Ye Olde Pocket
Beagle, also known as the
Miniature Beagle, the Toy
Beagle, Teacup Beagle,
or even the Queen Victorian
Beagle, is a small dog whose history dates clear back
into the 1300’s. In modern days, however, they are a dog
that is threatened with extinction, having been replaced by
larger, long-legged cousins and other toy breeds that are
more frequently seen in the spotlight. Sadly, Ye Olde Pocket
Beagle is rarely seen in the countries of his origin -
England, Wales and Ireland, and only a few select breeders
raise true examples of this amazing little breed.
Dating back to the 1300 and 1400’s, the
Pocket Beagle was considered to be a miniature hunting dog,
standing no more than 9 inches at the withers (top of the
shoulder). Small in stature, but large in heart, these tiny
individuals were commonly known as "glove" dogs, because of
their tiny size, or "pocket Beagles" due to the common
practice of carrying these small dogs in one’s pocket as the
hunters rode off in the hunt of rabbit and fox. When the
quarry "went to ground" or escaped into the thicket where
larger dogs could not go, the Pocket Beagles could be
loosened, to flush the prey from their hiding spaces and
allow the hunt to continue.
Coming from the same bloodlines as their
larger hunting brothers, the Pocket Beagle was recognized as
simply being a smaller version of the same dog and the
practice of breeding exceptionally small specimens with one
another helped to preserve the Miniature Beagle’s small
size. Desired both as a small hunting dog and as a companion
for the ladies, the smaller Ye Olde English Pocket Beagle,
the larger price he would fetch and, for quite some time,
the Pocket Beagle enjoyed his fair share of popularity.
Sadly, however, with the changes in game
hunting and the ever-changing fashion trends of the court,
the Pocket Beagle would eventually be put aside in favor of
more exotic and unique lap dogs and longer-legged and more
capable hunting hounds. By the mid-to-late 1900’s, Ye Olde
English Pocket Beagle had disappeared from England, Ireland
and Wales, and less than 50 specimens were found in the
United States. The Miniature Beagle was at risk of becoming
extinct.
Modern-day Miniature Beagles the subject of
much controversy and debate. Where the term once referred to
a hearty and robust little hunting dog, the Pocket Beagle of
today is often viewed as a severely inbred, dwarfed, or
crossbred Beagle, due to the number of unethical breeders
who were quick to jump on the Teacup puppy bandwagon. For
this reason, if choosing Ye Olde English Pocket Beagle for a
pet, always demand to see the Pocket Beagle puppy’s parents
to ensure they are sound, healthy, and also Miniature
Beagles as well. Reputable breeders are not afraid to answer
questions and discuss the history of their dogs and the
breed, in general.
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Ye Olde English Pocket Beagle is a miniature
version of the standard Beagle and, for this reason, should
be viewed as such. While the original Pocket Beagles of old
were commonly said to be no more than 9 inches at the
shoulder, in an attempts to revive this unique little dog
and save them from extinction, the standard on Ye Olde
Pocket Beagle has been raised to allow any dog under 12
inches in height and they can weigh anywhere from 5-15
pounds in weight, with occasional individuals weighing a bit
more. With the allowance of larger specimens, breeders hope
to expand the Pocket Beagle gene pool and eliminate the
unhealthy practice of inbreeding to produce the teacup or
toy varieties.
Pocket Beagles come in all the regular hound colors,
which means they can be black and tan, black tan and blue
tick, black tan and white, black tan and redtick, blue tan
and white, tan and white, black red and white, brown and
white, red and white, lemon and white, black and white,
black, black fawn and white, blue, blue and white, lemon,
brown, red, tan, or even white. In addition to this diverse
color variety, they can also be ticked, spotted, or can have
black, brown, tan, or white markings. In a nutshell, Ye Olde
English Pocket Beagle can come in just about any color and
style you can imagine.
Like their larger counterparts, the Pocket
Beagle is known for his fun-loving and affectionate nature,
as well as for his loyalty to his family. For centuries,
these adorable little dogs have served both as loving
lap-dogs as well as reliable hunters, proving their
versatility and desire to be around people. However, it is
important to note that the Miniature Beagle was bred as a
hunting dog for centuries and, because of this, his hunting
instinct is very strong. While he will rarely do more than
hassle the cat, many of these dogs are known for their
tendency to run off after some scent that’s attracted their
attention, often resulting in their winding up in the "Lost
Dog" category of the local paper.
In addition to his love of wandering off, the Toy Beagle is
also notoriously hard-headed and stubborn. While this
determination is a great bonus in a hunting dog, the same
trait can prove daunting when applied to the pet Pocket
Beagle. Anyone considering adopting one of these little
rebels into their family had best be prepared to bring a lot
of patience to the plate - chances are, you’re going to need
it.
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The Pocket Beagle is a bundle of energy who loves to run
around, chase things, and follow any number of interesting
scents. For this reason, it’s very important that anyone
considering a Toy Beagle realize that, despite their small
appearance, these guys do demand their fair share of
exercise. No pampered and lazy dog is this; the Pocket
Beagle wants to chase balls and play fetch, he likes to
wrestle and run, and he’s not afraid to throw back his head
and serenade you with a soulful song when he’s finished.
Grooming the Pocket Beagle is relatively
easy - a good brushing with a soft bristled brush will take
care of any of those itchy spots, as well as loosening up
any dander or loose fur, and a bath once or twice a month
will keep your Olde English Pocket Beagle’s coat simply
glowing. Keeping the toenails trimmed short will help to
prevent sore paws, as well as risking them catching them on
the carpet, and the Pocket Beagle, like any floppy-eared
dog, should have his ears checked regularly for any signs of
dirt or infection.
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If you are challenged with training a
Pocket Beagle, be ready to put your patience to the test in
most cases. Fun-loving and stubborn as a bull, most Pocket
Beagles simply can’t be bothered with learning tricks and
such mundane tasks as lay down and roll over. Lay down?
Shyeah-right… only after he’s finished making the cat run
for cover and making sure there isn’t a bird traipsing about
in his back yard. If you want to train a Pocket Beagle, you
basically have to trick them.
In order to train one of these little rebels, you will want
to use a technique known as "positive reinforcement." This
means that, rather than scolding your dog when he does
something you don’t like, you simply ignore him and, when he
does something that you want, you reward him with a treat
and lots of excitement, happiness, and praise. Making a big
production of the desired behavior encourages Ye Olde
English Pocket Beagle to continue doing this action, in
hopes of getting more goodies and attention.
