Ten Best Dogs For Families

From The Reader's Digest Illustrated Book of Dogs

"No good hound is a bad colour." This maxim among hound devotees is especially true of the Beagle, with its superb black, white, and tan coat. Looking like a smaller version of the Foxhound, this dog is endowed with a surprisingly melodious bark. As for the name, it is thought to derive from the Celtic beag, meaning "small" -- for this hunter is the smallest of the English hounds.

The Beagle is a tireless hunter, excellent in the pursuit of both large and small game. Sometimes accompanying mounted hunters in a pack, it most often travels alone or in a brace, with a single hunter following on foot.

At one point the breed was small enough to fit into the pocket of a hunting coat. Up to a dozen Beagles were said to fit into saddle baskets strapped to a rider's mount. Since then, Beagles have grown somewhat. Oversize varieties found in some tropical countries would seem to be a different breed entirely, for rather than track the nervous hare or cottontail, they are set loose to corner formidable leopards and jaguars.

An agreeable temperament makes the Beagle a good pet. Unfortunately, it is highly prized by medical research laboratories because the breed is uniformly small.

Practical information: A Beagle bred as a pack hound requires canine companionship and lots of exercise. These hardy dogs need special care only for their long ears, which must be cleaned regularly. The coat needs a thorough brushing, once or twice a week, to rid it of dust and dead hair.

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