Beaglemation

The Beaglemation is not a recognized breed of dog according to the AKC; it is a hybrid dog, an intentional cross between the Beagle and the Dalmatian. The Beagle is a small tracking dog that has been a popular animal both as a rabbit hunting companion and as a family dog for several centuries. It has been referred to by name in writings as far back as the 15th century, although the breed has undergone some changes throughout history. Throughout the breed’s early development, these canines were bred in many sizes, including a pocket sized Beagle that grew to no taller than eight inches, and the dog that Americans called a Beagle in the 17th century bore little resemblance to the Beagle we know today or to the English hound. Breed standards for the Beagle weren’t set in the late 1800s after the breed stabilized. The Beagle Club of England and the National Beagle Club in the United States were also being formed in the late 1800’s, and the Beagle was recognized in the Hound class by the American Kennel Club in 1885. The Dalmatian is also an ancient breed, depictions of Dalmatian dogs can be found in famous Mediterranean art pieces as far back as the 16th century, and descriptions attributed to this breed were found in Croatian church chronicles from 1719 and 1737 under the Latin name Canis Dalmaticus. Due to their natural affinity for horses, the distinctive shape and color of the Dalmatian has been seen running beside carriages of some sort for centuries, from gypsy caravans to the coaches of well-born ladies, to horse-drawn fire engines. There are even hints that the origins of the breed may actually be far older than that, in illustrations found in Egyptian tombs of black and white spotted dogs following chariots. The combination of the two breeds is a new development and results in a muscular, medium sized dog with a friendly but watchful quality.