The last two years have seen many of us welcome a new four-legged friend into our homes, as the Kennel Club saw dog ownership rise by nearly eight per cent.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your perfect pup.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
One dog that often appears at the top of people’s canine wishlists is the Beagle – they are one of the UK’s most popular dogs and have a range of positive attributes that make them a great family pet.
Here are 10 fun and interesting facts about the breed.
The Pocket Beagle – the precursor to the modern Beagle – was popular in 16th century England and was so called because it was small enough to fit in a pocket.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
In 2010 a five-year-old Beagle called Frodo won the PDSA Gold Medal for bravery (the animal George Cross) after he woke his owner and led his family to safety when smoke detectors failed to go off during a house fire.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
The word Beagle was originally used for any dog from the hound group of breeds and comes from a combination of the French words ‘beer’, meaning ‘open’, and ‘guile’, meaning throat.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
The Beagle’s white-tipped tail is no accident – they were bred to have this feature so that hunters could easily see their dogs in long grass.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
