Beagle Picture Gallery

Beagle Breeders

Beagle Clubs/Associations

The Full Beagle Description

Because Beagles lived in packs for so many hundreds of years, they just naturally like being together with people and other animals. They are gentle, happy companions, as loving as they are lovable. They are also clever, quick, and, most of all curious. They need plenty of active exercise.

Did you know?

Beagles do not drool or have a doggy odor, and shedding is minimal.

So you want to own a Beagle?

The Beagle's coat is short and requires minimal grooming. A regular brushing and bath will help control the shedding process.
 
No Beagle should be allowed to roam free, as its nose will surely get it into trouble.

Future Beagle owners should be aware that Beagles are known to bark as part of their hunting heritage.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

A sturdy, compactly built hound, conveying the impression of quality without coarseness.

Characteristics

A merry hound whose essential function is to hunt, primarily hare, by following a scent. Bold, with great activity, stamina and determination.
Alert, intelligent and of even temperament.

Temperament

Amiable and alert, showing no aggression or timidity.

Head and Skull

Fair length, powerful without being coarse, finer in the bitch, free from frown and wrinkle. Skull slightly domed, moderately wide, with slight peak.
Stop well defined and dividing length, between occiput and tip of nose, as equally as possible. Muzzle not snipy, lips reasonably well flewed. Nose broad,
preferably black, but less pigmentation permissible in lighter coloured hounds. Nostrils wide.

Eyes

Dark brown or hazel, fairly large, not deep set or prominent, set well apart with mild, appealing expression.

Ears

Long, with rounded tip, reaching nearly to end of nose when drawn out. Set on low, fine in texture and hanging gracefully close to cheeks.

Mouth

The jaws should be strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Sufficiently long to enable hound to come down easily to scent, slightly arched and showing little dewlap.

Forequarters

Shoulders well laid back, not loaded. Forelegs straight and upright well under the hound, good substance, and round in bone, not tapering off to feet. Pasterns short. Elbows firm, turning neither in nor out. Height to elbow about half height at withers.

Body

Topline straight and level. Chest let down to below elbow. Ribs well sprung and extending well back. Short in the couplings but well balanced. Loins powerful and supple, without excessive tuck-up.

Hindquarters

Muscular thighs. Stifles well bent. Hocks firm, well let down and parallel to each other.

Feet

Tight and firm. Well knuckled up and strongly padded. Not hare-footed. Nails short.

Tail

Sturdy, moderately long. Set on high, carried gaily but not curled over back or inclined forward from root. Well covered with hair, especially on underside.

Gait/Movement

Back level, firm with no indication of roll. Stride free, long-reaching in front and straight without high action; hindlegs showing drive. Should not move close behind nor paddle nor plait in front.

Coat

Short, dense and weatherproof.

Colour

Any recognised hound colour other than liver. Tip of stern white.

Size

Desirable minimum height at withers: 33 cms (13 ins).
Desirable maximum height at withers: 40 cms (16 ins).