[Saltcoatde]

Have a talented, nice looking ten month old male that’s about 15.5” . Planned to trial as well as run and hunt him..

 

[luckynickelfarm]

Sounds like he is/gonna be to big for akc trials

 

[Huntsman]

I like big hounds, and would not mind to get males that size. In my own kennel, a better question would be....Should hounds who produce offspring under 13 inches continue to be bred?

 

[Grizzly creek beagles]

It’s all in what you prefer personally and what you plan to use the dog for.

 

[Foxxy]

I like the 15" plus size dogs, that's what I want to get back to!

 

[Foxxy]

You could trial the dog, could get premeasured but don't do it or run and make the winners pack and hope he don't stand tall, tired from running. Could measure 15 " and go on running in winners pack.
Be prepared for he backlash from some of the other guys running.
Don't tell any one he's over 15" less they know the better. Its your secret.
I have seen it done all the time.

 

[Spini Boys]

You could trial the dog, could get premeasured or run and make the winners pack and hope they don't stand tall. Could measure 15 " and go on running in winners pack.
Be prepared for he backlash from some of the other guys running.
Don't tell any one he's over 15" less they know the better. Its your secret.
I have seen it done all the time.

Lots of over 15 beagles run in big males. Seen many, but like stated, dont pre-measure and If you make winners pack you could get measured out.
Hell FC HOF Shorts Pro was over 15, a few others as well.
My two big males measure over 15. They are both right there on the line. I bred my tallest to my big female she is 14 1/2, she raised 3. One is going to be 15 or bigger, the other two, including the one I kept are 14 1/2.
I like BIG hounds!

 

[Huntsman]

At our early Midwest trials back in the 80s, I used to see guys shave a trench in their dog’s hair right over the withers where the measuring bar would drop.

 

[Huntsman]

Hell FC HOF Shorts Pro was over 15, a few others as well.

I had a big male by Shorts Pro. I don’t think he would have measured out, but he was massive for a beagle. Big head, long body, and big bones. I think I could have told people he was half basset and they would have believed me. But he actually was a well-bred beagle from Teddy Adkins’ line. That Shorts bloodline just has (had) a lot of size.

 

[Foxxy]

Years ago the AKC would let you get your dog officially measured by a AKC rep. I knew the person and they measured dogs that were 17 inches tall and they got an official measured card. So every time they went to the trial they would say, Official measured. Word got out the person was caught and the AKC has stopped the official measuring. Some of the dogs looked like small walker hounds in the 15 inch male and female class.

Some guys would stretch em out so they measured right at 15. Pretty funny to watch and listen to the groans of the other guys.

 

[Spini Boys]

I had a big male by Shorts Pro. I don’t think he would have measured out, but he was massive for a beagle. Big head, long body, and big bones. I think I could have told people he was half basset and they would have believed me. But he actually was a well-bred beagle from Teddy Adkins’ line. That Shorts bloodline just has (had) a lot of size.

Everything I have or have had in the last 15 years or so has Shorts Pro or a couple shots of Pro in it. Other than the rat tail he through, I loved the hounds he produced. My best hound ever "Bolt Action Jim" was a grandson of pro and Blue Creek Bear.
My Slammer hound now is so big you can run rabbits in the day and go to a night hunt at night.😁

 

[Foxxy]

Have a talented, nice looking ten month old male that’s about 15.5” . Planned to trial as well as run and hunt him..

The .5 gives you some leeway when it comes to be measured and who is doing the measuring.

 

[Saltcoatde]

I appreciate everyone’s comments.

 

[Bowguy 1]

You actually couldn’t trial to my knowledge in any organization. Yes in AKC you could possibly put in before and if it makes it to winners pack it’ll measure out imo why enter than? What if there’s a small entry and they measure whole pack at start? Wasted trip either way if you ask me.
Here’s a couple thoughts/questions?
How do you know size? Was it measured on a stand by a good measurer? Also if it’s only 10 months it could still grow. If it fills out even if skeletally it doesn’t get taller as it developed muscle it’s back could put number even higher.
Now most dogs have a breed standard. 15” is too big for a beagle. If you did breed and got say every single pup under, the gene that brought him to oversize is still there. Next generation it could rear its head again. No different than any other undesirable trait, if that’s how you’d view it, we don’t use that one for breeding stock.
Imagine if you posed the question as bad bite, bent legs, etc etc etc. It can not rear its head right away too but you’re gambling. If I can go back to previous thing, the weight in shoulder thing needs explaining. If the dog is at all heavy they often show it there. If that’s the case get em in shape and you’ll see reduction in size.

 

[Saltcoatde]

You’re right. Many would agree that the physical defects you mention should not be perpetuated. Unfortunately,I’ve seen dogs with bent legs that can run a rabbit and to some that’s a good enough reason to keep breeding them. To me the 15 inch is arbitrary but you have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[Bowguy 1]

I agree I was just giving considerations. One of the most consistent dogs I’ve seen was of Wrights Line Brownie. She had a really bad bite but was a great dog. She was breed a few times. Not by me. Never threw that bite. But who knows about some of her pups. She was a really good dog though.
I’ll say this though plenty of straight legged dogs can run a rabbit too. Those we ought to be breeding to better our beagles

 

[Saltcoatde]

Agree , only want straight legs in my kennel

 

[5 Solas]

If you think the dog will produce well, and do well, I would trial him. You could go about it two ways depending on your goals and money. Either 1) premeasure and hope the judges measure him smaller. If he measures out you will save your money. or 2) run him and see if he makes winners pack and he will get measured there. You won’t get your money back but you will know how he competes compared to other hounds. If you take him to a bunch of trials, he always comes back high but gets measured out, he might be a phenomenal hound that has only the fault of being a half inch too large. What if he turns out to produce like Pro? Don’t breed him to a 14.5”+ bitch or you will get more >15” hounds. Bring him a borderline bitch or one that is not over 14”. He may be a great producer. But try not to breed him to a giant bitch that will throw more dogs out of the breed standard. If you are line breeding, take him to one of the lines in his ped that is not particularly giant. For example, If he’s got Cawood or Moby Dick back there and Buckshot or Otis, take him to one of the latter.
Just my $.03 (adjusted for inflation...)

 

[Huntsman]

In my opinion, a slightly oversized issue is not equal to a bad bite or crooked legs. Being oversized does not affect field performance. It simply means he does not meet the requirements for a field trial.

However, I would do as Solas suggested and go ahead and enter him. Some hounds measure smaller after running a bit, so he just may measure in if selected for winner’s pack. I have seen judges “try” really hard to not throw out the hounds they selected for WP, if you know what I mean.

 

[Bowguy 1]

I agree it doesn’t have the same importance. Only an example. I’d still not breed him though. If it really is 1/2” too big I’d think that’s too much for a good judge to mis measure but again where did the op figure this measurement and who actually measured him? It might be incorrect and that might be in his favor. Solas brought up some good points as well