National Beagle Day is a holiday observed annually on April 22nd. It celebrates a dog often referred to as the “goldilocks of dogs.” What does that mean? It means that this dog is considered the perfect dog.

It’s not too big nor too small and is intelligent, even-tempered, and very determined. These dogs were developed for the purpose of hunting hares but are now used for a variety of other purposes.

Regardless of whether a person has a beagle as a companion or for hunting, they have likely already realized that these dogs are great and worthy of having their own holiday.

The History of National Beagle Day

The origin of the beagle is currently up for debate, and no one really knows where this dog breed began. What is known is that they’ve been used since medieval times to hunt small prey such as squirrels and rabbits.

Both Edward II and Henry VII had packs of Glove Beagles, and Queen Elizabeth I had a breed known as Pocket Beagle. Two breeds developed for hunting hare and rabbit emerged during the 18th century.

These were the North Country Beagle and the Southern Hound, and these would form the basis of the modern breed. Way before the 1840s, beagles had already begun to be imported into the United States.

Most of these dogs were of variable quality, however, and not representative of the modern breed of beagles. Eventually, General Richard Rowett of Illinois imported dogs from England and began breeding. This would form the basis for the first American standard of beagles, drawn up by Rowett, Norman Ellmore, and L.H. Twadell in 1887.

Unfortunately, while we can trace the origins of beagles back quite far and can even name some of the people who helped make the breed what it is, we couldn’t find out who invented National Beagle Day. We do know that it was invented in 2017. What we do know is that this holiday is celebrated by faithful beagle owners and breeders all over the U.S.

Observing National Beagle Day

Beagle owners, breeders, and people who simply love this breed can take the time to celebrate National Beagle Day when it appears on their calendars. They can do this by learning more about the breed or by spoiling their pet beagle with treats and some extra attention. People can also spread the word about this holiday by using the hashtag #NationalBeagleDay on social media.