Don’t get me wrong—I love beagles. I grew up with one named “Chicho” who lived at the nearby home of my three spinster aunts. He was typical of his breed in his even-temperedness, his famous wanderlust and his vocal range: Baruuu! Baruuuuuu!
Mouth-wateringly cute as pups, easy-to-please as adults (show ‘em anything edible), it makes sense that Americans consider them their number one breed. And now that Uno’s won big at Westminster, we’ll be sure to see a similar spike in their population.
That means that things will never be the same at my place of work. Uno’s breathtaking beauty and huge personality means I expect to see a parallel spike in these chubby, four-legged fridge-raiders (AKA, “bagels”) with a concomitant increase in the incidence of allergic skin disease manifesting as the “ears and rears” syndrome common to the breed.
I can live with these routine challenges. The thing that really gets me to wondering whether I can survive another few decades in this profession is the prospect of hearing “the voice” reverberate off the walls in record volume.
After all, there’s a reason these dogs were bred with such a marvelous barrel chest, powerful lungs and stress-resistant vocal cords: so we could hear them better. I ask you, though, is there no solution to this vet’s auditory sensitivity when it comes to the beagle’s bay?
One thing I do know is that if Uno’s win has its expected effect on future generations of Americans, sound-proofing in homes and animal hospitals will have to be bumped up a notch or few in their effectiveness. Either that or safer sedatives will have to make their way to market so earplugs don’t become a necessity in this veterinary lifestyle we lead.
I love beagles. Really. But there are so many wonderful breeds out there! Can we not spread the love around so that my hearing lasts at least as long as my professional career does?
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That's funny. I'd never thought of the effects of barking on our vets. And something else really funny - I always thought beagles were cute, but too noisy for me. I also didn't like small and cute but yappy dogs, either. So, I got collies. Now I have the best of both worlds- big and beautiful, but loud and yappy as well. My poor vet!
Cindy February 17th, 2008 10:02:00 AM
Dr. K, you'd better hope the black and tan coonhound never wins Westminster!* I count my blessings every single day that my B&T is incredibly quiet for the breed but his voice can easily shake walls. Think of what a beagle sounds like and then increase the size of the dog that produces it times 10.
*Fat chance on that, and that's just fine.
cressida February 17th, 2008 10:08:00 AM
It will be interesting to see if Uno's win causes a surge in popularity. When Barney Bush the Scottish Terrier arrived at the White House, there was deep concern over a surge of rescue Scotties needing placement, or increased production in puppy mills, etc. The numbers of registration has been on a steady decline.
"Charmin the Sealyham", the #1 Terrier and #4 rated all breeds, along with his brother "Hildago", #1 Sealyham campaigned in Canada, has not brought about increased popularity.The Sealyham, once ranked high in popularity in the 30's & 40's, has now dropped to what is considered a "vulnerable" breed here in the US (with registrations hovering at 50 or 60-individual) and abroad in Europe & UK.
As an interesting note, a yound person remarked to me, recently, regarding Charmin's win at the Eukanuba, and perhaps the "big money" and demand as a stud dog. There is NO money in campaigning a Sealyham, as there are very few "customer-bitches" to begin with. The gene pool is very small, and breeders are very conscious not to be "boxed" in with their breeding programs with use of the "popular sire" syndrome.
Beagles are nice dogs and a nice family pet, yes, albeit with their voice!
Barbara A. Albright February 17th, 2008 11:17:00 AM
This is a clip of an article about Uno's win in a local online paper in my area:
Still, Cummings sees a benefit for beagle owners in Uno’s triumph.
“That’s going to bring the price of them up,” he said. “I told my cousin, if you’ve got one you want to breed, now is the time to do it.”
Aaauugghhhh!!!!! For the full story, complete with remarks by a PUPPYMILL breeder, go to my blog post. The media just doesn't help with dog issues in so many ways it seems.
Marie February 17th, 2008 12:24:00 PM
Now I also grew up with a beagle. Only he was a beagle/coonhound mix. He was my dog I found on the street and he was covered with ticks -- so much so he couldn't walk. So I picked him up (about 30# then) and carried him back home. I spent the night picking ticks off my beloved Homer. Now, beagles are loud...mixed with coonhound, it can be amazing. He only barked though once he found something such as a rabbit, and so once a week we'd walk out to the country and I'd let him go hunt (he always came back he was a good dog).
