BREED DESCRIPTION:
BEAGLE DESCRIPTION :
A hardy, sturdy squarely-built, small hound. The Beagle has a sleek, easy-care, short coat, which can come in any hound color, for example, tri-color, black and tan, red and white, orange and white, or lemon and white. The coat is close, hard and of medium length. The beagle looks like a small English Foxhound. The skull is broad and slightly rounded, and the muzzle is straight and square. The feet are round and strong. The black nose has full nostrils for scenting. The long, wide ears are pendant. The brown or hazel eyes have a characteristic pleading expression. The tail is carried gaily, but never curled over the back. Beagles have a distinct howl / bay of a bark when they are on the hunt.
ORIGIN:
The Beagle is one of the most popular scent hounds because of his energy, willingness, and merry, sweet disposition. The breed probably originated as a cross between the Harrier and other hounds in England. The Beagle has been used in packs, alone, and in pairs, for hunting hare, pheasant and quail. He has also served as an excellent narcotics detection dog and makes a fine family companion. Unfortunately, because they are fairly uniform in size and small, Beagles are often used for medical experimentation
TEMPERAMENT:
The Beagle is a gentle, sweet, lively and curious dog that just loves everyone! A happy little tail-wagger! Sociable, brave and intelligent. Calm and loving. Excellent with children and generally good with other dogs, but should not be trusted with non-canine pets, unless they are socialized with cats and other household animals when they are young. Beagles have minds of their own. They are determined and watchful and require patient, firm training. This breed doesn't like being left alone. Consider buying two if you will be gone a lot. A Beagle has a loud baying cry that was a delight to hunting horsemen, but can be disturbing to family and neighbors. Beagles have a tendency to follow their own noses. They may take off on their own exploration if let off their leash in an unfenced area.
LIFE EXPECTANCY:
About 12-15 years
GROOMING:
The Beagle's smooth short-haired coat is easy to look after. Brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe with mild soap only when necessary. Dry shampoo occasionally. Be sure to check the ears carefully for signs of infection and keep the nails trimmed. This breed is an average shedder.
RECOGNITION:
The Beagle is a recognised breed by the following organisations.....
ANKC - Australian National Kennel Club
CKC - Continental Kennel Club
NZKC - New Zealand Kennel Club
NKC - National Kennel Club
FCI - Federation Cynologique Internationale
AKC - American Kennel Club
CKC - Canadian Kennel Club
APRI - American Pet Registry Inc.
ACR - American Canine Registry
UKC - United Kennel Club
KCGB - Kennel Club of Great Britain
ANKC STANDARD
| Group: | Group 4 (Hounds) |
| History: | |
| 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. the upper teeth closely overlapping the 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; hind legs 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. |
| Sizes: | Desirable minimum height at withers: 33 cm (13 ins). Desirable maximum height at withers: 40 cm (16 ins). |
| Faults: | Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. |
| Notes: | Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |