The Dog Centre - for professional dog trainers in the UK

Beagle

General Appearance

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

  Below Average Above Key
Likelihood to wander Low      
Protectiveness Low      
Destructiveness Low      
Quietness Low      
Good with children     High  
Affinity to other dogs     High  
Size   Medium    
Lifespan   Medium   Below: < 10 years
Average: > 10 years
Above: > 15 years
Location   Medium   Below: Town only
Average: Town and Country
Above: Country only

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

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).

Excercise Requirements

Considerable

Grooming Needs

Light

Notes

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




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