You've probably heard it all. Lord knows I have.
Every breed gets a bum rap in one way or another. While every breed has telltale attributes, at the end of the day it comes down to the individual dog.
I asked some beagle lovers what they think, and we came up with:
Wanna see a beagle lover bristle? Tell me my dog is dumb. In the words of that great beagle Snoopy, she ain't no stupid beagle!
I smile because I am constantly underestimated. |
Here is what was written on Dogster.com back in August 2012:
"Beagle: This breed has won at Westminster, so it’s clear it can prance around a ring on a lead very well. But the Beagle’s learning capabilities are limited, with the exception of using his sense of smell. This is put to use to find contraband in the Beagle Brigade, the troop of dogs who work airports. This is a very, very sweet breed who is devoted to his family."The qualifications for a breed being dumb: difficulty in training, the ability to zone out, confusion about who is in charge. That's basically why a beagle is dumb.
Excuse me, but from those qualifications Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison would be considered idiots.
"Beagles figure out what you want them to do in 5 seconds, then spend the rest of their lives trying to find ways not to do it," said Lori Norman, an AKC reputable breeder who runs Lokavi Beagles in South Florida.
"Don't confuse that with being stupid, just be smart enough to stay one step ahead of them! If your mind can't stay with them they win."
A beagle's learning capabilities are not limited if the trainer is focused and consistent. Which brings me to the next myth.
MYTH: Beagles can't be trained.
For my arguments, I present Exhibit A.
This is Lulu with her American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizens Certificate. She passed her test. How can a dog who can't be trained pass a test like that?
Here's Exhibit B.
This is Shannon. She and her six-year-old beagle Gabe compete in Rally and Obedience. And she's 11.
Beagles also do agility and, of course, nosework.
So it has to be possible.
MYTH: Pocket Beagles for sale.
If you are looking for a pocket beagle, I hate to tell you -- they don't exist. Not in a healthy, reputable fashion.
There are beagles who are bred to be small, and people call them pocket beagles. You will see them in ads, and people will actively search for them.
Pocket beagles existed in, like, the 1300 hundreds. But reputable breeders do not purposely breed pocket beagles. In fact, beagles who are that small have defects. AKC standard is 13 inches, and most breeders will stick with that.
If someone is selling pocket beagles, make sure you ask lots of questions about genetics and the health of the beagles. Make sure your prospective pet doesn't have any issues.
MYTH: Beagles are bad with kids.
My niece surrounded by beagles in 2012. |
My niece and Lulu pretty much grew up together. Lulu was six months old when my parents brought her home, and my niece was three. They loved each other, and Lulu is always excited to see my niece now when she comes to my house.
That does not mean that my niece and Lulu had a completely peaceful relationship. Something would happen from time to time, and Lulu, who was a puppy, would get snappy, or growl. In every time, my niece did something my dog didn't like. And she doesn't always understand that she can't do certain things with dogs. But I don't blame Lulu for that.
Most dogs will react when a child goes too far. Especially when a dog sees the child as a sibling, another puppy.
It's up to parents and adults to set the right example.
MYTH: Beagles eat everything.
I know what you're thinking -- please stay with me for just a moment, and I promise you can argue with me later.
Yes, beagles have no mechanism to tell them they are full. Yes, beagles will do most anything for food (maneuvering chairs and jumping on counters? Done!). Yes, beagles may eat strange things you would not consider edible (like money -- $275 to be exact).
But will beagles eat everything they see? I say no. A dog who does that likely has a bigger issue at work -- like a nutritional deficiency. Or something else going on. In my completely unscientific survey on my Facebook page, many people said not only did their dogs not eat everything -- they were picky! That's right, picky beagles! Say it ain't so!
Again, I think it comes down to individual dogs. While there are things that are indicative of every breed, I don't think this is one of them.
So, those are my five beagle myths. There are more, but those are the ones I'm doing today.
What do you think of my myths? Are there any others you want me to go after? COMMENT BELOW and let me know!