Blue Tick Beagle: Facts, Origin, & History (With Pictures)
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Blue Tick Beagles are definitely one of the top favorites when it comes to family dogs. Though they may not be as popular as traditional Beagles, they have definitely made a name for themselves over the past 10 years or so. They have long floppy ears and forgiving eyes that can easily melt the heart of any dog owner and they are definitely great with children.
You can find traditional Beagles in a variety of colors including white, orange-tan, red, and lemon, but the Blue Tick Beagle stands out more than most. At a glance, they look like traditional Beagles with the exception that they have black-speckled, white fur on their legs and underbelly, as opposed to typical snow white with traditional Beatles.
However, their faces and back are pretty much the same with variations of black, dark tan, and a bit of white. Let’s talk a bit more about what makes these dogs unique.
The Earliest Records of Blue Tick Beagle in History
Blue Tick Beagles were bred in England around 1820-1830. They originated as hunting hounds and were regularly used for hunting small game such as rabbits, quails, and pheasants. They were brought to the US in the 1870s. Blue Tick Beagles were first bred in America in the 1870s. They were then accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1885. Around the 1940s, American Beagles were introduced to America.
How Blue Tick Beagle Gained Popularity
After Beagles were imported to the United States for hunting purposes, they quickly gained popularity as some of the best hunting hounds that hunters could find. These dogs also have a distinctive howl that alerts hunters as to when they have located their game — something that they came to find very useful, which led to the dogs being bred within the United States.
How Has the Role of This Breed in Society Changed Over Time?
The role of Blue Tick Beagles has changed a bit as the dogs are no longer used for hunting, they are simply great house dogs. These dogs are friendly, and energetic, and their natural canine instincts make them perfect as guard dogs and police dogs.
Blue Tick Beagle Formal Recognition
Most kennel clubs recognize the Blue Tick Beagle as a purebred Beagle. This includes The American Kennel Club, The Beagle Club, and The National Beagle Club of America. However, some of the clubs have height restrictions, which in many cases, is between 13-15 inches tall.
Top 12 Unique Facts About Blue Tick Beagle
1. Beagles In Cartoons
You may not be surprised to find that Beagles are one of the most well-known cartoon canines. For example, Charlie Brown’s loyal friend Snoopy made us all fall in love with his droopy ears and pleading eyes. Other cartoons include Donald Duck, Sleepytown Beagles, and Sherman’s Lagoon. You may also see these hounds used in movies by law enforcement personnel.
- Related Read:Â What Kind of Dog is Snoopy? A World-Famous Beagle
2. Beagles Have an Average Life Span Compared to Other Breeds
When it comes to life spans, Beagles are about average. The average life expectancy of Beagles is roughly 13 years. However, the range for most dog breeds is about between 12-15 years. So, this means if you plan to get a Blue Tick Beagle for your home, you can expect to enjoy his company for quite some time.
3. Blue Tick Beagles Are Natural Scent Hounds
All dogs have scent glands that are far more capable than those of humans. But hunting dogs with especially sharp scent detection capabilities are called scent hounds, as they’ve been known to help locate prey and game by using their senses of smell.
This is one of the primary reasons why Beagles were bred to hunt rabbits, quail, and pheasants. Scent hounds are also used in rescue and search operations due to their exceptional nose and tracking ability.
4. Beagles Are Popular with Public Figures
Beagles have become one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. Public figures including Barry Manilow, Frankie Muniz, Helio Castroneves, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Andy Cohen have all been known to have these dogs.
5. You May Find Your Dog Howling at Night
Some Beagles love to bark and howl occasionally. Why? Because they’re hounds, and this is a natural instinct for this breed specifically — just like with Huskies. Remember that dogs are descendants of wolves, and wolves howl at night to communicate with one another about potential threats, food sources, and locations.
6. Common Health Problems for Blue Tick Beagles
The Blue Tick Beagle Breed is especially susceptible to health issues. These issues include epilepsy, obesity (especially in aging dogs), cherry eye, hypothyroidism, and spinal disc problems.
7. Their Awesome Sense of Smell Can Be a Bit Much
As mentioned previously, Beagles were originally bred for their sense of smell to assist with hunting expeditions. However, this can often lead them to run astray. Don’t be surprised if your Beagle pup instinctively runs off to the nearest object that it sniffs out.
This is why it’s challenging to train these pups when they’re young. But, training them will save you tons of effort and quite a few headaches when the pups mature and you take them to an open park or let them go without the leash.
8. Blue Tick Beagles Are Great Swimmers
It wasn’t uncommon for the scent hounds to have to go into swamps, ponds, and shallow lakes to help catch prey. This has made them excellent swimmers over the years, and they tend to take to the water very naturally. Don’t be surprised if your Beagle naturally begins to doggie paddle as soon as you dip into the pool. However, it is best to hold the dog to get them used to this before just letting them swim on their own.
9. Blue Tick Beagles Are a High-Energy Breed
These Beagles are relatively small dogs, but they have a ton of energy to burn each day — more than Shih Tzus, Pomeranians, or Terriers. So, they love to go to the dog park and be able to run around with other dogs or their owner. These dogs make for great fetch buddies and typically require anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour of activity every day.
10. They’re Not Hypoallergenic
Beagles have a thick, short coat that needs to be brushed regularly and sheds every season. They are not hypoallergenic, though you won’t find that they shed as often as many other double-coated dog breeds. But you will need to groom them regularly to keep dander at a minimum in your home and car.
11. Blue Tick Beagle Puppies Are Expensive
These rare, blue-colored puppies are not cheap in comparison to other breeds. The average price range for a Blue Tick Beagle puppy can be as low as $300 and as high as $650. The price of a Beagle puppy varies greatly, and it’s always best to go with a reputable shelter or breeder.
These spotted Beagles are more expensive than other Beagles because of their spectacular color patterns and blue markings. The pups with the blue markings are less common and therefore more valuable than other colors and markings like black, lemon, white, cinnamon, and black.
12. Blue Tick Beagles Are Social Dogs
Like many other types of Beagles, Blue Tick Beagles are very sociable and can be trained fairly easily. They enjoy being with other animals because their lineage was pack-based, similar to wolves.
So, you can expect them to get along with other dogs fairly well as well as children and other pets within your household. However, remember that every dog has a different personality so it’s always best to introduce them to other people and animals slowly.
Do Blue Tick Beagles Make Good Pets?
Yes. Blue Tick Beagles are friendly, intelligent, have a high energy level, and have great stamina. They also have a prey-drive instinct. These Beagles love attention and will do almost anything to please their owners.
These Beagles are also very independent and can easily have hours of fun all on their own. They’re social dogs who love companionship, whether that be with other dogs, pets, or people–but rest assured that your pup will be open to a new relationship.
Conclusion
The Blue Tick Beagle, a popular and beautiful variation of the Beagle breed, has a blue spotted underbelly to make them stand out from other Beagle breeds, though they share all of the same personality characteristics and hunting instincts that other Beagle breeds do.
Their sense of smell is unmatched, and these dogs make for great companions, making them awesome house pets. But if you’re looking for a good guard or watchdog, they’ll also fit that bill fairly well.
See also:
- Beagle Pit (Pitbull & Beagle Mix): Info, Pictures, Facts, Traits
- Beaglematian (Beagle & Dalmatian Mix): Info, Pictures, Traits
Featured Image Credit: Bronco is a male tricolor Beagle (Image Credit: PumpkinSky, Wikimedia Commons CC0 4.0 International)
