The pocket beagle is a smaller variation of the standard beagle dog breed, sharing many of the same characteristics, health issues and history as a regular beagle, all wrapped up in a more compact package. Like the beagle, the pocket beagle is a member of the hound group of dog breeds. Pocket beagles are compact in size, intelligent, fun, merry, playful, high-energy and have a caring demeanor, with relatively low care needs that makes them a good choice for families and active individuals alike. The pocket beagle is also a stubborn and wilful hound, which can make training a challenge, but not impossible.
In this article I want to give you as much information about the pocket beagle as possible, so let’s get started!
Pocket Beagle Appearance
The pocket beagle is smaller variation of the already compact hound that is the beagle. The pocket beagle has the same pleading brown or hazel eyes, long floppy pendant shaped ears, stout (yet smaller) legs and chunky body with a short, easy care, dense coat as the regular beagle.
The skull of a pocket beagle is broad, slightly rounded with a straight and square muzzle. The tail of a pocket beagle is carried gaily, but not curled over the back.
Size
Smaller than the regular beagle breed, the pocket beagle typically stand around 7-12 inches high at the shoulder and weigh between 7-15lbs, depending on their lineage and parents size. The standard beagle breed has two size classes within the US beagle breed standard, 13-inch and 15-inch, making the pocket beagle the smallest variation of the beagle breed.
Colors
The standard beagle’s most recognizable color is the tri-color, with tan, white and black markings the predominant colors. Other markings include the blue tick, whoch is a unique color, displaying hues of blue and black flecks across its coat.
The pocket beagle also come in a variety of other colors and markings including;
- Tri-color
- Lemon & White
- Red & White
- Black & Tan
- Orange & White
You can see the full list of colors for the beagle standard on the AKC website.
Other Names For Pocket Beagles
You may also hear pocket beagles referred to as;
- Miniature Beagles
- Mini Beagle
- Olde English
- Pocket Beagle
- Miniature Beagle
- Toy Beagle
- Teacup Beagle
Temperament
As already mentioned, the pocket beagle shares much the same temperament traits as the bigger beagle. Pocket beagles are amiable, energetic, gentle, loving, intelligent, playful hounds. Pocket beagles are generally good with kids, and will happily live within a family that has children, young and teens, where they get to interact, be stimulated and play to help burn off some of their playful energy.
Being pack dogs, pocket beagles prefer to have regular contact with others, dog or human, and would not suit being left alone for hours on end, for this reason, beagles are often better in pairs. Be aware that some pocket beagles may like to howl or bay, just like the bigger beagle.
Being a scent hound means its nose is its strongest asset, their wide nostrils are capable of sniffing out food from a long distance. Always be on high-alert with a pocket beagle when around others, as they are likely to steal food, rummage in the trash and generally put its mischievous nose where it shouldn’t be.
Grooming and Shedding
Pocket beagles do shed, and depending on the time of year it could be quite considerable. However, the coat of a pocket beagle, while dense, is short, meaning you won’t see the hair as easily as a dog with long hair and is easier to manage when grooming. Pocket beagles are not hypoallergenic.
Exercise Requirements
A pocket beagle will need lots of daily exercise, physical and mental stimulation in the form of brisk walks, play, training, running. However, one of the best ways to stimulate a pocket beagle is to let it sniff. While out walking with your beagle, let them take the time to sniff the surroundings and follow scents. Sniffing for a beagle is extremely stimulating and very natural, so, at times, remember to slow down your walking pace and let them do their thing.
Remember that pocket beagles are stubborn, and to ensure they don’t just follow their noses until they become lost, you must have good recall and leash training.
Like many energetic dog breeds, pocket beagles left home alone for long periods and are not exercised enough are more likely to become bored and destructive.
Health and Wellbeing
The pocket beagle carries much the same common health issues as a regular beagle. However, there may be other health issues to consider, mainly in part to how breeders are breeding to produce smaller beagles. Pocket beagles are not a separate breed, but in-fact just the result of breeding smaller beagles to produce smaller offspring. Breeding this way could create problems for the resulting puppies as they would inherit the previous generation of dogs’ health issues.
Depending on how the parents, the pocket beagle could be at risk of several health conditions, including
- epilepsy
- dwarfism
- hypothyroidism
- cancer
- obesity
- developmental disorders of the hip, legs, or kneecap
Whenever buying a pocket beagle always ask about the parents medical history to get an idea of any issues the pocket beagle puppies may have.
