The standard for the Beagle breed was approved in 1988 by the English Beagle Club. It defined standards that only a purebred dog of this breed can meet: weight, height, proportions, color. What other parameters are included in the standard, as well as to what age dogs of this breed grow and how much a beagle puppy weighs in a given month, you will learn from this article.
Appearance and proportions
The Beagle is a proportionally built hound with well-developed muscles. When looking at a dog of this breed, one gets the impression of nobility without rudeness.
According to the standard, Beagle dogs have visible proportions: the stop (the transition from the forehead to the muzzle) divides the length between the back of the head and the nose of the animal almost in half. Half the height at the withers is the length from the elbow to the ground.
Character
The Beagle was bred specifically to hunt hare or fox, with the ability to follow the scent of its prey. The hound has courage, endurance, quick reaction, ingenuity, and the ability to make the right decision instantly in an emergency situation.
Temperament
Dogs of this breed are extremely friendly and cheerful. When communicating with a beagle, you get the impression that he is very attentive, lively, active, intelligent, without aggression or cowardice.
Head
The beagle's moderately large and powerful head should not have any folds or wrinkles. In males it is slightly larger than in females.
The beagle's slightly convex forehead is moderately voluminous and has a slightly noticeable occipital protuberance. A clearly visible rise to the forehead is located in the center between the occiput and the nose. The animal’s completely non-sharp muzzle has slightly drooping lips.
The beagle's large nose has fairly wide nostrils. According to the standard, the nose should be black, but a lighter shade is allowed in dogs with a light coat color.
The beagle's large, non-protruding eyes are far apart from each other, but not deep-set, and have a charming, sometimes slightly pleading expression. Depending on the color of the coat, the shade of the eyes can vary from dark to light brown.
The animal's low-set ears should end level with the tip of the nose and have rounded edges. A beagle's ears should be soft to the touch and fit close to his cheeks.
The powerful jaws of a dog of this breed should have a perfect scissor bite and a full set of forty-two teeth. When closed, the jaws should form a rectangle.
In order for the hound to easily pursue the prey along the scent, it must have a neck of sufficient length, with a slight bend, without a particularly noticeable dewlap.
Front end
The forelimbs have unloaded shoulders, well laid back, strong elbows, without turning in any direction, straight, vertical forearms, short pasterns and dense, short paws with short claws.
Rear end
The hind limbs have powerful thighs, a clearly defined angle of the knees, tendons of moderate length, standing parallel to each other and dense, short paws with short claws.
Torso
According to the standard, the beagle should have a straight spine, creating a straight line of the back. The elastic and powerful loin of this breed has the correct balance, despite its short length. The ribs also have the correct balance due to their volume and correct curvature. The dog's chest is located slightly below the elbow joint.
The beagle's moderately long, high-set tail has a strong structure. Despite its cheerful mobility, the tail cannot lie on its back or bend near the base. The fur covers the animal's tail abundantly, especially around the base.
Note: Beagle males must have two developed testicles according to age, descended into the scrotum.
Coat
The short and very thick guard hair of the hound copes well with weather conditions due to its waterproofness. The dog's fur feels like wire to the touch.
Color
The standard allows all colors accepted for hounds, except liver, that is, brown. The tail at the end must be white. You can read more about the colors of beagles in the corresponding article.
Movements
When moving, the hound should not have a hump on its straight and powerful back. The dog takes long, confident and steady steps, without swaying from side to side or unnecessary jumping. The energetic thrusts of the beagle's hind legs show all their strength.
When walking or running, the dog's paws should not touch or tangle, that is, no hesitant or zigzag movements are allowed.
Distinctive features
Of course, it’s worth knowing them to be sure of his thoroughbred:
- Firstly, the dog must have a beautiful head: big eyes, clear gaze.
- As noted earlier, the body structure is necessarily athletic.
- Also a characteristic distinguishing feature is the black border around the eyes.
- It is also important to pay attention to the character of the dog, because thoroughbred is determined not only by appearance. One of the qualities of the breed is its friendliness. A Beagle can definitely be a wonderful companion for you. In addition, they are unpretentious: they do not need a lot of space, they will not run and rush around the house, having fun only on the street. But this breed loves walks because it needs movement, because it is a hunter.
But there is also a big minus in the character of beagles - his manners.
Raising a beagle is not easy because they are very naughty..
