Do you know Snoopy, coined as the world's famous beagle? The cartoon character Snoopy became so popular among kids and even among adults. It has became popular not just in television shows, magazines and films but also in different collectibles such as mugs, pillows, towels, bags and other stuff. What's in a beagle that makes him famous?

The beagle, a medium-sized dog is a member of the hound group. These scent hounds, primarily developed for tracking hare, rabbit and other game are better at ground-scenting. Moreover, their sharp sense of smell and tracking instinct are the reasons why they are used to detect prohibited agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine.

These medium-sized dogs are generally between 13 to 15 inches at the withers and weigh between 20 to 25 pounds. This breed's muscular body is covered with medium-length, smooth, hard coat and comes in a range of colors. The most common is the Tricolor, white with large black areas and light brown shading. There is also Classic Tri as well as Faded Tri. Beagle may also appear in two-color variety with white as the base color.

Their happy temperament is another reason why they are chosen as pets by most dog lovers. These pack animals enjoy company and can get along well with other dogs. They are also good with children. Despite their intelligence, beagles can be hard to train because they are bred to become single-minded and determined ideal for long chase. They have their minds of their own and tend to follow their own sense of smell that's why they are sometimes difficult to recall.

This breed can live for up to twelve years. They are known to have less inherited health problems but they are prone to epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, ear infections because of their long floppy ears and eye problems such as glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. In rare cases, beagles at a very young age can be affected by immune mediated polygenic arthritis, a condition wherein the immune system attacks the joints.

Since they are primarily developed to hunt hares, their stamina is great and energetic. They do not tire easily when exercised however, regular exercise is necessary because inactive beagles may become obese. Beagles rely on their owners to regulate weight and owners must also be aware that this breed eats whenever there is food around. Something for owners to watch out! Their nature as working dogs may lead minor injuries such as cuts and sprains so make sure to bring along with you the necessary items when you're out for hunting.

These are the reasons why these friendly and happy dogs gained the spotlight not just in films, televisions and magazines but more importantly in the hearts of every dog lover.