The AKC Beagle 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.   

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 quarry 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.