Lemon Beagle
The Distinctive Pallet Of The Lemon Beagle
The only black that you are apt to find on a lemon beagle is on the nose and perhaps the toenails. The classic dark lining of his intelligent, engaging eyes are another classic mainstay to the lemon beagle, but that just about covers his color similarities to those of the more common scent hound pallets. He is born almost completely white, and it can be difficult to determine any patching or saddling on the newborn pup. The coat is a cream to white color throughout, and begins to change within the first three weeks of life.
The lemon beagle is greatly sought after by scent hound enthusiasts for his unique colorings. The breed standard calls for a solid deep cream to rich gold saddle on the lemon beagle. It is also favorable for the head markings to be consistent in size and color on both sides. For example, if your lemon beagle carries a bow shaped golden marking from the top middle of his head and down to the halfway mark of his ear, the opposite side should match up almost perfectly. This encourages a balanced and elegantly proportioned impression. Variances of this rule are common in all beagles, and though something as happenstance as coat markings can keep a pedigreed lemon beagle from the show ring, his color certainly has nothing to do with his indelible and endearing spirit.
The base color of the lemon beagle can range from crisp white to heavy cream, and is not at all uncommon for these dogs to be ticked or dappled in the head and leg areas. A very predominant feature in the colorings of all beagles is a white tail tip.
It is extremely rare in any variation of these breed to see a tail that is not at least tipped in white. This is part of natures design, it is thought, as the tail is bound to be the only part of this hound that is detectable through brush and heavy foliage on the hunt. Aside from his telltale bellow, the tail is the only discernable feature on this little powerhouse when he is full steam ahead with his nose to the ground.
The lemon beagle is bred as a specific color strain, and this is quite an elaborate scientific process. The genetics involved in creating specific color variations are complex and sometimes unpredictable. Recessive red genes in a lemon sire can cause a bitch to throw mahogany pups, which can be considered lemons if they are of the signature bicolor with a distinct saddle. Whatever coloring suits your fancy, be sure to choose your regal beagle for all of the right reasons, as this breed is larger than life and can definitely give the unsuspecting novice a run for their money.