The How-to-Guide to Beagle Grooming
July 12, 2008 – 7:40 pmThe history of the breed of dog called beagle is largely unknown. Some say the breed dates back to 200 A.D. The breed began to be referred to as “Beagle” in the 1800s. Beagles have been popular as hunting dogs and family pets as far back as 19th century England. This sturdy, independent breed was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1885. Hunters relied on the specific bark of the beagle as it scented out its prey and appreciated its affinity and enthusiasm for the chase. Though still used as hunting or scent dogs due to their superb sense of smell, beagles are also loved for their affable temperament.
Beagles have attractive physical characteristics; they have short, sleek fur (which makes grooming your beagle an easy chore), a sturdy body structure, and brown eyes with a characteristically sad expression. Beagles come in various colors but are usually portrayed as tri-colored in shades of black/white/tan.
Because of their short, easy to manage fur, grooming your beagle is a fairly easy task. A yearly bath and occasional dry shampoo is enough to keep these small dogs clean. The AKC and other beagle experts recommend several grooming techniques for this affable breed.
Grooming your beagle includes caring for his appearance and maintaining his overall health. You may choose to groom your beagle yourself or your may have your veterinarian’s office perform trickier grooming techniques such as trimming your beagle’s nails. There are also a number of pet grooming services that will maintain your pet’s appearance for a small fee. For example, a package including a puppy wash, brush, nail trim, and style costs approximately $10-$60.
Beagles, like other dogs, require regular maintenance of their nails. These may require more or less trimming depending on your dog’s activity level. If nails are not trimmed, they may become infected and painful for your beagle to walk on. Eyes and eyelashes are another area that should be groomed. Beagle eyes have a characteristic sad expression. They are usually brown or hazel and have longer eyelashes than other dogs. It is important to make sure beagle’s eyelashes do not grow into his eye as surgery will be required to correct this condition.
Whether you groom your beagle at home or a professional pet groomer takes care of grooming your beagle, follow these guidelines to maintain your beagle’s target areas of ears, nails, and eyes. Remember that to care for his coat, brush him at least once weekly. Beagles rarely need to be bathed but can be dry-shampooed occasionally.
Your beagle’s nails need to be trimmed regularly just like any other dog breed. There is no set frequency for when nails should be trimmed since length depends on your beagle’s activity level. If you can hear his nails clicking on the floor it is probably a good time for trimming. If you choose to trim your beagle’s nails, use a quality nail clipper and make sure to have a special powder or cream to stop bleeding of any accidental cuts.
When grooming your beagle’s nails, trim them with a quality nail clipper. There is no set frequency for when nails should be trimmed since length depends on your beagle’s activity level. When you can hear your beagles’ nails clicking on the floor it is probably a good time for trimming. Use high-quality nail clippers and take your time. If your beagle is hard to handle when using nail clippers you may want to have a professional groomer do the clipping.
Tags: Dog
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