The exact origin of the Beagle is difficult to pinpoint, although we do know that the breed’s scent-hunting ancestors have been in existence for thousands of years. Small scent hounds are mentioned in documents from 400 B.C. Greece and 200 A.D. Britain. Evidence of the use of small beagle-like hounds in the British Isles and Wales has been dated as far back as the Celts. England is thought to have acquired small rabbit-hunting dogs from Rome that were bred with the local hounds around the time of the Roman invasion.
Later reference to long-eared small scenthounds is found in English law that states; “Langehren,” or “long-eared,” which leads us to believe that the Beagle’s ancestors (by whatever name they were called) were in and around England in 1016 A.D. William the Conqueror was reported to have brought a strain of large, mainly white hounds called Talbots to Great Britain. Talbots begin the closest traceable pedigree to today’s Beagle. Many English inns bear the name Talbots in honor of the white hound of yore. In Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, we find reference to the “small hounds” owned by the prioress:
“Of smalle houndes hadde she that she fedde. But sore wept she if one of them were dedde.”
The first printed reference to the small dogs being called Beagles is in Squire of Low Degree, written in 1475 by Walter William Skeat. Members of the British Royal Family have always cherished their dogs. Beagles were the breed preferred by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, even though the English foxhound was very popular in their day. The Beagle is thought to be a smaller version of the English foxhound.
English foxhounds were followed by noble huntsmen atop horses, which made it easy to keep up with the pack in hot pursuit. The foxhounds not only hunted foxes but other game, including deer. Since only royalty was allowed to hunt deer, many commoners had no use for such large, swift hounds. Also, owning a horse was a privilege not afforded to many commoners and farmers, therefore making the faster, larger hounds difficult, if not impossible, to keep up with on foot. This made the smaller dogs ideal for hunting rabbits and hares since they were easier to keep up with. Rabbits and hares were not only important to the evening meal but were also considered pests that needed to be controlled, or else they could wipe out entire crops. The Beagle soon became a substantial benefit to the English commoner and farmer.
The first Beagles were brought to America in the 1870s. These dogs exhibited a wide range of types, sizes, and shapes but were all smaller than traditional hunting dogs. The little dog excelled as a competent hunting companion to American hunters. The American version of the Beagle is reportedly bred from a certain strain brought to the country from England in the mid-1800s by several avid beaglers, including General Richard Rowett. These dogs were chosen for their hunting ability, as well as their beauty. These were the first notably handsome hounds in America and the progenitor of today’s Beagles. It is thought that these Beagles may have been bred with American hounds that finally gave us today’s Beagle, with its endearing look and coloring.
The Beagle is the smallest of the true scent hounds—a group of dogs bred for their ability to track their prey by scent. Although hunting for food is no longer a necessity for most of us, these dogs still have a natural enthusiasm for pursuing a scent along a trail. The Beagle is able to distinguish a human from an animal and can often tell the humans apart. He is able to read us because we give off scent continuously. This scent is caused by flakes of dead skin cells that are sloughed off, carrying our unique odor. This odor is determined by many factors, including our soap, perfume, the food we eat, our personal hygiene, and even our genetic makeup. Today, Beagles are still considered a very useful breed, and they continue to help humanity in various capacities, from search and rescue to service animal work and even patrolling international airports in the “Beagle Brigade,” which is a team of sociable beagles who greet passengers and sniff out illegal items and contraband.
Breed Characteristics
Head: The head is mesocephalic in type, medium in size, and always in proportion to the body. It should never appear coarse or wrinkled. The skull may be slightly arched and broad, as wide across the top in front of the ears as long (from occiput to stop). The occiput may be slightly prominent. The skull should never appear narrow or excessively domed.
Eyes: The eyes are medium to large in size and may be almond, round, open-almond, lemon-shaped, or shaped as large opened ovals or diamonds. They may range from amber in liver varieties too (preferably) dark brown in specimens with black noses. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented, accentuating and softening the eyes. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes.
Ears: Moderately large in size, set neither high nor low on the skull, with the front corners of the ear falling just above the back corner of the eye. They should be broad at the base and extend to the point of the nose when held forward. In alert or repose, the inner edge should hang close to the head. They should never be long and pendulous or short and fly away.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, broad, and squared in profile. The upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak. It should never appear elongated and tapered.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened.