Where to Buy Pocket Beagle Puppies?
If you are looking for a pocket beagle puppy, you want to make sure you choose a reliable breeder who takes complete care of all of your dog’s health and well-being.
Make sure you inquire about the parents of the puppy when contacting breeders, and be sure to ask about the following;
- Health history
- Genes
- Certification
- Vaccination history
- Breeding history for those dogs
Here are some of the best pocket beagle breeders that we’ve discovered.
Pocket Beagles USA
Pocket Beagles USA is a well-respected, state-inspected kennel that raises all dogs on a 40-acre pecan farm in Texas. The owners personally know each puppy sold through the site and have both parents on hand at all times to ensure quality control for you!
Visit Pocket Beagles USA to find out more.
Perfect Pocket Beagles
Perfect Pocket Beagles are proud breeders of Olde English Pocket Beagles in small-town Oklahoma.
For over 15 years, they have bred authentic Pocket Beagles hand-raised in a loving environment. Their commitment to responsible breeding and genuine concern for the safety and welfare of their puppies is why so many people (even outside of the United States!) have chosen them for their new puppy.
All puppies are registered with the original United States registry.
All the bloodlines are 100% Beagle and have never been mixed with another breed.
Visit Perfect Pocket Beagles to find out more.
Where Can You Get Pocket Beagle Rescue Dogs?
We could not find specific pocket beagle rehoming centers in the US. However, it is always worth calling your local beagle rescue center to check if they have any beagles that need a new forever home.
- Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue
- Arizona Beagle Rescue
- NorCal Beagle Rescue
- Beagle Freedom Project
- Beagle Rescue League, Inc.
- SOS Beagles
- Seattle Beagle Rescue
- Basset & Beagle Rescue of the Heartland
- Dallas/Fort Worth Beagle Buddies
- Midwest Beagle Rescue, Education & Welfare
History of the Pocket Beagle
The pocket beagle was once a distinct breed of beagle, with it’s own breed standard being specified in 1901. However, the purebred pocket beagle of those times no longer exists, likely the last of the pocket beagles were lost not too long after the 1st world war, when the beagles popularity and registrations of new beagles were on the wain – Source.
Beagle-style dogs have a long origin and history and were originally bred in England as hunting dogs, using its excellent sense of smell to track small animals such as rabbits and hares.
Edward II and Henry VII both had packs of glove beagles and Queen Elizabeth I was known to keep a pocket beagle, both smaller variations of beagle-style hounds and likely the beginning of the pocket beagle breed standard to come. The pocket beagle that Queen Elizabeth I had stood 8 to 9 inches (20 to 23 cm) at the shoulder, which was small enough to fit in a “pocket” or saddlebag used during the hunt.
Fun fact – Elizabeth I referred to the dogs as her singing beagles and often entertained guests at her royal table by letting her Pocket Beagles cavort amid their plates and cups.
The Modern Pocket Beagle – The Truth About Pocket Beagles
So, if the pocket beagle is now extinct, what is the modern beagle that can still be found today that beagle breeders are selling as pocket beagles, and where did it come from? The modern pocket beagle is likely a result of breeding smaller, purebred beagles to produce yet smaller beagles.
If you buy a pocket beagle from a reputable breeder the registration papers will not specify pocket, just beagle, presuming the breeder is a registered beagle breeder in the first place. There is nothing wrong with this, it’s just that the pocket variation of the beagle breed is recognized as extinct and as such cannot be a registered breed, either in the US nor the UK.
People can still sell their beagle puppies as pocket beagles, due its diminutive size, but it won’t classed as a purebred pocket beagle on the dogs registration papers.
Small or even miniature dogs seem to be very fashionable, you only have to see the number of Chihuahua or Pomeranian dogs to see evidence of this. I suspect this is where the demand and supply for pocket beagles is being driven from. As long as breeders are breeding responsibly there should not be an issue, just be sure to check the credentials of the breeder you decide to get your beagle from.
Check out this excellent article that discusses the truth about pocket beagles.
Do you have a view on pocket beagles? If so i’d love to hear them, use the comments box below to let me know your thoughts on this mini beagle!
