CKC Breed Standard

What is a breed standard?
"A Breeder's Blueprint" is about the most simple and clear way to sum up what a breed standard is. Knowledge of any purebred dog, ring champion or pet, begins with its standard, a written description of the ideal specimen of a breed. Standards describe perfect type, structure, gait, and temperament. Not every dog measures up to every specification of its breed standard. Indeed, the standard is a conceptualization that guides the imaginations of those seriously interested in the breeding, exhibition, and performance of purebred dogs.

CKC Beagle Breed Standard. Retrieved from https://www.ckc.ca/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Hounds/Beagle

The Beagle Breed Standard

Beagle 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.

Size
There shall be two varieties: • 13 inches (33 cm) – which shall be for hounds not exceeding 13 inches (33 cm) in height;
• 15 inches (38 cm) – which shall be for hounds over 13 inches (33 cm) but not exceeding 15 inches (38 cm) in height.

Coat and Colour
A close, hard, hound coat of medium length. Any true hound colour.

Head
The skull should be fairly long, slightly domed at occiput, with cranium broad and full. Muzzle of medium length - straight and square-cut, the stop moderately defined. Nostrils large and open. Jaws level. Lips free from flews. Eyes large, set well apart – soft and hound-like – expression gentle and pleading; of a brown or hazel colour. 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 in-turning to the cheek, rounded at tip.

Neck

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.

Forequarters
Shoulders sloping – clean, muscular, not heavy or loaded – conveying the idea of freedom of action with activity and strength. 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.

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Body

Back short, muscular, and strong. Chest deep and broad, but not broad enough to interfere with the free play of the shoulders. Loin broad and slightly arched, and the ribs well sprung, giving abundance of lung room.

Hindquarters

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.

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.

Faults

A short, thin coat, or of a soft quality. A very flat skull, narrow across the top; excess of dome, eyes small, sharp and terrier-like, or prominent and protruding; muzzle long, snipey 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. 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.” Straight, upright shoulders. Out at elbows. Knees knuckled over forward, or bent backward. Forelegs crooked or Dachshund-like. Feet long, open or spreading. Very long or swayed or roached back. Chest disproportionately wide or with lack of depth. Flat, narrow loins. Flat ribs. Cow-hocks or straight hocks. Lack of muscle and propelling power. Open feet. A long tail. Teapot curve or inclined forward from the root. Rat tail with absence of brush.

Disqualification
Any hound measuring more than 15 inches (38 cm) shall be disqualified.