The Beagle Dog’s Appearance
Height at the withers: Males 33 – 41 cm, 33 – 41 Females cm
Average Weight: Males 10 – 11 kg, Females 9 – 10 kg
Height: Males 33 – 41 cm, Females 33 – 41 cm at the withers
Beagles are compact little dogs that always look alert and ready to get involved in anything that is asked of them whether they are in the field or in a home environment. Beagles have quite a large head in relation to size of their body with females having slightly finer heads than their male counterparts. They have shortish muzzles with a broad nose which ideally should be black although a lighter colour is allowed in dogs with lighter coloured coats. Beagles have nice, wide nostrils which adds to their overall kindly looks and appeal.
Their eyes can be either hazel or a darker colour and they are set well apart on a dog’s head which gives these dogs a lovely kind expression they are so well known for. A Beagle’s ears are long and which fall down to the level of their noses when a dog lowers their head. Ears are nicely rounded and soft to the touch. Their mouths are strong looking with a perfect bite.
Beagles have longish necks which allows them to easily follow a scent with their noses firmly planted on the ground. They hold their necks slightly arched which gives these dogs a noble look about them when they are on the move or standing still. Their forequarters are strong with shoulders that are well laid back and their front legs are straight, well-muscled and nicely boned.
Beagles as previously mentioned are compact little hounds which means they have sturdy bodies with a nice level topline and well sprung ribs that run far down their body. However, it’s in their hindquarters that Beagles boast a lot of power with strong thighs and powerful looking back legs. Their feet are well knuckled and firm with strong pads and short nails. Beagles have moderately long tails set high and which dogs carry gaily in the air adding to their happy and fun-loving looks.
When it comes to their coat, Beagles have a short, tight and extremely waterproof coat which provides them with a tremendous amount of protection against the elements. The accepted colours under the Kennel Club breed standard are as follows:
- Badger Pied
- Badger Pied Mottle
- Black & White
- Black & White Mottle
- Blue White & Tan
- Blue White & Tan Mottle
- Hare Pied
- Hare Pied Mottle
- Lemon & White
- Lemon & White Mottle
- Lemon Pied
- Lemon Pied Mottle
- Red & White
- Red & White Mottle
- Tan & White
- Tan & White Mottle
- Tricolour
- Tricolour Mottle
- White
All colours with the exception of “all white” dogs, can be mottled and the tip of a dog’s rear end is white which is perfectly acceptable under the KC breed standard