You Ain’t Nuthin’ But a Hound Dog!

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. 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.

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.

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 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.

Michelle Adams is a life-long animal lover. Beagle grooming can be performed by owners or professional pet groomers. This article contains beagle grooming tips.