Some might say the Beagle’s lovely personality, cute face, and sturdy body make it the most popular hound dog in the United States. But the wide variety of Beagle colors is also a good reason why it is preferred by many.
Choosing a dog color mostly depends on the owner’s preference. That’s why it’s crucial to be introduced to the various shades of the Beagle’s coat.
This gorgeous dog breed can exhibit eye-catching color combinations. And if you’re curious how each color will look in a Beagle’s coat, keep your eyes peeled as we explore each of them below.
How Many Beagle Colors Are There?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 25 Beagle coat colors, 11 of which are considered standard colors, while the other 14 are considered alternate shades.
The basic Beagle colors are black, blue, brown, lemon, red, tan, and white, which can be in solid, bi-, or tri-color combinations. However, it’s vital to note that the AKC deems “any true hound color” acceptable for Beagles.
Here is a list of the American Kennel Club-standard Beagle colors:
- Black and Tan
- Black, Red, and White
- Black, Tan, and Bluetick
- Black, Tan, and White
- Black, White, and Tan
- Brown and White
- Brown, White, and Tan
- Lemon and White
- Red and White
- Tan and White
- Blue, Tan, and White
Additionally, here are the alternate colors recognized by the American Kennel Club:
- Black
- Black and White
- Black, Fawn, and White
- Blue
- Blue and White
- Brown
- Lemon
- Red
- Red and Black
- Red, Black, and White
- Tan
- White
- White, Black, and Tan
- Black, Tan, and Redtick
Meanwhile, the American Kennel Club also recognizes six Beagle breed standard markings, with ticked being a standard:
- Ticked
- Spotted
- White Markings
- Tan Markings
- Brown Markings
- Black Markings
Regardless of Beagle coat color variations, this breed commonly has a white-tipped tail. This distinct feature goes back to its hound heritage to aid hunters in easily seeing it through tall grasses or thick greeneries.
26 Beagle Colors
As mentioned, Beagles come in an array of colors which can be solid colors or combinations of two or three shades. In general, some of these colors are more common than others.
Are you curious about what these variations look like? Look through the possible color variations below and see if you have your personal favorite color for this breed.
1. Black Beagle
It’s uncommon for a Beagle to have a solid coat color, but as evidenced by the list above, it is possible, especially since the AKC recognizes these variations.
This is true for black Beagles that have a full black coat or essentially black overall with some white markings. However, the markings must be so subtle that the dog can’t be considered a bi-colored Beagle.
2. Black and Tan Beagle
An example of a two-color combination is a black and tan Beagle, which generally has more black than tan in its entirety. The black color in a black and tan Beagle is usually seen on its sides, ears, tail, and back.
On the other hand, the tan color is normally more prominent around its chest, neck, legs, and back end. It is also observed in some parts of the face and areas of the ears of a black and tan Beagle.
3. Black and White Beagle
A black and white Beagle is a rare occurrence in this breed. However, most tricolor Beagles are usually born black and white before their actual colors start to show.
Black fur may be more prominent on its back, ears, and parts of its face, while white spots can be present around the neck, chest, and legs.
Although the AKC deems black and white as an alternate color for Beagles, The Kennel Club lists this combination as a breed standard.
4. Black, Fawn and White Beagle
A Beagle with a black, fawn, and white combination is among the common varieties of the breed, but it is not considered to be a standard color by the AKC.
Fawn is on the lighter end of the spectrum when it comes to Beagle colors, which appears like a faint cream or light tan. This variation is actually a red tricolor, so the fawn in here is produced through a severe dilution of red.
Others refer to this color as “cream,” “ivory,” or “Isabella,” but these are not the official terms for this variation, per the AKC.
Moreover, some breeders might sell “rare chocolate tri-color Beagles,” but this is misleading because chocolate is not an official color for Beagles. In a Beagle’s case, fawn, tan, and brown are the closest colors to “chocolate.”
5. Black, Red and White Beagle
Another common tricolor Beagle combination is black, red, and white. A Beagle with this coat color has a back that is primarily covered in black, which can extend up to its sides and the upper half of its tail.
