Beagle 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.