By most accounts, the Beagle gets its name from the French word, beguele,” which means “open throat,” and some have taken this to mean “loudmouth.” We’re not sure this is fair because to the dedicated hound person,  a hound’s bay or half-howl is like singing, one dog’s “voice” different from another. Some enthusiasts maintain that a Beagle’s voice is not only louder than other breeds its size, but that it carries a certain passion that other breeds do not share. It’s not idle chatter. A Beagle’s howl and bay helps a hunter locate his dogs when they “give tongue” on the trail of the quarry.

And it starts when they’re very little. We found this You Tube video posted by Ginny Green of eight week old “Copper” who is rather pleased with himself:

This print by Julie Hausen is available at the artist’s Etsy shop