Beagle guide
Pocket Beagle and Mini Beagle: The Truth About Miniature Beagles
A pocket beagle or mini beagle is a beagle bred to be smaller than the breed standard — often advertised at 7 to 12 inches tall. The name has a romantic history, but today pocket beagles are not a recognized breed or variety, and how they're produced matters a great deal for their health. If you want a small beagle, there's a healthier option. Here's the full story.
The history: Queen Elizabeth I's glove beagles
Very small hunting beagles were popular in Tudor England. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have kept "glove beagles", small enough to sit in a gloved hand, and they were taken on hunts in saddlebags or pockets. These little hounds eventually died out; the modern beagle was developed in the 1800s from larger, sturdier pack hounds.
What is a pocket beagle today?
Breed clubs recognize just two beagle sizes: up to 13 inches and 13 to 15 inches at the shoulder. Anything sold as a "pocket", "mini", "miniature", "teacup" or "toy" beagle is a marketing name, usually produced in one of three ways:
- Breeding the smallest dogs together, generation after generation — which tends to concentrate health problems that come with small size.
- Dwarfism genes (chondrodysplasia), which give short legs and a smaller body, with a higher risk of back and joint problems.
- Mixing with a smaller breed, such as a Chihuahua or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — which makes a mixed breed, not a beagle. See beagle Chihuahua mix.
Health risks of miniature beagles
Very small dogs bred for size alone can be more likely to have:
- spine and joint problems, including intervertebral disc disease and luxating kneecaps
- dental crowding and early tooth loss
- low blood sugar as puppies
- fragile bones that break more easily
- heart and eye problems
None of this is certain for any one puppy, but the risk is why reputable beagle breeders don't breed for "pocket" size.
Pocket beagle size and price
Pocket beagles are usually advertised at 7 to 12 inches tall and 7 to 15 pounds, often at a higher price than standard beagles. Paying more for a size the breed doesn't recognize — with higher health risks — is rarely a good deal. See how much does a beagle cost?
The better choice: a 13-inch beagle
If you love the idea of a small beagle, a 13-inch beagle is the answer. Thirteen-inch beagles usually weigh under 20 pounds, fit comfortably in apartments and small homes, and come from sound, healthy breeding — with nothing taken away. Ask any breeder for the parents' heights and weights; a puppy from two small, healthy 13-inch parents is likely to stay small.
| Pocket / mini beagle | 13-inch beagle | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognized size | No | Yes |
| Typical height | 7 to 12 in | Up to 13 in |
| Typical weight | 7 to 15 lb | Under 20 lb |
| Bred for | Small size | Health, temperament, type |
| Health risks from size | Higher | Normal for the breed |
Questions
Are pocket beagles real?
Small dogs sold as pocket beagles exist, but they aren't a recognized beagle variety. The original pocket or glove beagles of Elizabethan England died out long ago.
How big does a mini beagle get?
Most are advertised at 7 to 12 inches tall and 7 to 15 pounds as adults, but size is hard to predict, especially in mixes.
Is a miniature beagle the same as a 13-inch beagle?
No. A 13-inch beagle is a recognized variety of the breed. "Miniature" beagles are bred to be smaller than the standard allows.
Do you sell pocket beagles?
No. We breed purebred beagles to the breed standard. If you want a smaller dog, ask us about puppies from our smaller parents when you send an inquiry.
