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"Dogs are not our whole life, but they help make our lives whole."
-Roger Caras

Beagle Colors

    

What Colors Can Beagles Be?

Beagle colors are defined by each registration association, and so vary from registry to registry. For example, the colors listed on the AKC registry form are not the same as those on other associations' forms. A widely-accepted definition of beagle color possibilities is that they can be "any hound color," which makes the subject quite diverse.

Let's add to the confusion: Within each beagle genetic color grouping are also "shades" of the same color and combinations of color genes. Regarding people, we know that there are a few basic hair colors such as blonde, redhead, and brunette. But remember that there are dirty blondes, dark blonde, strawberry blondes, etc. The same is true of beagles. There are chocolate tri, silver tri, lilac tri, shaded tri, etc. A red-based beagle can be lemon, red, mahogany....you can see the problem here. :-)

Beagle colors are affected by quite a few genes, so I don't imagine that I'll ever have all possible colors represented on this page due to the variety of combinations (imagine for example a lemon with a silver gene). But, I'll put as many as possible as we have photos available here.

The Tri Colors

(Two colors plus white)

Shaded Tri

Classic Tri

Tan, Black, and White Tri


This dog might be a silver or blue tri. I will look at her nose and correct asap.

Chocolate Tri

Silver Tri and/or Blue Tri

Coming soon...

The Red-Based Shades

Red and White

Lemon and White


This lemon (above) shows the typical golden patches of a lemon beagle. Her white areas might be slightly off white (a light cream), or may be clear white. Her back is uniformly gold in her color patches, without any black hairs or black-tipped hairs.


Another possible lemon (above): I questioned whether this is really a lemon, but have been told by several breeders that she is. She does have a liver nose rather than black (some say that true lemons have black noses). If she is not lemon, then she is still a red of some sort.

Tan and White


Although these puppies are labeled a tan and white, they are most likely very rare (extremely rare!) "hare pied" beagles. Hare Pied beagles have black tips on the hairs down the middle of their backs, and have a 'butterfly nose' (liver in the middle, dark on the outer edges).

Examples of Markings

Ticking

Ticking refers to freckles on the legs and in the colored areas. If there are black ticks on the barrel/back of a dog, it can be referred to as "blue ticked." If the freckles are red/brown, it is "red ticked." Ticking can also occur on the legs. Hunting bloodlines are more often ticked, as the show bloodlines have been selectively bred for white legs more so than with ticking.


Red Ticked


Blue Ticked

Mottled

Mottled can look like ticking. But mottled dogs will have mottled markings on the pads of their feet as pups. They also may have a dark brownish gray nose, rather than a black nose.

Open Markings

(White crossing over the back)

Age Progressions

What will a puppy look like at maturity if it is born black and white? What if it is born all white? This section, as it grows, will show the changes in colors from birth to adulthood.

Tri Colors


Tri-colored beagles are born black and white, with the brown on the head, hips, and legs evolving as the puppy matures.

Lemon and White


Lemon puppies are born pure white, with no colored patches. Some breeders advertise their red and white puppies as lemons, but don't be fooled! If you are looking for a lemon and white, ask to see a newborn picture.

Red and White


Red and white puppies are born looking similar in color to an adult lemon. Some breeders advertise their red and white puppies as lemons, but there is a difference. Compare to the lemon pictures above.

Tan and White


Although these puppies are labeled a tan and white, they are most likely very rare (extremely rare!) "hare pied" beagles.

Chocolate Tri

Blue Tick

Merles

Purebred beagles do not come in merle. Anyone making such a claim has probably introduced another breed into their beagle lines (such as dachshund), or has bought a puppy from a breeder that has done so. This practice is seen in the so-called "pocket beagles," where small dog breeds have been crossbred with beagles to reduce size. In addition to introducing non-beagle colors, this also introduced health problems found in those other breeds.

 

Additional Information about Beagle Colors:

 
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Last Updated
03/06/2008

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Cedar Ridge Beagles
c/o Toni Perdew
3005 Lexington Court
Bedford, IA  50833
712-523-3646
712-370-0851 (cell)
tonip@frontiernet.net
 

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