BEAGLE COLORS AND PATTERNS EXPLAINED
The most sought after, and recognizable, Beagle color is the Black, Tan and White or “Tri Colored”.
The black area on the back is called a “Saddle”. When A Beagle has a Saddle it is called a “Classic Tri Colored”
These are all Classic Tri” Beagles. As a young puppy, there is no way to tell exactly how much tan will fade into their pattern. Normally, by 8 months of age, the tan is mostly faded in, but fading can continue for years until sometimes there are no more black hairs present and they can look just like Bi Colored (Lemon) Beagle! I will tell you more about those soon!
Not Faded
Mildly Faded
Moderately Faded
Heavily Faded
Completely Faded
Did you know that Black Tri Beagle puppies are born Black and White!? The tan fades in overtime as they grow and mature.
Though this puppy is a newborn, I can tell that it will be a Classic Tri. I won’t have a guess about how faded it will be until it is 8 weeks of age.
The Tan in the pattern can also range in depth. They are all genetically the same gene, but the of depth in color can be very different.
Black, Tan and White is produced frequently.
Black, Red and White is produced occasionally.
Black, Fawn and White is produced very rarely.
“Tri Colored” simply means that there are three colors in the particular pattern.
Fading on any Tri Colored Beagle can be from no fading, to completely faded, as shown in the chart above.
Black, Tan and White Beagles are the most common color of Tri Colored. Puppies are born black and white and as they mature their tan color begins to fade into the black on their bodies. They should have medium to dark brown eyes and black eye rims and noses.
Blue, Tan and White Beagle babies are born gray and white and their tan also fades in as they mature. This color is actually black with a dilution applied that mutes the black to gray. This also changes the color of their nose, eye rims and eyes giving them a blue, or “silver”, pigmentation everywhere that isn’t white. I produce this color occasionally and it is acceptable by the AKC Standard.
Brown, Tan and White Beagle babies are born brown and white and their tan also fades in as they mature. This color modifier also changes the color of their nose, eye rims and eyes giving them a brown, or “chocolate”, pigmentation everywhere that isn’t white. I produce this color occasionally and it is acceptable by the AKC Standard.
“Lilac” Beagles are genetically a Brown Tri Beagle with the Dilution applied. When the dilution is applied to a Black, Tan and White Tri Beagle you have a Blue Tri. When the dilution is applied to a Brown, Tan and White Beagles you have a diluted brown, that some call “Lilac”. This also changes the color of their nose, eye rims and eyes giving them a light brown or hazel color. This color is a True Hound Color is acceptable by the AKC Standard.
Bi Colored Beagles are Two Colored often lacking the Black Saddle. Bi Colored Beagles are most often all referred to as “Lemon”. As in the Tri Colored, the “Tan” is all one gene only being of different intensity and can range from very light to very dark. Also, though Bi Colored Beagles should have a black nose and eye rims, they can also have a pink or “self” colored nose and eye rims.
Lemon and White is the correct term for the lighter Bi Colored Beagle and, as in the Black, Fawn and White Tri Colored, TRUE lemons are rarely produced. Lemon and White Newborns are usually born white, or with a slight off white cast to them, and darken as they get older in the same way as the Fawn fades into the black on the Tri Colored.
Tan and White is the correct term for the medium color that is most often produced in Bi Colored Beagles. Tan and White Newborns are usually born with a slight off white or very light tan cast to them, and darken as they get older in the same way as the Tan fades into the black on the Tri Colored.
Red and White is the correct term for the Dark color that is occasionally produced in Bi Colored Beagles. Red and White Newborns are usually born with a very light tan cast to them, and darken as they get older in the same way as the Red fades into the black on the Tri Colored.
Beagles that have White going through, where their Saddle should be, are called “Open” Marked Beagles. Open marked can happen in any Tri Colored variation or any Bi Colored Variation and can create some really unusual and unique patterns and markings. I produce Open Marked on occasion and find them very interesting and beautiful.