This Beagle’s red color, which appears reddish brown, is normally seen around its eyes, head, and ears. The chest area, muzzle, legs, and base of the tail are wrapped in white.
6. Black, Tan and Bluetick Beagle
Another common but amazing variation of this breed is black, tan, and bluetick Beagles. This blue tri-color Beagle sports the classic black and tan color, as well as small dots of blue that actually appear bluish-black.
The “ticking” in a bluetick, black, tan Beagle forms freckle-like light blue-gray markings. These patches are diluted black, that’s why they can also be perceived as grayish in person.
This blue tri-color Beagle commonly has black spots scattered on its head, face, ears, back, as well as the end of its tail. Around these black patches is the blue tick pattern.
The blue ticks cover the Beagle’s entire body, except for its paw and muzzle, which are either tan or copper brown.
Additionally, a bluetick Beagle might mirror a dog with a merle coat pattern like a blue merle Australian Shepherd, but there are distinctions between the two since a bluetick Beagle will have more freckles than spots.
7. Black, Tan and White Beagle
When you read this article’s title, you might’ve thought of the black, tan, and white color combination. This is no surprise, given that this is the most popular Beagle color mix.
This “classic” tri-color Beagle has a big portion of its back covered in black, with its muzzle, neck, chest, legs, and tail tip in white.
The tan hue in this tri-colored Beagle usually appears on top of its head down to its ears, but other parts of the body, like the upper legs, can also have this color.
The black, tan, and white Beagle are among the pups of this breed that are born just black and white. After a few months, though, some of the black fades into a tan, turning it into a tri-color Beagle.
As a veteran Beagle breeder myself for more than 10 years, I also started with the “tri-color” Beagle. After all, it would be hard to be called a Beagle expert if you haven’t had the chance to produce this basic color.
My first female black, tan, and white Beagle was named Snooky, who became my foundation for breeding. With different sires and using the right breeding strategies, Snooky paved the way for a lot of other puppy colors, including lemon, red, tan, and brown.
8. Black, White and Tan Beagle
Compared to the black, tan, and white variant, the black, white, and tan Beagle has a bigger portion of black on its body, and not just its back.
However, there is still a prevalence of white around the chest, legs, and tail, but the tan colorations are usually limited around the head and ears.
9. Blue Beagle
Blue Beagles are very rare because they are solid-colored and they possess a recessive D (dilute) locus gene. This means that these pooches are really black in color, but a gene mutation turns them into a deep blue.
This color variant is usually misunderstood by many and mistaken for black, especially when seen in pictures. To recognize a blue Beagle in plain sight, check for blue pigmentation, which will be more visible in the sun.
Moreover, this blue coloring in Beagles will likely manifest in their eye rims, lips, paw pads, and, most notably, on the nose.
In my experience as a Beagle breeder, I have produced many other colors of this breed. However, I have always targeted the production of blue eagles, which has been quite a challenge.
Many times, I thought I was successful in producing blue pups, only to observe their pigmentation turn solid black after a few months. The best way to produce blue puppies is to breed them using a blue male and a blue female, which guarantees the presence of the dilute gene in both parents.
However, expect this to be a very expensive process, yet very rewarding if successfully done.
10. Blue and White Beagle
Blue and white Beagles are also very rare compared to the other possible colorations of this breed. This variation is almost like the black and white Beagle, except the black fades to a lighter color that appears blue.
Unlike the blue Beagle, this variation has more prominent white markings on its body. It can extend to most of its face, neck, chest, stomach, and legs.
11. Brown Beagle
The easiest way to visually describe a brown Beagle is that it resembles the color of a chocolate bar. White and tan can be observed in some parts of their body but their coat should have a dominant brown color.
That said, it’s normal for some brown Beagles to have some white spots on their legs and chest.
12. Brown and White Beagle
Tri-colored Beagles are more common than bi-colored ones, but compared to other Beagles with two colors, brown and white Beagles are quite common.
