Discover a 30-year journey of love, Beagle breeding, and showing, along with insights into the breed’s history and evolution.
Ted Swedalla
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This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, November 2012 issue.
There are certain game changing events during your life that you give little thought to at the time. In 1979, my business partner and I were in the second year of our new wholesale plumbing and heating supply. I had gotten to know one of our customers in particular and it turns out he was also a small game hunter. One cold fall day, he asked me if we had a dog in our family and I told him we did not. “Ted, would you like to add a little female Beagle to your family?” he asked. Little did I know at that time that my life’s course would be changed forever. I did all the wrong things that first-time dog owners do and then some. But despite all my mistakes, “Dawn” opened a door to travel and friendships all over our country and the world. Te breeding of my first litter opened the door to the world of showing dogs. Good fortune brought me to the kennel of Richard Reynolds and his Englandale Beagles and Foxhounds. My first litter produced a single bitch pup that was named “Joy”. When she grew up and it was time for her to have a litter, Mr. Reynolds suggested a client of his who also happened to be an American Kennel Club Judge. Mrs. Barbra Danis allowed me to breed “Joy” to her dog, Ch. Englandale Fawnglen Ruffianm, otherwise known as “Ruffi”. Tis produced my first show-quality Beagle and Mrs. Danis introduced me to the dog show world. It was a love affair from the first time I stepped onto a show site. Showing dogs has given me many friends and importantly my wonderful wife, S. Terri Giannetti.
Over the many years since my first dog “Dawn”, many a fine Beagle has entered our lives. Tese hounds have all been registered with the Beowulf Kennel name and many have had very successful careers in the conformation ring. Te most important job for these little guys however, is to be a family member which improves the quality of life for all involved. In addition to activities relating to having a show kennel, I’ve been given the job of Supporting Membership Director of the National Beagle Club of America. Te NBC Supporting Membership consists of those Beaglers who primary focus involves conformation, obedience, agility and tracking. My wife and I have been members of the National Beagle Club since 1985.
Beagles are an independent breed and often approach a task on their own terms. They are full of love and affection; however, one must not forget that they are first and foremost a scent hound. Their world is ruled by many centuries of working with, and also independently of, the huntsman. They are a pack type hunter which means they will either be the leader or look to be led within the group. Beagles are a small hound with a big heart and a ton of stamina. A Beagle will stay on the game and will not quit until the huntsman calls him off, or he physically can not run anymore. When he is “in scent”, nothing else in the environment matters but that scent. Therefore, to be able to live in harmony and successfully with a Beagle, you must have great a sense of humor and a ton of patience. These little hounds not only excel in the Conformation ring but in the Obedience, Agility and Tracking disciplines as well. Beagles are not only a beautiful hound but one that is very trainable if given consistent instruction with consideration regarding its inherited instincts.
The geneses of the Beagle is first recorded around the fourth century B.C. in Greek civilization where they hunted with small hound-type dogs. The Roman Empire brought the little hunting hounds to today’s France and Britain around 40 B.C. The Beagle-type dog that we would recognize started to appear in the late 1400s in Britain. The first imports to the United States appeared around 1876. They were brought here by General Richard Rowett, who lived in Carlinville, Illinois. He bred many fine hounds from his imports and they were in great demand all over the United States. By the late 19th century, the National Beagle Club of America was established with its first Speciality Show taking place in 1891. The breed was divided into two varieties in 1928. The varieties are “not exceeding 13″ in height” as measured from the floor to the top of the withers and “over 13″, but not exceeding 15″ in height”. The first Beagle standard was accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1884 and was the first Breed Standard of the AKC. The standard was revised in 1957 and is the one we still use to this day.
Starting with the 20th century, some of the famous conformation kennels included Windholme and Rockridge, both of whom saw their haydays in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Of great prominence after World War II and during the 1940-1950s, was Kinsman, Johnson, Johjean, Validay and White Acres, just to name a few. From the 1960s to the present, some of the well-known Beagle lines include Busch’s, Chardon, Just-Wright, Lanbur, Teloca, Navan’s Shaw’s, Starbuck The Whim’s and many more.
Over the last 10 years, we have seen a renaissance in the Beagle conformation ring. The use of the internet is bringing changes to breeding practices by expanding breeding options and thus expanding the gene pool of the Beagle’s that are now being exhibited. The National Beagle Club of America Speciality has taken on an international flavor. We now see Beagles from many parts of the world competing at our annual Specialty Show. This has resulted in better moving dogs and bitches, both in side gate and coming and going. There is an overall improved make up and balance of our hounds and with many a beautiful head piece that puts a smile on this writer’s face. These advances in quality breed development is due in part to breeders having the opportunity to communicate with each other all over the world. Not only can we view still photos of dogs but also see their movement and interaction with people through the magic of video. If we want to breed to a sire who lives on the other side of the world, live semen can be shipped to our door in less than 24 hours. We as breeders have the opportunity to paint that perfect picture from a garden of beautiful Beagles from all over the globe!
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