This is evidenced by the fact that the breed is at the bottom of the list of dog trainability. Therefore, you definitely need to keep an eye on your beagle during a walk.
A dog can easily get lost because it will play or run away. And she most likely will not respond to the call. So think carefully about whether you can handle such a dog.
You should also pay attention to the fact that he does not like loneliness . But this can be solved: you can get a second dog like this, then they won’t get bored together.
Height and weight
According to the standard, the height at the withers of a beagle should be:
- minimum - thirty-three centimeters;
- maximum - forty centimeters.
Many owners, in addition to the basic norms of the standard, are also interested in what age the dog grows to, as well as how much an adult representative of the breed will ultimately weigh.
To answer these frequently asked questions, we will write down an approximate graph of the Beagle's height and weight by month.
1-3 months
Depending on the gender, the weight of a beagle puppy at birth varies from 250 grams to 450 grams. In the first month, the baby's weight should be about two kilograms. At this time, puppies are not very different from each other, regardless of gender. The difference will be noticeable within one and a half to two months.
By two months, the puppy should resemble a smaller copy of the adult. By three months, a beagle puppy should weigh about six kilograms and be about thirty centimeters tall. Females may be slightly smaller than males.
3-6 months
During this period, the main development of the limbs and chest occurs. By six months, a beagle puppy's weight should double. The dog's height reaches thirty-five centimeters. Females may be slightly smaller than males.
6-12 months
During this period, the beagle should gradually gain its main weight; the dog’s height can reach a maximum of forty centimeters.
By twelve months, the beagle should have the standard weight and height. Females may be slightly smaller than males.
Approximate changes in the height and weight of a beagle as it grows older can be seen in this table:
Don't worry if your Beagle doesn't fully meet the standard, because every dog is different. The main thing is that she grows up physically and mentally healthy.
How to choose a purebred pet?
Naturally, potential owners of this breed are concerned with the question: how to choose the right purebred beagle, because he will not find himself.
The first thing you need to do is to understand: responsibility for the pet falls entirely on the owner, he must care for the dog and constantly pay attention to it.
Moreover, the future owner should be well informed about the care and character of the animal.
To get a general idea of the type of purebred pet, it is recommended to visit exhibitions and communicate with beagle owners. By talking with them you can gain valuable experience and knowledge about caring for your pet.
IMPORTANT!
You need to choose a puppy based on the main characteristics of the breed, as well as its origin and health.
So, where can you buy a beagle?
There are several options that you can use when choosing a beagle puppy , it all depends on your goals :
- If you want to have a friend who will be loyal and cheerful, then you should turn to good producers and buy a healthy puppy.
- In this situation, when you plan to take your dog to shows, you need to look for a beagle with the qualities of a hunting dog. To do this, you should choose it in nurseries that specialize in raising worthy representatives of this breed.
- You can also seek help from breeders who specifically breed show dogs or beagles that are used for hunting. It is important to know that the main document to confirm the origin is the dog’s pedigree. If they give it to you, it means that you have a 100% purebred beagle, which can be used for procreation if desired.
You need to choose your dog carefully:
- The future owner should pay attention to the conditions in which the beagle was kept, how her health was taken care of, and whether the necessary veterinary procedures were performed. It also wouldn’t hurt to inspect the entire litter and inquire about the parents. If the parents are in good health, then the kids have no problems.
- Heredity also plays a significant role. Some character traits, behavior and psyche are passed on to cubs by their parents, so it is worth making inquiries about them. If the puppy's mother is aggressive or has health problems, it is better not to take her cub. In no case should the beagle's parents be closely related. Therefore, it would be a good idea to carefully review your parents’ documents. Do not neglect the presence of awards - they indicate the capabilities of the offspring.
- It is also important to know how old the beagle is. One and a half to two months is the most suitable age for purchasing a puppy, because the sooner you start raising a pet, the greater the chances that you will grow up to be an exemplary dog. In addition, by this age the beagle will not be weak, it will learn to eat on its own, and adaptation to a new place and owner will occur faster.
- You can take note that puppies that are 45 days old are assessed by a dog handler and a possible breeding defect is identified. Small beagles are branded and all the information about them is filled out in special cards or metrics. When the dog is six months old, they are replaced with a pedigree at the club.
- It was mentioned above what colors purebred beagles come in, but you need to know that up to 2.5 months, puppies are black and white, and red markings are slightly visible on their faces. But this is typical for dogs whose fur will later have three colors. Two-color puppies are light-colored at birth.
