Kerry Beagle

The Kerry Beagle is the only native Irish scenthound still in existence. Despite the name it is not a small hound. Beag is the Irish word for small, and the dog was given it because it was smaller than hounds such as the Irish Wolfhound, for which it flushed deer.

History

The Kerry Beagle is believed to date back to the 16th century, and detailed pedigrees go back as far as 1794. By the 1800s its numbers in Ireland had dwindled, and only one major pack was kept up: the Scarteen of County Limerick, belonging to the Ryan family, which still exists.

The hounds were first bred as staghounds. Today they hunt fox and hare and take part in drag hunting. Irish emigrants took many Kerry Beagles to the Americas, where the breed is considered one of the foundations of the coonhounds and the American Foxhound. The Irish Kennel Club recognized it only in 1991.

The breed’s markings are reported to lie behind the nickname Black and Tans, given to recruits to the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish War of Independence. Their mixed dark and khaki uniforms reminded one observer of the hounds of the Scarteen Hunt.

Appearance

The Kerry Beagle stands 56 to 61 cm and weighs up to 27 kg. It has a broad head, long ears and a short coat. Black and tan is the most common color, but the coat may also be tan and white, blue mottled and tan, or black. Its build suggests speed and endurance.

Temperament

This is a pack hound with a strong hunting instinct. Kerry Beagles also make very good pets, being good with children and with other dogs.

Care and health

The breed needs a lot of exercise: two or three walks every day, along with free running.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.