Flat-Coated Retriever vs Beaglier - Breed Comparison

The Beaglier beginnings are set in Australia. Before around 30 years, breeders cross-breed the Beagle and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The result actually turned out great – new we have a small sized breed with a wonderful, soft coat, very likeable looks, the calm and gentle dog which is very active despite his relaxed nature. They can be found around the globe nowadays and they are very popular because of their sweet nature.

The Flat-Coated Retriever traces its heritage to 19th century England. A popular gamekeepers’ dog, the actual descendants of the breed are not entirely known. Like so many well-established breeds, there are many lines of thought about the breed line. There is an unverified line of ancestry that includes the St. Johns Water Dog – an extinct breed from North America. Another story has Canadian sailors bringing their Newfoundlands to England and mixing them with Colliers and Setters. This story has more truth to it and it took 20 years to establish the final breed type.

The breed was originally a retriever with two purposes – to retrieve the hunters’ bounty on land and on water.

The Flat-Coated Retriever was then introduced to the United States as a gun dog. By 1873 it was a “stable type” and in 1915 the AKC recognized the breed. After this, their popularity grew quickly until the American public fell in love with the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. Then the Flat-Coated Retriever’s numbers and popularity fell. The irony was that both the Golden and the Labrador credited the Flat-Coated Retriever as an ancestor. The survival of the breed was questionable following World War Two. They were brought back by a specific breeding program in the 1960’s.

Breeders in the ‘60s made sure they bred for both show dogs and companion animals. The Flat-Coated Retriever survived and is less popular than other retrievers, but he has his fans. The breed is more popular in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States in part because of Best in Show wins at Crufts

This small dog breed, called Beaglier and Beagler, has the look of his parents. Sometimes, they look more like the Spaniel, and sometimes they look more like the Beagle. This actually means that they are usually small, but can be, in some cases, even medium sized dog. They are usually tricoloured and in most cases, they have dark brown and cream hairs with white markings. They have longer ears, sometimes with more hairs if they look more like the Spaniel. They have large, dark brown eyes and usually dark nose. This breed is very loving and affectionate. They have a high need for a daily activity and they are the best choice for families with children.

The Flat-Coated Retriever has a straight and strong topline with unique head, strong jaws, a long muzzle and small ears. His eyes are dark brown almonds with a friendly and intelligent expression. He has an arched neck and a moderately long tail. The Flat-Coated Retriever is more of an athlete, lighter and certainly more elegant than any other type or breed of retriever.

Children friendliness

If you decide to bring a Beaglier to your family, it will be the best that you wait for your children to grow up a little bit. They are great to play buddy, but they get carried with the game and they can be very careless during the play. They fit perfectly with the children above the age of 5. They will run, jump, and do whatever your kid is about to do. They are friendly towards children they don’t know but they don’t do well with other animals they don’t know.

Special talents

watchdog

Adaptability

One the main reasons why Beagliers are so much popular lay in their adaptability to any living conditions. They will fit in instantly in a family with children, but they will be happy as well if they live with just one person or even seniors. They can live indoors, houses and apartments without the yard. The Beaglier will enjoy the city parks, dog parks, beach, walking down the crowded streets. This breed is a not a quiet one – they will bark every time they notice something just to let you know. But, they are not aggressive type and they usually bark to communicate with people.

Trainability

Usually, they are trained very easy. They have a stubborn nature, and if you learn how to get over with this temperament, you will be able to train and raise the sweetest dog ever. They should be trained and socialized while they are still puppies. Since they like too much, the best advice is to use treats to teach them everything that they will need to know. But, be careful with the feeding after the treats – Beagliers get easily obese if they are overfed.

Children friendliness

The Flat-Coated Retriever is great with children. Just be careful they don’t knock over small children in their enthusiasm.

Special talents

They are confident great family dogs. They are “thinking dogs” and need something to work for or they will work for themselves. They can be clowns.

Adaptability

They are adaptable although their size might preclude small locations without yards.

Learning ability

Smart, thinking all the time, they are very trainable. However, they are considered the “Peter Pan” of dogs – they never grow up.

Ear Diseases

The Beaglier flap ears can be a very great place for the fungi, bacteria and dirt. You will have to clean their ears with an ear cleaning solution and a soft tissue once a week, especially if your pet is playing outside.

Eye diseases

Cherry eye: Starts as redness in the corner of the eye. Happens when the third eyelid gland slips out of its place and show up as a red blob in the corner of the eye. Sometimes, the gland gets back to its original place in a couple of days, but it will be the best if you can take your dog to the vet as soon as you notice any readiness in his eyes.

Glaucoma: Happens because of the high eye pressure. This affects the normal outflow of the eye fluids and can cause blindness if not treated. It is the best to for your beagle to regular eye checks since this condition is not easy to diagnose in the begging.

Flat-Coated Retrievers have their share of health concerns from dysplasia to cancer. The breeds problems include:

1. Hip Dysplasia – not very common
2. PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – can result in blindness
3. Glaucoma - an eye disease that can result in blindness
4. Epilepsy – very rare but still seen
5. Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and volvulus) – fatal if not treated immediately

Cancers

Hemangiosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Malignant Histiocytosis, and Fibrosarcoma. Studies show that about half of all Flat-Coated Retrievers die of cancer.

Diet tips

If you are not sure about the dog food you should give to your Beaglier considering the living environment and the lifestyle, it is always the best option to listen to the vet’s advice. They are prone to the obesity so you should keep a schedule that won’t be changed much. Feed them every day at the same time, no more than two meals per day once they get older than 6 months.

Points for Good Health

If you want your Beaglier to be happy, make sure you groom him daily. You will need about 5 minutes per day to brush him and keep him out of the tangles. Bathe then once in a month, that will be enough. Clip their nails regularly. Keep their ears cleaned.

They need a daily activity or they will get destructive. Be careful with the feeding since they get obese very quickly.

Games and Exercises

Since they are natural hunters, they will like to play chase. You can take them to the woods for a walk or for a run but make sure you train them to respond to your commands before you take them off the leash. They are very curious and they will easily wander off. They can be taught to play inside the house as well. They love to explore new areas so it will be great if you can take them with you for a holiday.

Feeding the puppy

He will be a medium size dog. Feed puppies 3-4 times a day about a 1/8 cup of high-quality food. Feed a puppy food designed for medium size dogs or specifically for retrievers.

Feeding the adult

Feed 2 times a day about !/2 cups of dry food per meal. Do not overfeed. They have a tendency to be obese.

Points for Good Health

Maintain a healthy weight and avoid exercise before and after meals. The good news is dysplasia and epilepsy are rare in the breed.

Games and Exercises

They are very energetic and need good exercise. Long walks and a yard to run in. Remember they are hunting dogs and will chase to retrieve things so don’t let them off leash outside your yard. They will excel at agility, tracking. Rally, obedience, swimming, hunting, and jogging. They make great therapy dogs.