Collies have Lassie, and German Shepherd Dogs have Rin Tin Tin – but Beagles have Snoopy! In fact, it took the great cartoonist Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000) and his immortal Beagle to show the world what Beaglers knew all along – that here is no ordinary Rover. And in case you’re thinking that Snoopy is just a cartoon dog, you should think again. Snoopy is not only an American icon, but he is the very essence of Beagles. Debuting on October 2, 1950, Snoopy is a dog who dreams great dreams. At the time Snoopy made his entrance into the world, the Beagle was the number two dog in American Kennel Club registrations. Since then, the Beagle has never ranked lower than nine, and between 1953 and 1959, the Beagle was America’s most popular dog.