Beagle Dog

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 Beagle Colors
Overview

The Beagle comes in a large varitey of colors. There are 25 AKC color combinations.

Making up those 25 color combinations are 10 colors.

There are also 6 distinct markings that a Beagle may have. 

What are the Beagle colors? Let's look deeper into the possible colors of this amazing dog breed.

The 25 Possible Color Combinations

  1. Tan
  2. White
  3. Brown
  4. Lemon
  5. Red
  6. Blue
  7. Black
  8. Black & White
  9. Blue & White
  10. Red & Black
  11. Black & Tan
  12. Brown & White
  13. Lemon & White
  14. Red & White
  15. Tan & White
  16. Black, Red & White
  17. Black, Tan & White
  18. Black, White & Tan
  19. Black, Tan & Bluetick
  20. Black, Tan & Redtick
  21. Black, Fawn & White
  22. Brown, White & Tan
  23. Blue, Tan & White
  24. Red, Black & White
  25. White, Black & Tan



The Colors That Make Up the Combinations

  1. Tan
  2. White
  3. Brown
  4. Lemon
  5. Red
  6. Blue
  7. Black
  8. Bluetick
  9. Redtick
  10. Fawn



The 6 Possible Markings


  1. Ticked
  2. Black Markings
  3. Brown Markings
  4. Spotted
  5. Tan Markings
  6. White Markings



                                              Color Explanation

Even with the 10 basic Beagle colors that make up the 25 possible AKC colors, there are even more colors. Why? Because a color also has a shading.  For example, red can range from a light, dusty red to a deep, dark red.

For this reason, the color combination are almost endless and it is safe to say that "No two Beagles every look exactly alike"

Here is an overview of the colors of a Beagle's coat.  Information on how to see all of the photos is below.

Some of the color terms may be a bit misleading.  Let's talk about a few of the most confusing ones for owners:

Red: A red Beagle will be a reddish-orange colored dog.  The two colors will not be distinct.  The coat will be one blend of a red-orange color.  Red will not mean red as in an apple.  The fur will be any color from a dusty orange to a deep dark red

Blue: This is a diluted (faded) black.   A true Blue Beagle will have blue pigmentation; thus making the distinction between black or blue.   It's fur will be a dull black color but his nose will a blue tint/sheen to it.  This often is not noticeable unless the dog is outside in the bright sunshine.

Lemon:  
A pure solid lemon Beagle is very rare.  More common is the Lemon & White.  As the pure white lemon Beagle puppy grows, to an adult dog,  the base color will be a pure white or an off-white with light golden patches.

Bluetick & Redtick: 
The term of tick refers to freckle-like spots on the dog.  Bluetick is a diluted (faded) black and redtick can range from  light orange to a deep, dark red spots.

Fawn, Tan & Brown: 
There is a distinction between these three Beagle colors.  Fawn is the lightest color in this range, tan is in the middle and brown is a color similar to that of a chocolate candy bar.

What About Chocolate?  Many people (even some breeders) refer to chocolate Beagles.  This is not an official AKC color. These beagle will fall into the fawn, tan or brown categories.

What About Lavender or Lilac? 
Again, as like the chocolate, there are some people (and even some breeders) who dub a Beagle to be lavender or lilac.  These are not AKC official colors.   Many breeds are dubbed to be these colors the Chihuahua and the Pomeranian included.  However, this is a diluted black, which is actually a blue.  If a Beagle is referred to as a lavender or lilac, the pup will most likely be registered as blue.

Tip:  All true lemon Beagles are born a pure white.   If a puppy has the look of white and lemon, this pup will mature to be a red & white.  As the lemon Beagle matures, the lemon patches will begin to emerge.

Color Change

It is very common for a Beagle puppy to have a color change.  In fact, colors can change so quickly that a breeder is allowed to change the color on the pup's registration 3 times before making it final.  Even so, many owners will have an adult dog who is not the color on the registration.

Does Color Matter?

In just about every conformation dog show, all purebred Beagles are allowed to enter and there is not one color or combination that is judged to be a better than another one.  The only time that this issue matters is if you have your own personal preference.

Photos & Much More Information

The colors of a  Beagle is a very complex topic. This, of course  is an overview.

Would you like to see:
  • Photos of every color in the 25 AKC list of Beagle colors
  • Photos of every single type of marking a Beagle can have
  • Photos of every place a color can fall on a Beagle
  • Detailed and easy to understand explanation of coloring, pigmentation & why certain colors exist
We have all of this for you in the Beagle Pro Book (downloadable ebook)
Click to learn about the Beagle Pro  Book & how you can have yours in about 2 minutes!