Beagle - The Facts Every Owner Of This Dog Breed Should Know

Made famous by the Peanuts character, Snoopy, Beagles were bred in England as trail hounds, used to hunt rabbits and hares. Beagles are scent hounds and have a tendency to ignore everything but the interesting scent when hunting. A very energetic breed of dog, Beagles are social, curious, intelligent and brave. They are also likely to get into trouble as their hound dog instinct can take over in an instant should a Beagle catch a whiff of an exciting or interesting scent.

Male Beagles will grow to an average height of 14 to 16 inches and average weight of 22 to 25 pounds; females, 13 to 15 inches and 20 to 23 pounds. On average, a Beagle will live 12 to 15 years. Most Beagles have a tri-color coat, consisting of red and white, orange and white or lemon and white. It is a short to medium length coat that requires no more than minimal care regular brushing and bathing only when necessary.

Beagles will shed, but not excessively. They have long, wide ears and brown or hazel eyes that often times look like pleading 'puppy dog' eyes. They have a distinct, and often times, familiar baying sound that they make when hunting prey. It is this distinctive howl and ability to pick up on strange scents that make them excellent guard dogs.

Beagles are good with families and children and love to play, but care should be taken with other family pets. If a Beagle is not properly socialized early, it may try to hunt and capture the other pets; however, they do not like being left alone and may bay excessively (annoying the neighbors). Beagles do well traveling and adapt quickly and easily to new experiences, thanks to their fearless nature, but also need strong and consistent training to ensure they do not run off. Beagles will do well in almost any living environment, provided they are given plenty of opportunity to run and exercise.

A leash is a must with a Beagle, or a well fenced in yard as well as consistent obedience training. Their hunting instinct will take over when a scent comes their way and will run off in search of the prey. Ears should be checked and cleaned regularly, as Beagles are prone to painful ear infections. Beagles are also prone to heart disease, epilepsy, eye and back problems, and chondroplasia - dwarfism that results in warped front legs.

There is a website that has great information on Beagles and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

How To Get Started In Investment Properties

One of the best investments that you can be involved in today is that which deals in real estate. Right now, real estate is moving very good and it is a good time to be dealing with it. Much money can be made in real estate transactions and the good news is that you can make a lot of money quickly - if your investments and selling techniques are made wisely. Here are a few things you need to know about getting started in this potentially lucrative field.

Learn About It

Investments of any kind require that you learn about what you are investing your money in. Any other way of investing is only foolish, unless you have some really good financial counselors. But generally, the more you know the better off you will be. This is especially true in real estate, because the investments are large and the losses can be high. You should want to read all you can about it before you make any moves. Not only should you learn about how to choose a property that people will want, you also need to know how to research the local market to know what a property should sell for.

Types Of Property

There are a number of ways that you can get started in real estate. Largely this will be determined by how much money you have to get started with. If you do not have much money, you may want to start with foreclosures, or pre-foreclosures. These properties will be the cheapest, and, because of their value as opposed to their cost to you, could bring some excellent returns. You can buy them at less than market value, fix them up a little, and turn around and sell them at market value - for a good-sized profit.

Other properties involve residential or commercial, large and small. Once again, you need to make sure you know what you are doing before you invest. Learn the secrets to investing that will make it worthwhile, and be able to recognize a bad deal when you see one.

For Sale Or Rent?

When you want to buy property is it so that you can turn around and sell it - or do you intend to rent it out? Residential renters have a great many needs and may disturb your sleep if they need to have something done right away. On the other hand, commercial renters have a tendency to take of small things for themselves just to be able to get back to their business. Renting property out is one way to ensure an income over a long period of time, but will require a percentage of outlay to keep the property up. Commercial property, if in a prime location, however, is always sure to remain in demand.

While the real estate market is hot, there is a possible downside that you need to be aware of. Money that is tied up in real estate, while able to keep its overall value, could be tied up in that property for some time - not all property sells quickly. So you need to be able to figure in things like taxes, interest and other things that will eat at your profits over a period of time.

The market is good and much money can be made in it. It is just waiting for the right investor.

Joseph Kenny writes for the UK Loan Store, visit them here, UK Loans Store and more information on bad credit loans available on site.

The Pit Bull - Not a Natural-Born Killer

"Hey, Dad, I've just adopted a Pit Bull and I'm bringing him home." Jim's heart sank. Aren't they the most dangerous dog in the world? After all, Pit Bulls are killers, right?

Actually, Pit Bulls are not natural-born killers. They are one of the powerful dog breeds, along with German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and a few others. Powerful breeds need an owner who has a lot of energy. If the owner or handler has low energy, the dog knows it and tries to assume the role of pack leader, the dominant role.

With some dog breeds, such as Yorkshire Terriers, it will not matter so much if the owner lets the dog take over as leader. The dog will not be as happy and content, but no one's life will be in jeopardy.

Powerful dog breeds, however, require a strong, high-energy handler. If the dog becomes the leader, he could become a threat to other dogs and even to people.

If you are more of a submissive type, don't despair. You can learn to be dominant. To start, hold your head up and walk like you own the world. Project a feeling of energy, believing you are in control.

Consistently maintain that stance of having confidence, energy, and leadership. You don't want to appear weak, even for a minute, and with Pit Bulls and other powerful breeds, it is even more important that you maintain that leadership position.

Some Pit Bulls, as with all dogs, are born submissive. These will be easier for you to dominate. Others, though, are born dominant, and these dogs will require more effort on your part. You will have to take the dominant role as soon as the dog comes to live with you, and be ready to defend that role at all times.

How do you assume that dominant role? It's not a matter of yelling, beating, or threatening your Pit Bull. In fact, those actions will make you look weak and turn your dog into a neurotic mess. Those are the Pit Bulls who attack people and other dogs.

Being dominant is a matter of internal strength, of confidence, and what Cesar Millan calls "calm-assertive". He believes there is a shortage of people with that character quality.

Calm-assertive means relaxed but in control. It takes energy, but it's much better than the alternative letting the dog become the one in control. If you don't have the energy to maintain dominance over a powerful breed like a Pit Bull, you need to consider getting a different breed that doesn't require as much energy.

When a Pit Bull is with an owner who has learned how to lead, he will feel at ease and be happy to follow. Dogs need to be in the submissive role to be happy. That does not mean he needs to be beaten and broken. It means he needs an owner who can assume the position of leader with a calm-assertive, self-confident energy.

Pit Bulls want and need a strong leader. They will not be happy with an owner who does not assume the role of leader. They also need a lot of attention, and someone with the time to thoroughly exercise them every day. A dog worn out from a good run is a happy and content dog.

It's sad when Pit Bull attacks happen. The attacks could have been easily prevented if Pit Bulls and other powerful breeds were handled by people who knew how to take over as leader and exhibit a calm-assertive energy. There is no need to ban certain dog breeds. There is only a need to train people to be leaders.

Carol Stack enjoys writing about dogs. She lives with her husband, children, four dogs, and seven cats in the United States. Carol and her daughter Christy have created a web site for dog lovers that offers tips on how to select, care for, and train a dog. Please visit the site at http://www.christysdogportal.com.