Crested Beagle

He is not recognized by the F.C.I.

Origin
China <> Great Britain -> U.S.A.
Translation
Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Crested Beagle

The Crested Beagle is a hybrid between the Chinese Crested Dog and the Beagle. This unique breed can vary considerably in appearance and personality, even within the same litter. Although there can be a variety of outcomes when it comes to this breed, the Crested Beagle tends to be a small dog with a stiff coat like the Chinese Crested Dog and the color pattern of the Beagle. These dogs are going to be a mix between playful and laid-back, as the two parents are extremely different when it comes to energy levels. The Crested Beagle can be very shy with strangers, but will love its family unconditionally, following them everywhere. Relatively easy to train and low-maintenance, the Crested Beagle is an excellent breed of dog for any size of home. However, due to its fine coat, warmer temperatures are recommended. It's an excellent breed for novice dog owners and those who may have small pets or young children.

History of the Crested Beagle

Although the Crested Beagle is still a little too new as a breed to have an in-depth history, its parent breeds have many interesting facts about them. When these two breeds are brought together, the typical result is a lovable companion dog that tends to be more laid-back. The Crested Beagle is an excellent family dog that will adapt well to any size of home, is low-maintenance and very easy to train. If you're a new dog owner looking for a low-maintenance pet, or an experienced dog lover looking for a loyal companion, the Crested Beagle may be the ideal solution for you.
        

A little of the Chinese Crested Dog

        
The Chinese Crested Dog is not native to China at all, but to Africa or Mexico. These toy breeds have been bred to be virtually hairless, however, there may be a few dogs born with a recessive gene, even within the same litter, that are completely covered in fur and are known as Powderpuffs. This breed only became associated with Chinese culture around 1953, when it was taken aboard ships by Chinese sailors to hunt vermin during and between periods of plague. Around the 19th century, the Chinese Crested Dog found its way to the heart of Europe, where it was bred primarily for its raking skills. The Chinese, on the other hand, valued the Chinese Crested Dog for its companionship and even believed the breed had magical healing powers. While this may not be true, the Chinese Crested Dog is definitely a unique breed.
Standard of the Chinese Crested Dog

A little of the Beagle

The Beagle is a member of the hound family and lives by its nose. They were first bred in England around 1475 and are said to have been named after the way they bark at their prey, Beagle meaning "big mouth" in French. In the early 19th century, the breed was developed into the standard we seem to see today, a small, athletic dog with a clever nose for hunting game. It's a playful, friendly breed that has been popular for generations, having first made its way to America around the early 2000s. Since then, the Beagle has become a much-loved family dog, even despite its strong desire to hunt.
Standard of the Beagle

Appearance of the Crested Beagle

Because the Crested Beagle is a cross between the Chinese Crested Dog and the Beagle, it will have a variation in appearance results, even within the same litter. Most often, this hybrid breed retains the color pattern of the Beagle with a mixture of black and brown markings on a white background. The Crested Beagle also always has hair, unlike the Chinese Crested Dog, but it appears to be either a stiff coat like the Chinese Crested Dog, or a simple short, soft coat like the Beagle. Its body type is slim and athletic, but not very tall, which matches the small size of the Chinese Crested Dog breed. This hybrid's ears mimic those of the Beagle and are folded back against the dog's head, falling just below the jaw line and short but well-structured muzzle. The eyes are round and always full of life, with a beautiful dark brown color.

Temperament of the Crested Beagle

The Crested Beagle is a bit of a mystery to discover. That's because the two parent breeds are so different in personality. The Beagle, for example, is loving and energetic, loving nothing more than hitting the road on a hunting or hiking trip with their owner. This breed is friendly with strangers and makes the perfect pet, being gentle with children of all ages and good with other pets. The Chinese Crested Dog, on the other hand, although by no means aggressive, is completely different from the Beagle. This dog loves its family unconditionally, but has the ability to sit still for hours on end, simply enjoying the day. Although the Chinese Crested Dog is energetic and enjoys a good playtime, it much prefers to curl up on your lap or in your bed and spend time with you that way. Despite this, the Chinese Crested Dog can be an escape artist, so keep this in mind when designing the yard for your Crested Beagle. With the combined personality of these two parent breeds, you can expect your Crested Beagle to have a low-to-moderate energy level, very attuned to your emotions, adorable, loyal, intelligent, playful and a little stubborn. This is a breed that should be relatively easy to train and doesn't bark too often, so living in a neighborhood shouldn't be a problem. Just bear in mind that early socialization and training will be key to ensuring that your dog behaves well with strangers, children and other pets - it may not be foolproof, but it will help to encourage good behavior.

Needs and activities of the Crested Beagle

Given that the Crested Beagle has a mix of moderately active and not-so-active parents, you can expect your dog to need around 20 to 30 minutes of physical and mental stimulation a few times a day. This should be more than enough to keep this breed happy and busy. Some suggested activities that would work for this breed would be playing with toys around the house, a long walk, a short jog, fetch in the yard and training. Training is very important as it not only encourages good behavior, but also helps to mentally tire out your Crested Beagle. Whether your dog resembles the Chinese Crested Dog or the Beagle, it's important to socialize early and train with a gentle but consistent hand. This breed will do well in any region and tends to prefer warmer weather due to its shorter coat.

Maintenance of the Crested Beagle

The Chinese Crested Dog and Beagle are low-maintenance dogs, which means you can expect your Crested Beagle to be low-maintenance too. Because this breed has a shorter coat, you can expect some shedding, but the Chinese Crested Dog tends to shed rarely, even when it's a Powderpuff, which should help reduce the amount of shedding that occurs. Brushing twice a week with a metal comb and rubber brush should be more than enough to minimize shedding and remove any dirt that may be on the body. Bathing should only take place every few weeks or if your dog is particularly dirty, as none of the parent breeds have a bad dog smell. In addition to brushing and bathing, it's important to clean your dog's ears frequently, as the Crested Beagle tends to have folded ears. Any moisture left in the ears after bathing can lead to irritation and infection. Careful cleaning and drying of the ears will help avoid this problem. Trim your Crested Beagle's nails monthly, or when you hear the nails clicking on the floor, to ensure that your dog's paws remain healthy and free from cracks and tears.

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