Special Message From Uno's Breeder
One of Uno the Beagle's co-breeders — the Beagle who won Best In Show at Westminster this year — is on a showdog e-mail list I'm on. Leah Bertagnolli said a little about what it was like to win Westminster but her biggest concern right now is the responsibility she and other breeders have to the breed so hundreds or thousands of Beagles don't end up in rescue in a few months.
Ch. K-Run Park Me In First (Uno), winning Best of Breed. From the Westminster web site.
Leah gave me permission to post her message here:
As Uno's Co-breeder
we (the owners and breeder) have talked some about our responsibility to
the breed due to his win at WKC. I think that right now most beagle
breeders are experiencing an onslaught of buyers who are in a great hurry
to get their own little "Uno." I have answered over 100 just today alone
from my own email with a form letter explaining what the breed is like and
what we expect of new homes and the type of family that is right for a
beagle. Its a daunting task to say the least and one that hasn't been made
eaiser by movies like Cats and Dogs, Underdog etc. This is nothing new for
us really.Most show beagles are not like what the poster described. The
digging, howling, driven to run type hunting dog. I visit a hunting
internet board quite often and the responsible hunters are as concerned
about this as the show people.I think that "Uno" is not only good for the breed but, good for Breeders as
a whole. He is an ambassador for the "regular" guy. Hopefully he'll show
the public that purebred dogs are GOOD! and squash some of the AR movement
and their Hogwash!Leah Bertagnolli
Windkist Beagles
Good for Leah and Uno's other people! And good for the responsible Beagle people out there who are doing their best to handle the inquiries they're getting right now. Beagles do make good pets if you have the right home for them. But do your homework first to make sure they're right for you and make sure you contact a reputable breeder. And, don't forget about Beagle rescue. There are already Beagles in shelters and with purebred rescue groups who are looking for homes. If a Beagle is the right dog for you, you may find the right dog with one of these groups.
Remember that dogs and dog breeds are not interchangeable. That's one mistake that animal rights people often make when they urge everyone to adopt from a shelter and never buy from a breeder. Just as every person and living situation is different, dogs are different and breeds are different. While a Beagle might be the perfect pet for one person, it might be a terrible choice for someone else. My English Setters are wonderful for me, but I know people who would absolutely hate to live with them. (They shed, they need lots of grooming, they bark wildly and race through the house, and a lot of people think they're "clingy" — they want lots of affection and to be with a person 24/7, which can drive some people nuts. I think it's one of the best things about them.)
You can't just choose a dog based on looks. Find out about their personalities and what their original purpose was. That will give you some important information about their likely behavior. Responsible breeders will be able to tell you about a dog's family, his health background, his temperament, and about the breed — all important information when it comes to choosing a pet who will be a member of your family for 10-15 years.
