Think “Beagle Love” started with Snoopy?

Some historical records indicate that Beagle-type dogs were used in Ancient Greece as far back as the 5th century, and there are accounts of hunting with packs of hounds in Celtic Britain long before the Romans invaded. When they did come, they brought along their Castorian and Fulpine hounds which were bred with the local Agassaei breed already present in England. By the time of the Crusades, the Beagle was an established hound which only got more specialized to become the first true Beagle-type dogs with which we’re more familiar.

Do you know where the name, Beagle” originated? 

During medieval times, “Beagle” meant any dog that was a hound dog, but there have been other suggestions for the name’s origins: The name “Beagle” may came from the French word, “begueule,” which means “open throat,” or from the French word, “beugler, which means, “to bellow.” It could also have come from the Gaelic word, “beag” meaning “small,” or even from the German word, “begele” meaning “to scold.”

Wire Sculpture of Beagle by Bridget Baker
Stockbridge Gallery
http://www.dogsinart.com/