No Surprise In Santa Rosa: Beagles Rule

<p>In his long and adventurous life, Snoopy has been a flying ace, orchestra conductor, lumberjack and many other colorful manifestations.</p><p>But who ever dreamed that the world's "everydog" would one day take top honors at the nation's oldest and most prestigious canine competition?</p><p>As much of the world already knows, a beagle named Uno was selected best in show Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York -- the first time in the 132 years of the esteemed event that the popular breed has earned top dog honors.</p><p>It was a stunning victory for a breed known for its aw-shucks cuteness and baying bark, and not, normally, as canine royalty.</p><p>"They're not glamorous dogs by any means," said Dr. Michael Trapani, medical director for the Sonoma County Humane Society. "And yet, they seem to be all over."</p><p>Beagles were the fifth most-popular breed in American Kennel Club registrations in 2007.</p><p>Trapani said the first dog he owned was a beagle that lived to be 17 and logged an untold number of miles running behind Trapani's bike.</p><p>"She went everywhere with us," he said. "She sat with us in the pews at church. The preacher knew it and said, 'If the dog wants to worship God, why not?' "</p><p>Laurie Garrison's 4-year-old beagle mix, Porscha, learned to tap a cow bell whenever she wants to be let in or out of Garrison's Santa Rosa home.</p><p>Beagles are smart -- in some cases, smarter than their owners would like them to be.</p><p>"Their noses get them into trouble," said Garrison, who retired from the hospitality industry. "They're little escape artists. You have to be on them all the time to contain them."</p><p>Until Tuesday, the closest the breed had come to earning top dog at Westminster was in 1939, when a beagle won the hound competition. No hound of any kind has won the event since 1983.</p><p>"They're so cute and so popular, maybe people look past them," said Dave Mallett, a correctional officer at San Quentin who lives in Napa and owns a beagle named Snoopy.</p><p>In Santa Rosa, however, beagles rule, specifically a black-and-white one who's long claimed he was the world's best at everything. Just ask Charlie Brown.</p><p>Snoopy's Home Ice was packed Wednesday with schoolchildren on a field trip. Inside the Santa Rosa rink's Warm Puppy Cafe, people chowed down on beagle burgers at $7.50 a pop.</p><p>John Deaner, a seventh-grader from Pope Valley Elementary School in Napa County, said Uno's win was "cool" because he has a beagle, too.</p><p>His only complaint about his pet?</p><p>"He doesn't listen to me," Deaner said.</p><p>The fact is, beagles are not for everyone.</p><p>Behind those big floppy ears and pouty brown eyes lies the beagle's true nature as a hunting dog, one that is prone to barking and following a scent with obsessive zeal.</p><p>"They definitely need a job to do," said Angie Bonnert, the humane society's public relations director. "Often, people get them as cute puppies and don't have the time as adults to exercise them and direct their attention to other things. That can become a problem or nuisance for owners."</p><p>Beagles are among the most common breeds turned in at the humane society's shelter. The reasons are usually related to behavioral issues such as barking, Bonnert said.</p><p>The shelter currently has one beagle up for adoption, a dog named Lucy whose owner said they simply could not keep the animal.</p><p>Bonnert fears the media attention surrounding Uno's big win could spark an increase in people adopting beagles and finding out they weren't prepared for the realities of living with one.</p><p>A similar phenomenon occurred after Paris Hilton was photographed carrying a Chihuahua in her tote bag.</p><p>The small dogs now rank second among breeds turned in at the Sonoma County shelter, just behind pit bulls, Bonnert said.</p><p>"We're hoping not to see a lot of beagles, but that's always the risk when the media gives a breed this much attention," she said. "We'll be ready for it."</p><p>Her advice: Spend some time with a grown beagle before deciding whether the breed is right for you.</p><p>In the right home, beagles make wonderful family dogs with their friendly temperaments, small size and turn-heads cuteness.</p><p>"They really are great dogs," said Trapani, who called the beagle he had as a kid the best dog he ever had.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer</p><p>Derek J. Moore at 521-5336 or derek.moore@pressdemocrat.com.</p>