The problem with movies and things that show one breed of dog, is that then everyone wants them. Think 101 dalmatians and Beethoven. Even when the movie Ratatoulie came out, there were higher rat sales.
ashleigh February 17th, 2008 09:27:00 PM
There are two down the road from me. If only one comes to the gate when I walk my dog by, he stays quiet. They only bark if there are two of them. They are a lovely dog to look at, which of course should not be your first consideration when buying a dog. Not sure I like trends in breeds - there is no single breed that will suit everyone.
Robin February 17th, 2008 10:14:00 PM
I worry that the all these people who get the cute little beagle pups will tire of the bawooo! and clip their vocal cords. In my mind, there's nothing sadder than a dog trying desperately to make noise when he can't.
Fat Doctor February 18th, 2008 02:56:00 AM
Fat Doctor: Welcome back! Actually, "de-barked" dogs still make noise. What comes out is a hoarse sound akin to a Shiba Inu's scream (I don't recommend this breed's voice, either). De-barking is not recommended as a cure for a barker for practical reasons--and on principle, of course.
Dr. Patty Khuly February 18th, 2008 11:19:00 AM
Hopefully the fact that he was so obviously and loudly vocal will have some impact on people who might otherwise fall for the "cute" factor. If a beagle howls like that at a public event, he's going to howl that loudly at the home!
Susan February 18th, 2008 11:25:00 AM
Every time I hear beagles hunting while I'm in the woods, my first thought is that someone is murdering a dog or possibly a Sasquatch by extracting his pancreas via the oral route.
After a couple seconds I remember -- oh yeah, it's small game season. Beagles.
Sadly, I'm seeing more of the breed with downright nasty temperaments lately. The majority are still cheerful little scoundrels aiming to achieve a spherical dog, but it's an unpleasant surprise when one gets snarky. If there's a popularity boom following Westminster, you can bet it won't be out of the right kind of broodstock. I'd hate to see them go the way of the American cocker.
H Houlahan February 18th, 2008 12:24:00 PM
Movies and other media seem to have the worst impact on dogs right?? They see how awesome that dog from that movie was and then THEY want one. But they don't realize how much that animal was trained to do these stunts. Then everyone sees the popularity spike in the breed, so to get in on the action they start breeding and for all the wrong reasons. I wonder if when Snoopy first came to the scene, did beagles hit popularity then??
We know Air Bud had an effect on golden retrievers...even though, I never really see those or dalmatians. I see a lot of labs, huskies, and beagles.
ashleigh February 18th, 2008 10:22:00 PM
I happen to be lucky enough to possess the magical pink unicorn of dogs: a naturally trim beagle who doesn't bark. Ever. And she's only half-size (15lbs, maybe 11" tall), so she rocks the cute beagle factor like no one else.
If she didn't have a hound's nose for the edible and the accompanying allergies, I'd be convinced I made her up.
m February 18th, 2008 10:38:00 PM
M - a naturally trim beagle? I refuse to believe it! :)
Dr. Khuly - How do you guys do it? I have three beagles, and every time I take them to the vet, they're hoarse when they come home. The vet and the techs have never said a thing, but it's got to be grating for the people there when *I* can hear my dogs over the phone.
Katie February 20th, 2008 02:13:00 PM
we have a beagle for about 1 year, and she is very quite,she barks maybe once a week, its the crying that she does alot.but i love foxy mama, the best dog.
angie March 12th, 2008 07:25:00 PM
can't imagine that you guys are doing that ,i have 2 beagles and some time in night i found them vet ,yukkk-Investment Property
roshan dark July 23rd, 2009 09:01:16 AM
I have several dogs and including beagles and I think they are the most wonderful creatures in the world. I would be absolutely heartbroken if anything happened to them
shane ritchie September 7th, 2009 07:17:37 AM
I agree with one of the posts above alluding to poor temperaments, I have two small children and there is no way I would risk taking on some of the animals I have seen recently.
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John Underwood September 7th, 2009 07:21:04 AM
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