The brown and white variant is usually predominantly white, with different sizes of brown markings throughout its body. These patches are usually observed on the eyes, ears, top back, and the tail’s base.
During birth, the colors of bi-color Beagles can either be solid black, solid white, or black and white. Their final adult colors are developed over time. In this case, the color brown usually takes one to two years to fully occur.
13. Brown, White and Tan Beagle
Beagles with brown, white, and tan colors are among the most common tri-colored Beagles. It’s usual for dogs possessing these color combinations to have a huge patch of brown on their whole back.
This brown can extend to the pup’s neck all the way down to its hind legs. Part of the tail can also have brown markings, but like a typical tri-color variation, its tail’s end, chest, and legs will likely be white.
The tan marks in this variant usually manifest as light brown patches around the dog’s head and ears. The parts where the colors white and brown connect may also be seen as tan-brown.
Many breeders will categorize it as a chocolate tri-color Beagle due to the closeness in the color of dark brown to chocolate. Although chocolate is a standard color for other breeds, in Beagles this will still fall under brown.
14. Lemon Beagle
Like most solid colors in this list, lemon-colored Beagles are extremely rare. Unlike the flashing yellow seen in the fruit, the special color in a lemon Beagle commonly appears to be yellowish-golden.
Lemon Beagles are born white but develop lemon patches when they fully mature.
15. Lemon and White Beagle
A lemon and white Beagle is more common than a pure lemon Beagle, but this uniquely colored Beagle is still the hardest to come by compared to the other AKC-standard Beagle colors.
Lemon and white Beagles bear white as their base coat, which can be solid white, off-white, or creamish in color. White can also be observed on their muzzles, tails, and paws.
Meanwhile, the white coat is adorned by varying lemon patches which are usually positioned throughout the body, including on the back, face, and ears. Lemon and whites typically have black noses.
Some Beagle breeders might advertise a lemon and white Beagle as white tan. To ensure credibility, you can ask for birth pictures of the dog before buying and look for tan markings.
If they are present, you’ll know it is not a lemon-and-white variation since tan markings are already apparent upon the birth of a white-tan puppy, unlike lemon, which comes out as the dog ages.
Here is a video of a cute lemon and white Beagle asking for a snack:
16. Red Beagle
Red is another extremely rare color for Beagles as it is a solid coat color. Red Beagles possessing this hue will be in varying shades like soft, sandy red, or deep, intense red. Some people refer to this variation as mahogany.
17. Red and Black Beagle
A red and black Beagle is also considered rare, but not as rare as its solid red counterpart. The bodies of red and black Beagles are typically dominated by red, with irregular black markings on their heads and backs.
18. Red and White Beagle
The red and white Beagle is a common bi-color combination. Comparable to lemon and white Beagles, red and white Beagles also have a white base coat with patches of red instead of lemon.
The red color in a red and white Beagle usually appears like a rich and dark orange, which totally stands out when paired with white.
19. Red, Black and White Beagle
The red, black, and white is another tri-colored Beagle that is common among this breed. You might mistake this color combination for the classic tri-color of black, tan, and white, but there is a difference.
Compared to the abovementioned classic Beagle color, red, black, and white ones have red as their base coat instead of black. This means that they have black and white patches on a predominantly red body.
20. Tan Beagle
The tan Beagle color is also one of the very rare Beagle colors. Tan Beagles have a solid tan color, which appears like copper. Their bodies should be mostly covered in this color but other dogs may have white points.
Compared to similar shades like fawn and brown, tan falls right in the middle.
21. Tan and White Beagle
Tan and white Beagles are the most common in all of the bi-color combinations in this breed. The tan and white coat often covers the entire body while the light brown spots are most prominent on the back and ears.
Meanwhile, the white part of the coat is primarily seen on the chest, legs, and tail. A tan and white Beagle might have black hair on the tip of its back, but this usually does not make it passable to be a tri-color Beagle.
A white-tan Beagle is sometimes referred to by others as “hare pied,” but The Kennel Club lists tan and white and hare pied as separate breed color standards.