Neck: Moderate length and strongly muscled, with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Body: Compact, solid, short-coupled, and good substance. The body is never racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set somewhat high on the croup, thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, but never tucked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Movement: The Beagle breed’s movement should be true to that of a hard-working dog capable of moving quickly, effortlessly, and efficiently over great distances. It should be free from any rolling action. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the fore and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: The Beagle is a merry, intelligent, and even-tempered breed. Like all hounds, they are highly social and get along well with other dogs. They are considered highly intelligent and are generally very obedient. However, training can sometimes be difficult due to the dog’s strong hunting instincts. Born with its nose to the ground, the Beagle was bred to be single-purposed, patient, and persistent. While these are all important qualities to the breed, they also cause the dog to lose focus if an interesting scent is found easily. Because of this tendency, reward-based training is the most effective method for the Beagle. While extensive exercise is not required for this breed, routine exercise is recommended to avoid excessive weight gain. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
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Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 7: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
Proportions: The Beagle is a compact, off-square, slightly rectangular, proportioned hound with good sturdy substance and medium bone. The height at the withers is less, to just less, than the length from the prosternum to the point of the rump. Females may be slightly longer. The body is well-put-together, with sturdy substance and medium bone. The weight of a male or female is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: The head is mesocephalic in type, medium in size, and always in proportion to the body. It should never appear coarse or wrinkled. The skull may be slightly arched and broad, as wide across the top in front of the ears as long (from occiput to stop). The occiput may be slightly prominent. The skull should never appear narrow or excessively domed.
Expression: The expression is lively, attentive, inquisitive, endearing, and soft.
Stop: The stop is moderate to well-defined.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 1:1, with the topskull being equal to the length of the muzzle. The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis may run parallel or slightly converging.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, broad, and squared in profile. The upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak. It should never appear elongated and tapered.
Lips or Flews: The lips are moderately thick and loose enough just to cover the upper and lower jaws. The depth of the lips is just so much to give the muzzle a square appearance. They should never appear excessively pendulous, hanging well below the lower jawline.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks may be flat or have some padding of the cheek present. The cheeks should not appear chiseled or coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor bite, or reverse scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: The eyes are medium to large in size and may be almond, round, open-almond, lemon-shaped, or shaped as large opened ovals or diamonds. They may range from amber in liver varieties too (preferably) dark brown in specimens with black noses. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented, accentuating and softening the eyes. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes.
Ears: Moderately large in size, set neither high nor low on the skull, with the front corners of the ear falling just above the back corner of the eye. They should be broad at the base and extend to the point of the nose when held forward. In alert or repose, the inner edge should hang close to the head. They should never be long and pendulous or short and fly away.
Body and Tail
General Description: Compact, solid, short-coupled, and good substance. The body is never racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length and strongly muscled, with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: Level from withers to croup. The back is short, broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut, flat, and level. The topline is never swayed or roached.
Croup: May be flat and level with the back or gently sloped.
Underline: A slight tuck-up may be present, or the underline may run parallel to the topline. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set somewhat high on the croup, thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, but never tucked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid back shoulder blades. Shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle and bone, and parallel to one another. Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of good bone, and well-muscled. Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another. Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one paw-length behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: Short-medium length, hard, close, dense, weatherproof hound coat with a dense and protective undercoat.
Coat Color or Pattern: Tan or lemon with white markings (bi-color), black, blue, liver, badger, hare, all with white markings (bi-color), or with tan points or creeping tan with white markings (tri-color, or hound color). Any color markings listed above with or without roan, specking, or ticking, or mottling. Tail tips must always be white. White markings may range from white trim to piebald (pied), including open markings. No solid colors are permissible, with the exception of solid white.
