small or big beagles

[Elmer Puckett]

team fudd i hope i never become that shallow i like a good hound no matter who has it how big it is i enjoy them all but i like knowing different opinions that what makes this such a great sport if we liked the same speed size running style there would only be one type of dogs ive been envolved with beagles foreever and i likem all big and small theres always pro's and con's the only things i really hate is a dog that can't circle a rabbit and one that wont hunt or a trashy dog and i think most of us are on the same page with these faults but i still think you should stay inside the breed standard rules are rules

[kybluesman]

IF YOU CAN'T RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS,STAY ON THE PORCH!

[ohlinger]

So...Beagles were originally 16 inch back in the old days, and show doggers wanted shorter dogs because they could feed them lower grade of dog food,and American Kennel Club refused to adopt the metric system because people are taller today than in the old days because dog food is better in America...I tell ya what I never would have figured that out on my own!!!!!!!

haha glad that you can finaly see the light norshore you're a better person for it..

[ohlinger]

team fudd i hope i never become that shallow i like a good hound no matter who has it how big it is i enjoy them all but i like knowing different opinions that what makes this such a great sport if we liked the same speed size running style there would only be one type of dogs ive been envolved with beagles foreever and i likem all big and small theres always pro's and con's the only things i really hate is a dog that can't circle a rabbit and one that wont hunt or a trashy dog and i think most of us are on the same page with these faults but i still think you should stay inside the breed standard rules are rules

15 inch rule is just ONE characteristic stated in the breed standard. What about dogs with poor heads, bad bites, short ears, blue eyes, bow legged, bad gates, weak feet, and all the other characteristics. over 15 is an eliminating fault, but there is alot of other disreguard for the standard as well that is being over looked by most all rabbit hunters.

[houndboy13]

as long as the dog is a good one it doesnt matter to me what the size is..shouldnt matter what the next guy likes as long as your happy with YOUR dogs cause at the end of the day thats really all that matters.

[Elmer Puckett]

ohlinger point taken the 15''rule is debatable and a matter of preference but anybody that would breed a dog with those faults would be just plumb stupid so akc got those rules right

[Ruxton]

The AKC Beagle standard leaves much more room for personal taste than many other breeds have the luxury of. You have to have some standards to go by in any competitive event, and there has to be some limits. It's not that hard to have a dog to compete with that is within the standard. There are no guarantees with living things, and if you've been in dogs long enough you will raise or end up with a disappointment.

This question has two parts- the competition part and the breeding aspect. Letting over sized dogs compete is like letting college kids play high school kids in sports if you ask me. Either the dog measures in or it doesn't. The AKC standard has been in place since 1957 and allowed breeders plenty of time to adjust. If the standard was changed and 16 inch dogs were allowed then the next thing would be 17 inchers etc. If you end up with something that measures out, go have fun hunting with it or find it a pet home, don't expect the rules to bend for your.

If you breed the big ones to the big ones you are probably going to end up with bigger ones, the same goes with the smaller ones. I was taught by a great Beagler to breed a 13 to a 15 and you will usually be ok size wise and avoid producing something that looks like a Harrier or toy breed. As somebody that grew up with field dogs I can tell you that in the 60s and 70s the field dogs then were much more correct in terms of type, structure and looks, and the bench dogs had more natural hunting ability than they do now. I have seen some photos of dogs recently that look more like mixes than Beagles being touted as the top stud dogs. I've taken in rescues from bench lines that don't have any hound in them at all. Both are very sad.

[Catfish]

The AKC is not going to turn away anyone that has the money to regerster there DOG no matter what size the dog is. The way I see it if some one has a Beagle that is 15 or over and there not asking u for. Money to FEED his or her Dog or give money to regerster there Dog Nobody on this board has a right to tell anyone how to raise there Dogs. Beleve me there R People that know me I had a male dog that was over 15 inches and he was a great hunting buddy I had to put him down because he broke his last New Years Days, that was one of the Hardest things I had to do. On the other I still have the Litter mate and she only 12 And half inches tall. If some one wants to own a Dog that is 15 or bigger the AKC will take there money and not feel bad about it at all. Like I said before It's all about the money

[APFII]

If you want to run and have 24 in beagles that is fine with me . I would ask ,that if they are breed , I have some way of knowing their are over 15 in dogs , in the pedigree .

[Elmer Puckett]

just to add something i sold a beagle to a guy in louisiana and he said if i remember right that any dog over 15" was illeagal to rabbit hunt with because 16' and over were considereded deer dogs

[Ruxton]

@ Catfish- Money rules the world we all know that. It is up to the breeders to make it about the breed as well as the money.

[Casey Harner]

I like males to be 14-15 inches. Females on the other hand I want them to be 12-13 1/2.

[Ruxton]

@ Casey Have you found that the smaller bitches are more prone to whelping problems?

[Catfish]

I would like to see that law in writing in Pa there no such law and if.if a person to have Dog over 15 the AKC will take there money and smile all the way yo the bank and there is nothing we can do about it

[Catfish]

R now guys it's 7:39 Pm and Im out running running my Dogs