let the powder enter the ear, then slowly remove it with your fingers or an ear hair clamp. Then apply ear cleaning solution to cotton and twist it with your fingers in the ear to clean. Finally, check if there are any stains on the cleaning cotton to determine if the cleaning is complete; after bathing, remember to clean the ears with ear solution again.
Tear stains and eye discharge are the main reasons for the facial hair turning brown, greatly affecting the dog's appearance. Therefore, in addition to regular daily grooming, it is also important to focus on cleaning during bathing.
1. Cannot bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be done frequently. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, you can bathe the dog one or two more times, while in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Regular grooming
Dogs shed hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn, when seasonal shedding is more severe. To grow good fur, regular grooming is an important step. Pet owners can use special pet combs to help dogs remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Groom the dog once in the morning and evening, about five minutes each time.
3. Sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial to the growth of a dog's fur and can make the fur more shiny. In addition, sunbathing can help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, you can let the dog exercise, which can improve its physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Parasite control
Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body and compete for nutrients, so parasite control is essential. When deworming, it is recommended to do internal and external control together. Deworming medication can cause significant damage to a dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order to have shiny fur, it is necessary to lay a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutritious dog food that meets the dog's needs; on the other hand, you can also feed the dog with a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil, etc.
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