The Beaglolo is a new breed that does not have a lot of recorded history. However, we can discuss the parental background to get an idea of the story behind the hybrid. The original Beagle was bred in England for tracking and hunting. Originally, they were termed “Pocket Beagles” because they were so small, they could easily fit inside the hunter’s pockets. The term “Beagle” is believed to have been derived from the old French word “becquele”, which means “noisy person” or “open throat”. This term was probably used because of the breed’s loud baying call. The call was an easy way for the hunter to know where the hunt was headed. The term “Beagle” was not used until the year 1475. The Beagle is a scent hound and uses his keen sense of smell to track the prey. In the 18th century, hunting with larger dogs became more popular. The Pocket Beagle were no longer being used for hunting and the breed almost became extinct. Fortunately, Beagle lovers were determined to preserve the breed. In the 1840’s there was four types of Beagles: Medium Beagle, Lapdog Beagle, Fox Beagle, and the Rough-Coated or Terrier Beagle. In 1870, General Richard Rowett was one of the first people to import Beagles from England to the United States. General Rowett established standards for his Beagles and his Beagles served as the examples for the first “American Beagles”. Beagles were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1884. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) uses trained Beagles to inspect luggage for contraband food and plants. These trained Beagles are called the Beagle Brigade. They are responsible for approximately 75,000 successful seizures per yearly. The first recorded mention of the Bolognese was during the Italian Renaissance. They were kept as a companion dog by the wealthy and were often gifted to nobility. The breed was depicted as a loving pet to royalty and dignitaries in tapestry work and artwork. The Bolognese dog was included in paintings by Goya, Titian, Gosse and Pierre Bruegel. King Philip 11 of Spain was gifted two Bolognese by the Alfonso d’Este, a duke of the house of Este. He was so delighted by the dogs, that he wrote a thank you letter saying, “These two little dogs are the most royal gifts one can make to an emperor.” With the decline of nobility and the commencement of World War II, the Bolognese almost became extinct. Thankfully, there were a few European breeders determined to preserve the breed.
