Beagle Review

Overall Rating

A friendly hound with a good nature.

A perfect member of the family, especially with children. Wouldn't want to be without him.

Doesn't need too many long walks a day.

No coat cutting/thinning or nail cutting.

Dribbles a lot when excited, and tends to put saliva onto white kitchen appliances, as he has quite large jowls.

When he has had a long walk and comes into the house and shakes his head, prepare to move quickly or get coated with it. (Saliva that is).

A family member of 5 years and a bit now, got him when our son, now aged 5 and a bit, was only four weeks old, so they have grown up together.

We had always had Jack Russell's before, but after the death of two of them, I wanted another breed, as I didn't want to feel as though I was replacing the others.

Also, we wanted one slightly bigger than a Jack, but not too big, and not one with long shaggy hair, as it would be a nightmare to keep clean and tangle free with living in the countryside. Scooby is bigger than a Jack, and also an awful lot stronger; he seems to be pure strength. Being short coated is an advantage, as he is easy to clean and groom, as when he molts he sure does shed a lot of hair (we are thinking of making Scooby wool jumpers)!

We toured various dogs homes and looked at various breeds, looking at dogs at shows and asking people what they were like and what breed, (I'm sure people must have thought that we were mad, or trying to make off with their pets).

The decision was that we needed to see the dogs parents, as with having a small baby and older child, we had to be sure that the animal was not aggressive. Our minds were put to rest by seeing the breeder. There we saw both parents and brothers, sisters and grandparent, as they all live together.

All the dogs seemed relaxed, and loved to sniff the baby, You think of hounds and fox hunting, but Beagles are also one of the most softest and docile dogs going. Stand on our dog's tail by accident and he doesn't even bark or growl. I have never known him to growl at the kids, or go to bite one of them. But some delivery drivers he doesn't like (dogs must be able to tell how people are).

You think that they need loads and loads of exercise, but that isn't the case,! After a long walk just once a day, our Beagle is worn out, and he likes nothing better than hogging the place in front of the Aga and sleeping there until meal time. Really not as manic as a Jack Russell, and a lot more docile, but watch out for that saliva. (Always check your clothes before venturing out, as you may be the prize holder of wearing the most saliva).

The whole family is pleased with Scooby, and to our five year old he is the fifth member of the family.