Moreover, The Beagle Club describes “hare pied” in Beagles as “more tan than black and white, giving a coat resembling that of a hare.” Piebald is a coat pattern where the dog is largely white with spots of another color.
Meanwhile, during their early puppyhood, tan and white puppies will already show visible tan, but this could appear as a lighter shade. However, maturity will make the tan more defined in this basic bi-color tan variant.
22. White Beagle
Although the AKC lists white as an alternate breed standard color, it is the rarest among all the possible Beagle colors and is often linked to genetic abnormalities.
This might sound confusing, so to put it simply, a white Beagle is possible upon birth, but they usually develop patches of another color as they age. Beagle breeders might market them as entirely white, so take caution.
Moreover, white is not one of the “true hound colors” set by The National Beagle Club of America, Inc., so a pure white Beagle is against official breed standards.
That said, it’s impossible for purebred Beagles to be fully white. Keep in mind that those Beagle puppies registered as white should still possess spots or markings of other colors.
23. White, Black and Tan Beagle
This white tri-color Beagle sports a white coat and several black markings on its neck, chest, and back. The tan points can be present in its ears and face.
Compared to the classic black, white, and tan, this variation has more white fur on its body than tan. It also doesn’t have tan patches around its upper legs, and its back is mostly black.
24. Blue, Tan and White Beagle
Beagles that are blue, tan, and white are blue tri-color Beagles that are recognized as a standard color by the AKC. This variation closely resembles the black, tan, and white Beagle, but the black is diluted to blue.
Like the freckles of bluetick Beagles, their blue fur appears to be a light blue-gray color. Some Beagle breeders might refer to a blue tri-color as a silver tri-color since the bluish color resembles a silver hue.
Moreover, the blue, tan, and white variations are likely to have a dark, bluish nose just like a blue, black, tan, and bluetick Beagle.
25. Black, Tan and Redtick Beagle
Another tri-colored Beagle is the black, tan, and redtick Beagle, which is just like the tri-color blue tick Beagle. The main difference is that the red ticks are visible on a lighter background.
The red freckle-looking spots in a redtick Beagle can vary in shades, from a soft orange to a vivid, intense red.
26. Lilac Beagle
Also termed as lavender, lilac Beagles are not officially recognized by the AKC, but they exist. This Beagle color is similar to the classic tri-color Beagle, but instead, the black coat will appear to be bluish.
With lilac Beagles, it’s important to remember that this is also a diluted black. This means that those marketing “lilac” Beagles will probably have them registered as the blue variant.
6 Beagle Markings
Beagle markings make Beagles unique and different from each other. They prove that indeed, no two Beagles are the same when it comes to coat appearance. Here are the six markings you’ll find in a Beagle:
1. Ticked
The blue tick Beagle and red tick Beagle exhibit ticked markings, which is the only standard marking in this breed recognized by the AKC. These “ticks” manifest as random freckles on the dog’s coat.
Ticked or mottled dogs develop the specks as they mature, typically when they reach three weeks of age, but it could be apparent later on. The ticks emerge from the clear white markings they have upon birth.
2. Spotted
Spotted Beagles are those that have dark pigmentation in a lighter or white base coat. In contrast to ticked Beagles, spotted ones have bigger and more defined spots. Spotting can occur in bi- and tri-color Beagles.
3. White Markings
Beagles with white markings can either have two or three-color combinations. The classic tri-colored Beagle black, tan, and white is just one example that possesses these markings.
The white markings are usually scattered throughout the Beagle’s body but will normally be seen on the face, chest, back, paws, and tip of the tail.
4. Tan Markings
Tan is also an alternate Beagle marking recognized by the AKC that can be present in both bi- and tri-colored Beagles. Unlike other color combos, a tan and white puppy will already show a tan and white coat at birth.
The tan markings often appear on the Beagle’s face, ears, and back. In some cases, it can extend to the legs and tail.
