Hunting Beagle

Hunting Beagle was the ancestor of modern family pet that has become popular because of its friendly disposition and affectionate nature. From  the 11th to the 19th century, the only purpose of small hounds was tracking the game. First, the beagle was rather a type of hounds rather than a separate breed. Several hounds were crossbred to create a small breed with an extremely keen sense of smell and strong hunting instincts. The first breed standard for the Beagle was accepted only in the middle of the 19th century.

In the 13th-14th centuries, the hunting Beagle was much smaller than the Beagle of today. Beagles praised by the royalty and nobility were small enough to fit into a glove and a saddlebag. A pack of Pocket and Glove Beagles was used to track the small game like rabbits, hares, and birds in thick undergrowth where larger hounds could not get it. After the hunt, miniature Beagles were used as playing companions for children. Like all hounds, Beagles lack aggression towards strangers and can be trusted with kids.

Small Beagles lost their popularity in the 19th century when larger dogs became popular. Larger Beagles were able to hunt foxes, coyotes, bobcats, and even red deer and wild boars. With large game, Beagles were used for flushing the game for the hunters. Nowadays, a hunting Beagle cannot be used for hunting hares in Great Britain, but it’s still legal to pursue rabbits, because they are considered pests. For those who wish to exercise their Beagles, but don’t want to participate in cruel sports, drag hunting is available.

In drag hunting, a pack of Beagles consists of over 50 dogs. All dogs in a pack present a unified appearance by their coat color, size, and body type. The pack is marshaled by a huntsman assisted by several whippers who return stray Beagles to the pack. Pack hunting is a popular sport in some British public schools. Eton, Marlborough, Radley, Wye, Christ Church, Oxford, and other schools and universities maintain their own Beagle packs. If not allowed to chase moving objects and investigate interesting things, a hunting Beagle will soon become bored, destructive, and disobedient.