Movement
The Beagle breed’s movement should be true to that of a hard-working dog capable of moving quickly, effortlessly, and efficiently over great distances. It should be free from any rolling action. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the fore and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
The Beagle is a merry, intelligent, and even-tempered breed. Like all hounds, they are highly social and get along well with other dogs. They are considered highly intelligent and are generally very obedient. However, training can sometimes be difficult due to the dog’s strong hunting instincts. Born with its nose to the ground, the Beagle was bred to be single-purposed, patient, and persistent. While these are all important qualities to the breed, they also cause the dog to lose focus if an interesting scent is found easily. Because of this tendency, reward-based training is the most effective method for the Beagle. While extensive exercise is not required for this breed, routine exercise is recommended to avoid excessive weight gain. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
Proportions: The Beagle is a compact, off-square, slightly rectangular, proportioned hound with good sturdy substance and medium bone. The height at the withers is less, to just less, than the length from the prosternum to the point of the rump. Females may be slightly longer. The body is well-put-together, with sturdy substance and medium bone. The weight of a male or female is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: The head is mesocephalic in type, medium in size, and always in proportion to the body. It should never appear coarse or wrinkled. The skull may be slightly arched and broad, as wide across the top in front of the ears as long (from occiput to stop). The occiput may be slightly prominent. The skull should never appear narrow or excessively domed.
Expression: The expression is lively, attentive, inquisitive, endearing, and soft.
Stop: The stop is moderate to well-defined.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 1:1, with the topskull being equal to the length of the muzzle. The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis may run parallel or slightly converging.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, broad, and squared in profile. The upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak. It should never appear elongated and tapered.
Lips or Flews: The lips are moderately thick and loose enough just to cover the upper and lower jaws. The depth of the lips is just so much to give the muzzle a square appearance. They should never appear excessively pendulous, hanging well below the lower jawline.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. The nostrils are well-opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks may be flat or have some padding of the cheek present. The cheeks should not appear chiseled or coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor bite, or reverse scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: The eyes are medium to large in size and may be almond, round, open-almond, lemon-shaped, or shaped as large opened ovals or diamonds. They may range from amber in liver varieties too (preferably) dark brown in specimens with black noses. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented, accentuating and softening the eyes. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes.
Ears: Moderately large in size, set neither high nor low on the skull, with the front corners of the ear falling just above the back corner of the eye. They should be broad at the base and extend to the point of the nose when held forward. In alert or repose, the inner edge should hang close to the head. They should never be long and pendulous or short and fly away.
Body and Tail
General Description: Compact, solid, short-coupled, and good substance. The body is never racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length and strongly muscled, with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut, without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: Level from withers to croup. The back is short, broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut, flat, and level. The topline is never swayed or roached.
Croup: May be flat and level with the back or gently sloped.
Underline: A slight tuck-up may be present, or the underline may run parallel to the topline. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set somewhat high on the croup, thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. Carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, but never tucked. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid back shoulder blades. Shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle and bone, and parallel to one another. Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of good bone, and well-muscled. Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another. Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one paw-length behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: Short-medium length, hard, close, dense, weatherproof hound coat with a dense and protective undercoat.
Coat Color or Pattern: Tan or lemon with white markings (bi-color), black, blue, liver, badger, hare, all with white markings (bi-color), or with tan points or creeping tan with white markings (tri-color, or hound color). Any color markings listed above with or without roan, specking, or ticking, or mottling. Tail tips must always be white. White markings may range from white trim to piebald (pied), including open markings. No solid colors are permissible, with the exception of solid white.
Movement
The Beagle breed’s movement should be true to that of a hard-working dog capable of moving quickly, effortlessly, and efficiently over great distances. It should be free from any rolling action. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the fore and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
The Beagle is a merry, intelligent, and even-tempered breed. Like all hounds, they are highly social and get along well with other dogs. They are considered highly intelligent and are generally very obedient. However, training can sometimes be difficult due to the dog’s strong hunting instincts. Born with its nose to the ground, the Beagle was bred to be single-purposed, patient, and persistent. While these are all important qualities to the breed, they also cause the dog to lose focus if an interesting scent is found easily. Because of this tendency, reward-based training is the most effective method for the Beagle. While extensive exercise is not required for this breed, routine exercise is recommended to avoid excessive weight gain. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
Dog Fact #10
Some dogs are born with a set of differently colored, or bicolored, eyes. The condition, known as heterochromia iridum, does not affect a dog’s vision, but it does look pretty cool.