5. Brown Markings
Brown markings can only appear in a brown and white and brown, white, and tan Beagle. However, some tri-color Beagles with black areas might fade to brown a year or two after birth.
Moreover, the brown markings may also be interspersed with the Beagle’s tan fur. It may appear as a huge patch on the dog’s back.
6. Black Markings
A Beagle can also exhibit black markings on its coat. This is true for all bi-colored and tri-colored Beagle colors that include black. While some appear as faint markings, others appear as patches on the dog’s fur.
Like most dogs, though, a Beagle can change its coat color in its lifetime, so it’s possible to lose black markings entirely.
Beagle Breed Standards & Disqualifications
When it comes to colors, the National Beagle Club has established that “any true hound color” is the acceptable standard for the Beagle dog breed during dog conformation events. But what exactly does this mean?
According to The National Beagle Club, which has been around since the late 1800s, “any true hound color” encompasses the classic black, tan, and white tri-color or blue tri-color Beagle.
Beagle coat colors like tan and white, lemon and white, red and white, and chocolate (or brown, as officially listed by the AKC) are also permissible. The diversification and dilution of these colors are also allowed.
When it comes to a tri-colored Beagle, the colors can be dark or diluted as long as the overall color has more tan than black or blue hairs. Artificial enhancement of the coat colors is subject to penalty.
Meanwhile, when it comes to coat patterns, ticking is deemed acceptable, while a grizzled, brindled, and merle Beagle is not. This means that “merle-colored Beagles” do not exist.
So, when breeders sell a “merle” Beagle, it is most probably not a purebred Beagle and has been crossed with another breed to create the merle pattern. Others might also try to pass off a young bluetick Beagle as merle.
In more extreme cases, breeders will try to produce “pocket Beagles” using smaller dogs, which ultimately creates odd and uncommon coat patterns that are not usual in purebred Beagles.
Generally, though several color markings are recognized by the AKC, the National Beagle Club reiterates that what’s truly important is the Beagle’s quality and not how its colors are arranged.
Beagle Coat Color Genetics
Diving into the genetics of dog coat colors is quite complex, but basically, there are two fundamental pigments that decide which colors a dog will have. These are called eumelanin and pheomelanin.
Eumelanin and pheomelanin are forms of melanin, which are respectively black and red by default.
A dog’s genome consists of around 2.5 billion DNA base pairs, but only about eight of these genes are associated with a dog’s coat color.
These genes modify or dilute the default colors, thereby creating other colors and expanding the possibilities of how Beagle puppies will look like.
In a set of genes, there are what are called loci or locations of the genes on the chromosomes. For Beagles, these are the following loci involved:
- A (agouti) locus: The A locus controls the formation of dark pigments and the release of melanin. It also allows for the distribution of dark pigment like black or brown in a Beagle’s body, including full dark colors, which is very rare in this breed.
- B (brown) locus: The B locus determines whether the dark pigment produced in the A locus will be black or brown. Tri-colored Beagles can either have dominant brown (B) and recessive brown (b) alleles or two dominant brown (BB). If they have two recessive browns (bb), they’ll be chocolate Beagles.
- D (dilute) locus: The D locus is responsible for the dilution of dark pigments, like why black is diluted to blue. A Beagle should have two recessive dilute (dd) alleles to be blue, with both parents contributing the dilute gene.
- E (extension) locus: This determines the extension of dark pigments in Beagles. The E locus either allows or prevents the extension, which leaves some Beagles to be red, tan, or yellow in non-white areas. For example, it takes two recessive reds (ee) for a dog to be lemon or red and white. Meanwhile, a dominant black and recessive red (Ee) or two dominant blacks (EE) will result in a tri-color.
- S (spotting) locus: In Beagles, the extent of their white patterns varies due to the S locus. If a puppy carries two copies of the spotting (sp gene), it can exhibit a nearly solid white, parti, or piebald pattern in its coat.
In simpler terms, these loci are the reason why the distribution of eumelanin and pheomelanin in dogs vary and why dogs differ in colors. Genes also determine how intense or pale the shade of color will be.
