Coton-Beagle

The Beagle originated in England in the 1300s where they were used for hunting rabbits and other game. Some believe the name Beagle comes from a French word that means open throat in reference to the way the Beagle bays. Others say the name comes from the Old English word for small. The first record of the actual name was found in 1475 in writings found from that period. Some of the history states that they came from pack hounds used in Roman times while others claim that they were bred from mixing a Harrier with an English Hound. Either way, these dogs are excellent scent hounds and were used to track rabbits and other animals for hunters. By the 19th century, the Beagle came in several different sizes and the pocket Beagle became the most popular because the hunters were able to keep these tiny nine inch dogs in their pockets. In 1642, the Beagle was first noticed in the United States but the American version did not look much like the English version of Beagle. They looked more like a Dachshund or Basset Hound than a Beagle. After the war, the English Beagles were imported and bred with the American Beagles to produce the modern Beagle we have today. Today, the Beagle is the 5th most popular breed in the United States and was registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885. The Coton de Tulear originated in Madagascar in the 1600s and is believed to have been brought there by French soldiers. This breed is thought to be related to the Italian Bolognese and French Bichon. The history of the Coton de Tulear is not clear because they are a rare breed that has few records. However, it is thought that the Coton de Tulear began as a lap dog that was popular among the wealthy families in a city called Tulear in Madagascar. The breed was just recognized by the AKC in 2014 and it is the 80th most popular breed in America.