AKC Beagle Standard

HEAD – The skull should be fairly long, slightly domed at the 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 entirely absence of erectile power – setting close to the head, with the forward edge slightly inturning to the cheek – rounded at the 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, snippy or sharp and terrierlike, or cut away decidedly below the eyes, or very short. Roman-nosed or upturned giving a disk-face expression. Ears short, set 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, or of medium length.  The throat clean and freed 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 degreed termed “throatiness”. Shoulders and Chest - Shoulder sloping – clean, muscular, not heavy or loaded – conveying the idea of freedom of action with activity and strengthen. 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 the size of the hound. Pasterns short and straight. Feet - Close, round and firm. Pad full and hard. DEFECTS: out at the 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 over the back; with a slight curve; short as compared with the 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 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.

VARIETIES: There shall be two varieties: Thirteen inches – which shall be for hounds not exceeding 13 inches in height. Fifteen Inch – which shall be for hounds over 13 inches but not exceeding 15 inches in height.

DISQUALIFICATION: Any hound measuring more then 15 inches shall be disqualified.

SCALE OF POINTS

HEAD
          Skull                                          5
          Ears                                         10
          Eyes                                          5
          Muzzle                                      5                            25

BODY       
          Neck                                       5
          Chest & Shoulders                 15
          Back, Loin & Ribs                 15                           35

RUNNING GEAR
          Forelegs                                10
          Hips, Thighs & Hind Legs      10     
          Feet                                      10                           30
                  
COAT                                                                            5
STERN                                                                          5
                                                                      Total    100