Beagle guide
Lemon Beagle: Color, Puppies, Price and Care
A lemon beagle is a purebred beagle with a pale yellow-cream and white coat instead of the classic black, tan and white. Lemon beagles have the same personality, size and health as any other beagle — they're simply one of the breed's softest, prettiest colors. Here's what makes a lemon beagle, how their color changes, and what to know before buying one.
What makes a beagle "lemon"?
Beagle coats are made from two pigments: a black-brown pigment and a red-yellow one. Lemon beagles have little or none of the dark pigment in their coat, and a pale, diluted version of the red-tan color on a white background. The result is a light lemon, cream or buttery yellow.
Two non-lemon parents can carry the genes and produce lemon puppies, which is one reason lemon puppies sometimes appear in litters of tricolor parents.
Lemon beagle puppies
Lemon beagle puppies are born almost completely white. Over the first few weeks, pale lemon patches appear on the ears, head and body, and the color keeps deepening through the first year. Their noses are usually black, though they may start pink and darken.
Because they start so pale, newborn lemon puppies are sometimes mistaken for white beagles. A breeder can usually tell which puppies are lemon by a few weeks old.
Lemon vs. tan, red and white beagles
| Color | Patches look | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon and white | Pale yellow-cream | Born nearly white, darkens with age |
| Tan and white | Light to medium tan | Between lemon and red |
| Red and white | Deep red-tan | Rich, warm color |
| Tricolor | Black saddle, tan and white | The classic beagle |
Are lemon beagles rare?
Lemon is less common than tricolor or red and white, but it's a well-known beagle color recognized under the breed standard, not a separate or "designer" breed. Be wary of any seller who charges a large premium for lemon puppies or markets them as extremely rare. See our full beagle colors guide.
Lemon beagle price
A lemon beagle should cost about the same as any other well-bred beagle puppy. Price should reflect health testing, care, registration and what comes with the puppy — not coat color. Read how much does a beagle cost?
Lemon beagle temperament and care
A lemon beagle is a beagle through and through: merry, affectionate, curious and food-loving, with a strong nose and a big voice. Care is the same too:
- Sun: pale-skinned dogs with light coats can burn on thinly haired areas like the nose and belly. Give shade on hot, sunny days.
- Staining: light coats show tear stains and dirt more. A damp cloth and a weekly brush keep them bright.
- Ears: clean their long ears weekly, as with every beagle.
- Weight: like all beagles, they'll eat anything — keep portions measured.
Questions
Is a lemon beagle a purebred beagle?
Yes. Lemon is one of the beagle's natural colors.
Do lemon beagles get darker?
Yes. They're born nearly white and gradually darken to lemon or cream over the first months, sometimes into their second year.
Are lemon beagles healthy?
Coat color doesn't affect health in beagles. What matters is health-checked parents and good care.
How can I tell if a puppy is lemon or white?
Look at the ears and head over the first few weeks: lemon puppies develop pale yellow patches there first. Asking to see the parents helps too.
Looking for a lemon beagle puppy? Check our available beagle puppies or join the waitlist and tell us your color preference.
