The Beagle
is the smallest of all scent hound breeds and the importance has always been
stressed on the breed's conformation and its function. Because Beagles are very
popular in the world there are often discussed two facts. The first that the
breed has two standards and that there are certain types developing in
geographically different areas with limited possibilities of new bloodline imports.
Based on measuring 12 different body measurements (height at withers, length of back, loin, neck, chest circumference, length of foreleg, hock, second thigh, tail, ear and muzzle length and circumference) in a number of Beagles ranging from 147 to 115 individuals, it was discovered, that the often discussed problem of overgrowing is not justified, since the average height of 36,9 cm is not higher than the maximum of 40 cm as set by the British standard.
While closely studying measurements of body parts within a population bred by the AKC standard and the population of the KC standard, it was discovered that all body parts have a statistically significant difference.
Even though an identical standard is used in the UK, continental Europe and in Australia and New Zealand, results have shown that there are statistical differences in height at withers between populations. The population of Australia and New Zealand have proved to have the lowest wither height.
A regression and correlation analysis has indicated that there is a significant dependence of length of back, chest circumference, length of foreleg, second thigh and tail as well as muzzle length and circumference on height at withers.The possibility of predicting adult height from puppy height at 6,5 weeks has shown only a mild dependence. Due to the fact that the prediction system has been proven in 50,65% cases and disproven in 49,35% it is impossible to confirm the hypothesis that it is possible to predict types and sizes of beagles from puppy measurements. The hypothesis of this thesis has not been confirmed.
Based on measuring 12 different body measurements (height at withers, length of back, loin, neck, chest circumference, length of foreleg, hock, second thigh, tail, ear and muzzle length and circumference) in a number of Beagles ranging from 147 to 115 individuals, it was discovered, that the often discussed problem of overgrowing is not justified, since the average height of 36,9 cm is not higher than the maximum of 40 cm as set by the British standard.
While closely studying measurements of body parts within a population bred by the AKC standard and the population of the KC standard, it was discovered that all body parts have a statistically significant difference.
Even though an identical standard is used in the UK, continental Europe and in Australia and New Zealand, results have shown that there are statistical differences in height at withers between populations. The population of Australia and New Zealand have proved to have the lowest wither height.
A regression and correlation analysis has indicated that there is a significant dependence of length of back, chest circumference, length of foreleg, second thigh and tail as well as muzzle length and circumference on height at withers.The possibility of predicting adult height from puppy height at 6,5 weeks has shown only a mild dependence. Due to the fact that the prediction system has been proven in 50,65% cases and disproven in 49,35% it is impossible to confirm the hypothesis that it is possible to predict types and sizes of beagles from puppy measurements. The hypothesis of this thesis has not been confirmed.