These are the criteria you should consider when choosing a beagle.
Although you can simply rely on your feelings and what your heart tells you. Sometimes, just by looking at a puppy, it becomes clear that this is your pet.
Interesting Facts
Beagles are the favorites of cinema because they have a pleasant appearance and optimal size. Representatives of the breed became stars in such films as “Cats and Dogs”, “Inspector Gadget”, “Superdog”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “I Am Number Four” and many others.
Unfortunately, these dogs are also a favorite breed for many inhumane organizations testing household chemicals, medicines, cosmetics, etc.
After the ban on hunting many wild animals to preserve their species in various countries, Beagles remained no less popular than in the days of chasing prey. Now their excellent sense of smell is used to detect drugs, explosives and other contraband. Their gentle and friendly nature makes these dogs a wonderful pet for the whole family and a favorite of children in particular. Beagles also often help various sick people in zootherapy.
Due to their belonging to hound dogs, Beagles are tireless pursuers and passionate runners, but completely unsuitable watchmen and security guards. They simply cannot help but trust people and never see them as an enemy.
Varieties
In addition to the well-known British type of the breed, there are several more varieties of such dogs.
American
The famous American Beagle implies the same proportions and characteristics, however, such dogs are larger: height reaches 37 - 46 cm at the withers, weight - up to 18 kg. Such pets began to be bred in the United States in parallel with the British in the 1880s, and they took root well in society.
French
The French Beagle is also a desirable pet for many families. This is the largest representative of the breed: height is 45–50 cm at the withers, weight reaches 18–21 kg. Otherwise, the dogs retain all the traits inherent in the breed, being just as strong, balanced and flexible.
Miniature
There are also miniature Beagles, however, this is not a separate breed, but rather a manifestation of the ancient qualities of the dog. During the reign of Elizabeth I (from 1558), these dogs gained great popularity and were indispensable participants in hunting. But the then representatives of the breed had very modest sizes: 20 - 28 cm at the withers, although many did not exceed 23 cm. Modern Beagles, whose height is below normal, are more susceptible to various diseases and often have congenital pathologies.
Breed name
The origin of the name of this breed deserves special attention.
First option
It implies a modification of Old French, Old English and Celtic words that sound like “beaig”, “beagle” and denoted any small hound dogs, which in the end was assigned only to representatives of the Beagle breed.
Second interpretation
Much more interesting - the name is associated with the ability of these dogs to make characteristic loud, prolonged sounds, for which they began to be called in the French manner the word “bigel”, which translated means “powerful throat”.
Colors
This breed has many color options; in general, they are all divided into bicolor and tricolor. Primary colors:
- white;
- ginger;
- black.
There are also three color options :
- spotted;
- mottled;
- motley.
Attention! For Beagles, a solid brown (liver) color is unacceptable, as it is often accompanied by light yellow and green eyes, which is considered a defect. But the American breed standard allows this shade in the tricolor.
Tricolor
The classic beagle color is tricolor. There are many options for this color. The tricolor consists of large spots and can be either black (with a predominance of black) or “shiny” or “flashing” (with a predominance of white).
The red color may appear as the puppy grows and gain different intensities (from lemon or cream to rich copper and red), the black color may fade a little, and the white color may turn into cream.
Quite rare is a weakened tricolor, in which black is replaced by gray or blue. These puppies are born gray and white.
Bicolor
Bicolor is characterized by a combination of white and red in color, extremely rarely - white and black. There is also a known color variant called “lemon”: this puppy is born white with barely noticeable cream spots, which become more intense and distinct as the year progresses.
Spotted
This color is also called open or broken tricolor. The main color of the coat is white, with dark spots scattered throughout it, sometimes interspersed with red.
Speckled (speckled)
This color is found in both two-color and three-color versions, and it is difficult to confuse it with others, thanks to the large number of small spots scattered throughout the body singly and in clusters. A speck on a pure white background, without spots of a different color, is considered a flaw.
Help: The speckled color is genetically determined only in puppies with dark pads on their paws, this becomes clear at birth. The color itself appears by two months.
Motley
This is the most unusual type of color. Only white coat color is represented in its entirety, while red and black are mixed. In this case, the white background always has a purple or cream tint. Variegated color can be either continuous or fragmented. The nose with this color is dark with a light center.
