Show Standards

In this section you will learn about Beagle standards.  For information about these and other breeds, consult the AKC website: www.akc.org

American Kennel Club (AKC) Beagle Breed Standard
Head The skull should be fairly long, slightly domed at occiput, with cranium broad and full.

Ears--Ears set on moderately low, long, reaching when drawn out nearly, if not quite, to the end of the nose; fine in texture, fairly broad-with almost entire absence of erectile power-setting close to the head, with the forward edge slightly inturning to the cheek--rounded at tip. Eyes--Eyes large, set well apart-soft and houndlike--expression gentle and pleading; of a brown or hazel color.
Muzzle--Muzzle of medium length-straight and square--cut--the stop moderately defined.
Jaws--Level. Lips free from flews; nostrils large and open.
Defects--A very flat skull, narrow across the top; excess of dome, eyes small, sharp and terrierlike, or prominent and protruding; muzzle long, snipy or cut away decidedly below the eyes, or very short. Roman-nosed, or upturned, giving a dish-face expression. Ears short, set on high or with a tendency to rise above the point of origin.

Body Neck and Throat

Neck rising free and light from the shoulders strong in substance yet not loaded, of medium length. The throat clean and free from folds of skin; a slight wrinkle below the angle of the jaw, however, may be allowable.
Defects--A thick, short, cloddy neck carried on a line with the top of the shoulders. Throat showing dewlap and folds of skin to a degree termed "throatiness."

Shoulders and Chest

Shoulders sloping--clean, muscular, not heavy or loaded--conveying the idea of freedom of action with activity and strength.
Chest deep and broad, but not broad enough to interfere with the free play of the shoulders.
Defects--Straight, upright shoulders. Chest disproportionately wide or with lack of depth.

Back, Loin and Ribs

Back short, muscular and strong.
Loin broad and slightly arched, and the ribs well sprung, giving abundance of lung room.
Defects--Very long or swayed or roached back. Flat, narrow loin. Flat ribs.

Forelegs and Feet

Forelegs--Straight, with plenty of bone in proportion to size of the hound. Pasterns short and straight.
Feet--Close, round and firm. Pad full and hard.
Defects--Out at elbows. Knees knuckled over forward, or bent backward. Forelegs crooked or Dachshundlike. Feet long, open or spreading.

Hips, Thighs, Hind Legs and Feet

Hips and thighs strong and well muscled, giving abundance of propelling power. Stifles strong and well let down. Hocks firm, symmetrical and moderately bent. Feet close and firm. Defects--Cowhocks, or straight hocks. Lack of muscle and propelling power. Open feet.

Tail Set

Moderately high; carried gaily, but not turned forward over the back; with slight curve; short as compared with size of the hound; with brush.
Defects--A long tail. Teapot curve or inclined forward from the root. Rat tail with absence of brush.

Coat

A close, hard, hound coat of medium length.
Defects--A short, thin coat, or of a soft quality.

Color Any true hound color.

General Appearance A miniature Foxhound, solid and big for his inches, with the wear-and-tear look of the hound that can last in the chase and follow his quarry to the death.

Scale of Points

Head Skull 5
Ears 10
Eyes 5
Muzzle 5 
Subtotal: 25

Body Neck 5
Chest and shoulders 15
Back, loin and ribs 15
Subtotal: 35

Running Gear Forelegs 10
Hips, thighs and hind legs 10
Feet 10
Subtotal: 30

Coat 5
Stern 5
Subtotal: 10

Total 100

Varieties There shall be two varieties: Thirteen Inch--which shall be for hounds not exceeding 13 inches in height. Fifteen Inch--which shall be for hounds over 13 but not exceeding 15 inches in height.

Disqualification Any hound measuring more than 15 inches shall be disqualified.

Approved September 10, 1957

British Breed Standard
English Beagle Standard (Revised 1988) 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 snipey, lips reasonably well flewed. Nose broad, preferably black, but less pigmentation permissible in the 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 the 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 perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e., the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth, and set square to the jaw.

NECK Sufficiently long to enable hound to come down to scent easily, 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 the bone, not tapering off to feet. Pasterns short. Elbows firm, turning neither in or out. Height to elbow about half height at withers.

BODY Top line 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 the 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 thigh action. Hind legs showing drive. Should not move close behind nor paddle not plait in front.

COAT Short, dense and weatherproof.

COLOUR Any recognized hound colour other than liver. Tip of stern white.

SIZE Desirable minimum height at withers 33cm (13 ins). Desirable maximum height at withers 40cm (16 ins).

*** Please note, in the USA, there are two recognized sizes. 13 inches (Not exceeding 13 inches at the withers.) 15 inches (Not exceeding 15 inches at the withers.)

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.

NOTE Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.