JUDGING THE BEAGLE
By Kathy Forbes
T
he General Appearance
portion of the AKC
Standard gives great
insight into the essence
of the Beagle. 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. One side note, it is referring to an
English Foxhound and the quarry is rabbit
and/or hare.
Beagles are a moderate breed. If
your eye is drawn to some exaggerated
portion of the dog, it is not correct. Please
remember the drag of this breed is long
and low. We have issues with dwarfism in
this breed, and you will see some of those
characteristics in the show ring today. A
15"
body on 13" legs does not make a 13"
Beagle. Balance is key!
The only disqualification in this breed
is any hound measuring over 15" in height.
As a judge you should never utter the words,
“
I did not use your dog because I felt it was
too big.” When in doubt, measure!
The standard refers to a Beagle who
is solid and big for his inches. There
can be quite a size range within each
variety. The standard refers to a beagle
that is solid and big for his inches. 13
½
"
Beagles may appear too small next to a
Beagle measuring 15". We have a lot of
high quality, 13
½
"
Beagles who get lost
in the mix because. Judges don’t look at
them as individuals but instead compare
them to the larger exhibits in the ring.
Remember, the standard says solid and
big for his inches not solid and big. Please
look at every Beagle as an individual when
assessing size, bone and balance.
Often referred to as the “Merry Little
Beagle” it goes without saying you want
to see them moving around the ring in a
happy manner. Aggressive or shy behavior
should not be tolerated.
When viewing the Beagle in profile on
the table, first of all, make sure the front
“
THE sTANDArD
rEfErs To
A BEAGLE
that is solid and big
for his inches.”
S
how
S
ight
M
agazine
,
N
ovember
2012 • 201