There are three varieties of variegated color:
- lemon-variegated (with a predominance of cream hairs);
- hare-motley (mainly with red tones of color);
- badger-variegated (main hairs are black).
In all three cases, a red mask on the face is required.
The last option is the rarest and brightest; with this color, the dog’s nose is edged with a dark outline.
Note: Solid white coat color is also allowed (the only monocolor option).
How much do puppies cost?
The average cost of a puppy in rubles is 25-35 thousand. But the price varies depending on the class of the English Beagle and its pedigree.
It is impossible to definitively answer how much a beagle puppy costs. They give away 7-10 thousand rubles from their hands. But usually these are pets with defects in appearance, sick or without breed characteristics.
In nurseries, pet-class English beagle puppies are sold for 20-30 thousand rubles, breed - for 30-45 thousand rubles, and the cost of show class is no limit - it starts from 50,000 rubles. and higher.
Beagle care
This dog breed is easy to care for. It is enough to brush your beagle twice a week, and you won’t even notice how the shedding process will go. But you need to bathe your dog no more than once a month, so as not to wash off the special antibacterial film.
After a walk, it’s enough to simply wipe the beagle’s paws. To remove discharge from the corners of the eyes, purchase a special liquid for this purpose at a pet store. Don't forget about your ears, cleaning them twice a month from dust and accumulated dirt.
As for the claws, they should wear down during daily walks. But if the claws still become long, they need to be trimmed. But your beagle’s teeth need to be brushed regularly, twice a week, using a special attachment on your finger or simply wrapping it in a bandage. The toothpaste should also be special for dogs. It can be purchased at a pet store.
Important! The Beagle has long ears that will regularly end up in the food bowl. To fix the problem, buy your pet a special bowl with a narrow neck and a high side.
Beagle character
A person who has decided to get a beagle, first of all, should understand that this is a hound hunting dog that is simply created to follow the scent. And even if the dog lives in an apartment, it is always full of energy and ready for adventure.
The Beagle is a cheerful, cheerful dog, extremely inquisitive and very active. Such a pet needs to be given a lot of time and often walked so that the beagle gives free rein to its unbridled energy. Your four-legged friend will enjoy playing with a ball and catching a frisbee, searching for and fetching a thrown stick, and playing other energetic games.
If you are an active person who travels a lot, loves picnics and forays into the forest, such a dog will become your faithful companion. If you are a hunter, then you simply cannot find a better companion! The Beagle is hardy and energetic, it can mince next to you all day long and still feel great. Moreover, this is an easily trainable dog that can be trained to search for specific prey and make the hunt several times more effective.
But even if you have nothing to do with hunting, this dog needs to be walked 2-3 times a day, for at least an hour. At the same time, the beagle should be taken out of the house on a leash, and let out to frolic in the forest without a leash.
It is important to remember that the beagle is an extremely inquisitive dog, and therefore it needs to be constantly occupied with something. If you do not pay due attention to your pet, or even leave him alone in an empty apartment, his gushing energy will find a way out on its own. When you return home, you may find a real “apocalypse” in the form of figurines thrown to the floor, torn wallpaper, chewed furniture and damaged shoes.
Simply the worst punishment for a beagle is loneliness. Therefore, try to never leave your pet alone. If your job does not allow you to be with your dog all the time, get another dog as a way out. They will have much more fun together. Beagles find it more difficult to get along with cats, but it is better to avoid rodents and birds in the house, as they can awaken the hunting instinct in the dog.
In general, beagles are suitable for keeping in an apartment. They are compact, virtually do not shed and do not require special care. This dog will fit especially well into a family with small children. For kids, four-legged pets become real nannies. The Beagle is not the type to growl at a child in response to an attempt to pull its tail or ear.
Important! You should not choose a beagle if you want to have security for your home. This dog is unlikely to protect you from burglars breaking into your home. But it will notify you in advance of unexpected guests by barking.
Dog food
To feed your beagle, get two bowls. In one you will pour clean water for your pet, and in the other there will be food. It is very important to feed your dog so that it receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals and does not gain excess weight. Let us remind you that the weight of an adult dog should not be more than 15 kilograms. A beagle's diet should include the following foods:
- Milk and dairy products (for adult dogs)
- Raw yeast dough
- Fish, raw meat and eggs
- Bones with tubular structure
- Legumes
- Porridge
- Mushrooms
