03/15/2023
Dear My fellow beagle lovers...
The Truth can sting sometimes, so prepare yourself for these facts. This is not meant to hurt or belittle anyone. I am simply using my platform to educate:
❌ Modern Day Pocket Beagles Are Not Real
❌ There is ZERO lines left from the Queen Elizabeth "Pocket Beagles" that existed in the 13th Century. Those lines are extinct.
❌ Pocket Beagles Are Not Ethically Bred
❌ Pocket Beagles is a term Backyard Breeders use to "market" their beagles as rare or special.
But, you bought a "Pocket Beagle". So, what DO you have?
You have one of two things:
✅1. You Have a 13 Inch Beagle ✅
In North American lines you will commonly see 13" Beagles. These beagles who are classified as 13" are measured as 13 inches from the shoulder/withers or smaller. A 13" Beagle should still be able to do was it was bred to do. They are still bred to have substance and endurance to run rabbit for hours on end. Can a 9-10inch beagle do this? Likely not.
Having a 13" Beagle means your Beagle is purebred with no other breeds mixed in to down size and thus registration/pedigrees can prove this. If you do not have official registration papers on your Beagle, this cannot be 100% proved. We in the fancy classify these purebred smaller beagles as "13's" NEVER EVER Pocket Beagles. In fact, that terms raises the hairs on our arms and makes our hearts beat with annoyance.
⚠️2. You Have a Mixed Breed ⚠️
Lets say you do truly have a very small beagle. But, this beagle lacks the type a well-bred Beagle does. Perhaps he as a very thin muzzle, he's merle or an uncommon/unrecognized colour as has short stumpy legs or even bulgy eyes. In this case, you unfortunately fell into the unethical Pocket Beagle Breeders who mix in toy breeds such as Chihuahuas or Dachshunds to decrease size of our beloved hounds.
I cannot begin to list the health issues that are associated with mixing in those breeds to Beagles as there are many, but I have outlined them on my website and I'd love if you took a read: www.foxfirebeagles.com/pocketbeagles
Many of you sitting here reading this may thinking:
🙋 "Its just a name for a smaller Beagle, whats the big deal?"
The problem with using the term Pocket Beagle is it steers well intended individuals down the wrong path on their search for a healthy, well bred-dog. At that point, you may of well have searched "Beagles that aren't bred well by BYB's who breed for profit".
So, I'd love to encourage you those who have been using the term Pocket Beagle to consider helping out our fancy and calling them a "13 Inch Beagle". As someone who pours her heart to breeding healthy, sound beagles, I'd love for your support on erasing this term and with that put a stop to Backyard Breeders producing these fake "pocket" Beagles that were bred improperly solely for profit.
Remember, our breed is a hound. A hound that was specifically bred for hundreds of years for a purpose of tracking rabbits and being built to do this for hours on end. Breeding a Beagle to function as it's intended purpose structurally should always be the forefront of every single Beagle Breeders Program. Breeding in hopes of creating a Beagle that can act and be the size of a Chihuahua is NOT preserving the breed nor honouring the capabilities and spirit of a hound. If you want a pocket sized breed, there are many beautiful toy breeds out there.
I know those who follow my page love Beagles. We all have that in common. But, I need your help too to educate the public and those who you meet on the street and gush about your smaller Beagle. Whether you purchased from an ethical breeder or not, let's all drop the term "Pocket Beagle" and steer the future Beagle-Lover masses into the hands of breeders who are preservation breeders by using the CORRECT term.
Now kiss those 13" Beags for me! ❤
- Samantha of FoxFire Beagles who also owns a 13" Beagle
