The AKC Beagle Standard

AKC Field Trial Rules

Go to Comparison of 1884 and 1900 Beagle Standards

The AKC Standard

Approved September 10, 1957

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-faced 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 disportionately 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. Teaport 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.    Color and markings

General Appearance

A Miniature Foxhound, solid and big for his inches, with the wear-and-tear look of a hound that can last in the chase and follow his quary to the death.

Scale of Points

Varieties

There shall be two varieties:

   Thirteen Inch - which shall be for hounds not exceeding 13 inches in height.

   Fifteen Inch -- which shall be for hounds over 13 but not exceeding 15 inches in height.

Disqualification

Any hound measuring more than 15 inches shall be disqualified.