Ever since Uno the beagle took the Westminster dog show by storm in 2008, it’s been beagle-mania. “Beagle” is the most searched for dog breed on the internet, with a global monthly search volume of over 4 million hits. The next most-searched dog breed? The Yorkshire Terrier, with a “pawtry” 1.5 million hits. In the virtual world, the Beagle rules.
Great time to be a beagle, right? The reining Westminster champion, the most sought after dog breed; heck even Charles Darwin named his ship “The Voyage of the Beagle” in honor of the breed.
But let’s not forget that with “great popularity comes great responsibility”. Many beagles are ending up at animal shelters because owners either weren’t ready for a pet, weren’t ready for the breed, or simply because a lot of puppy mills tried to “cash-in” on the beagle boom, creating a high supply of beagles. But in the end it’s the shelters that have been bearing the burden of “Beagle-mania”.
So two things.
First, if you’re thinking about adding a Beagle to your family, ask yourself if it’s the right breed for you. To start:
- Beagles live on average 12-15 years. Are you ready to care for a beagle for the rest of his or her life?
- Be prepared to spend at least $500 per year on your beagle. Are you financially prepared to support a beagle?
- Beagles are high energy dogs and need daily exercise to burn off that excess energy. Will you be able to exercise your beagle once or twice a day?
(For more questions to consider, please visit beagles on the web).
Second, if a beagle is what you’re looking for, why not consider adoption? At Petango.com, there are virtually hundreds of beagles waiting to find their forever homes. Click here to search for adoptable beagles across North America.
Want more beagle info? Here’s a quick list:
Okay I think I’m all beagled out for today.
Robert