Do Beagle Colors Affect Behavior and Health?
Beagles and dogs in general are unique in their own right, possessing varying attitudes and qualities that they develop as they grow. That said, there’s no evidence that directly links color to how a Beagle will behave.
However, while coat color largely doesn’t affect a dog’s behavior, the same cannot be said when it comes to health, as there are instances when some Beagle coat colors give rise to some health problems.
An example of this is color dilution alopecia, a hereditary skin disease that results in hair thinning or loss and skin itchiness in certain areas of a dog’s body. It is most commonly observed in dogs with blue or fawn colors.
This is why blue-colored Beagles can potentially acquire this condition, which is not limited to this breed. Sadly, it has no cure, but it can be prevented by refraining from further breeding affected dogs.
Another possible health concern is deafness, which can be linked to a white Beagle since this condition has been particularly observed in dogs with white pigmentation of skin and hair.
Do Beagle Puppies Change Colors as They Grow?
It’s normal for a Beagle puppy to undergo several coat color adjustments as it matures. This color transition from puppyhood to adulthood is fairly common in other breeds as well.
A Beagle’s coat change usually happens within the crucial first year of its life. In fact, this change can happen drastically and quickly, and responsible breeders sometimes have to register the Beagle color three times.
For instance, classic tri-color Beagles are usually born black and white, but the other colors materialize as they age. Meanwhile, bi-color ones are either entirely black or white or black and white upon birth.
Meanwhile, lemon Beagles puppies are typically born white but form the lemon color eventually. Similarly, some lemon-white pups might turn out to be white-tan or red and white upon full maturity.
When it comes to color adjustments, darker colors will tend to be lighter. An example is black fading to brown as the Beagle comes of age.
What Color Will My Beagle Puppy Be?
As previously stated, the genetics surrounding Beagle colors is quite complex. Add to that, these adorable pups are bound to change colors throughout their existence, so it’s really tricky.
However, it’s also thanks to genetics that one can know the actual color of a Beagle and its offspring. That said, the only possible and accurate way to predict what color your Beagle puppy will be is through genetic testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Tri-Color Beagles Rare?
A tri-color Beagle is not rare, but instead the most common among possible colorations of this breed. In particular, the classic tri-color variant or black-tan-white is the most recognizable Beagle color.
However, some tri-colored Beagles might be harder to come by, such as the black, tan, and redtick and red, black, and white varieties.
Are Blue Beagles Rare?
Yes, Blue Beagles are among the rarest variations of this breed, along with the white-blue variant.
A blue Beagle is rare because solid colors in Beagles are generally rare. Add to that, the color blue in dogs is actually diluted black — meaning a dog needs two copies of the dilute allele to have this color.
What Is the Rarest Beagle Color?
The rarest Beagle colors are actually the solid ones, namely black, blue, red, tan, and white.
Among these solid colors, white is probably the hardest to find, as most dogs with this color have hints and traces of other light colors as well. Moreover, pure white is not acceptable under this breed’s standards.
Lilac is also a rare Beagle color; however, since it is not officially recognized for this breed, it can most probably be referred to as blue.
What Is the Most Common Beagle Color?
The most common Beagle color is the black, tan, and white tri-color variation.
In fact, this color is often called the “classic” Beagle color, where there is a predominance of black in the otherwise tan and white-covered body of the dog.
Final Thoughts
The Beagle has diverse coat colorations that are equally attractive and pleasing to see. The AKC recognizes 25 standard and alternate colors for this breed, excluding lilac-colored Beagles.
Among these, tri-colors are the most popular, but the bi- and solid-colored ones are just as beautiful. When it comes to a tri-color Beagle, the black-tan-white variation is considered a classic.
Beagle color doesn’t affect behavior, and choosing one is more of a preference. However, some variations, like blue and white, are associated with some health concerns.
In general, though, most Beagles have a white-tipped tail, which is a nod to their hound lineage. So, which of the Beagle colors did you find the most striking? Tell us in the comments!
