Beagles are one of the most active dogs you will ever find. They love to play, shower affection, and just generally be a part of any family. They make great pets for anyone who wishes to have a dog with children. You will find that the beagle is a very small dog. In fact they only grow to be about thirteen to fifteen inches in height and weigh at most thirty pounds. They are not the softest pet that you could have, but their little hearts speak for themselves. Their coats are extremely thick, but very coarse and short haired. Most often this type of dog breed will offer tan, white, and black patches. The pattern of the fur will be determined by the parents and ancestry. Some of the beagles are only two colors rather than multi colored.

For grooming care you will find the short to medium length of hair is a moderate shedder, which means that grooming is fairly easy with this breed. The beagle needs to be brushed at least once a week to remove dead or lose hair and keep their skin in perfect health. While they have moderate skin irritation, you do want to make sure you groom them properly. It is not wise to bathe them often. You will also find that a damp towel that is soft works well for removing the hair. Moving from grooming we will discuss some of the training.

Training for any dog is extremely important. The thing you have to remember about the beagle is that they are very active. This means that while they are not as intelligent as other dogs they are able to be trained for a variety of things such as hunting or some tricks. It will take quite a bit of time and patience to get them trained as well. Most often they need a high energetic training course because they can get very bored easily. Obedience training can be a little difficult as they tend to want to play over being trained.

The beagle can be a great therapy dog based on their temperament. We have mentioned that they tend to be very energetic and affectionate, which makes them great for someone who needs the slobbery love of a good pet. They like to be in people's laps as well as hang out on the floor playing with toys. For this time of characteristics you will find apartment living with small daily walks works out great. Unlike larger dogs they can be quite happy indoors for most of the day. This means that they do need at least one walk in the morning and one in the evening to get the best exercise, but other than that playing around the house and being a little devious will be the most enjoyable options. Make sure that you have plenty of toys for beagles or they may find their own. They can have a few health issues so make sure to provide a healthy diet with the proper nutrition and treats.

Beagles are well known in the United States and extremely popular based on the cartoon Peanuts that ran in the newspaper for several years and actually created some movies and TV shows. Snoopy has always been popular with children, which of course makes the demand for these dogs in homes. So if you are one of those families that finds the beagle dog breed entertaining you may want to read up on how they came to be, their characteristics, and of course the proper care, training, and grooming.