Beagles are probably one of the most popular hounds around, and they are known for their distinctive coloring and appearance. These dogs have been bred to hunt rabbits, small rodents and other small game for centuries.

They were originally bred in the United Kingdom, Germany and France, but they are now found all over the world in many nations. There are two distinct varieties of this dog present in the United States.

The American Kennel Club recognizes both of these varieties as two of the same standard breed, namely coming in at 13 inches in height or 15 inches in height. While their height variances are limited, they can come in a wide variety of colors.

Generally speaking, the changes of these colors is actually a gradual process that takes place over time as the beagle grows older and matures. Beagles change colors the most right after birth as young puppies, but their hair color and pattern can continue to change as they get older.

In this article, we’ll look at the different colors that a beagle can change into, when it happens and what factors can affect the timing of color changes in a beagle. We will also look at why puppies experience this, what it means and the overall significance.

What Colors Can Beagles Be?

Beagles will start to change color at some point during their lifespan, but there are different colors that these dogs can be. While the earliest changes in a beagle can happen when they are just a few days old, their color changes as they get older. Beagles may start off changing color in as little as twenty-one days of their life but it is more likely that it happens approximately two months after they are born and this can range anywhere from one month to four months after birth.

The main color combinations you’ll see most often in fully developed adult beagles include:

• Red Beagles

• Tricolor Beagles

• Blue-Beige Beagles

• Brown Beagles

• Black Beagles

• Tan Beagles

It is important to note that beagles can still show signs of color change, even after they have reached adulthood. These dogs often undergo their most dramatic color changes in the first four months of their upbringing.

When Do Beagles Start Changing Color?

Beagles first start changing colors from the first day that they are born, but they really start to develop bigger changes that more reflect their adult colors between the 3-week mark and four months of age. The changes can continue for as long as one year, but the average is somewhere around 4 to 6 months of age.

Again, there are some general color combinations that are more likely to happen before certain other ones. Beagles with a black coat and a blue or tan coat are more likely to lose their black color much earlier on in life. In addition, beagles with black coat colors are more likely to show the white coloring along their limbs and feet than beagles that have lighter colored coats. Beagles that have darker colors on their coloring, such as a brown coat or red coat tend to show their coat color changes later in life.

What Causes Color Changes In Beagles?

Beagles that are born with dark skin and hair that only starts to change color as they get older. There are different theories as to why this happens, but at the end of the day it all comes down to genetics. Beagles that are bred for judging in the shows are more likely to be lighter than those that aren’t, but appearance changes don’t always come directly from the mother and father of each beagle.

The genes for fur coloration such as spots and patches can be a recessive gene that comes from grandparents, and it won’t always apply to every single beagle in the litter. If you’ve ever kept track of a baby litter of beagles from birth until adulthood, you’ll likely see a wide array of colors of dogs even though they all have the same parents.

These variances can be even further contrasted when you start to veer away from pure bred beagles, as other breeds of dogs have their own sets of dominant and recessive genes that can mix your beagle’s fur outcome by a significant amount.

When Do Beagles Stop Changing Color?

Beagles stop changing color at around the one year mark. The older that you get, the less likely you are to see color changes in your beagle. They can go through their most drastic changes in their first four months of life and this is the time they are most likely to change colors again.

Once these changes have fully rolled out, however, they are mostly very subtle and not too noticeable unless your beagle is in the sun or directly under a spotlight. The reason for this is that these changes start with hormones and the hormones in a beagle’s body will start to slow down as they grow older.

This type of change will eventually stop, though it can take some time before it completely reaches its conclusion. Hormones in your body can also play a role in what happens to your beagle too, but the timing is also very gradual and they can go from being extremely moody to being very calm after just a few months of age.

Of course, as your beagle enters old age, they’ll start to change colors in the form of gray hairs, which we’ll get into next.

When Do Beagles Start Growing Gray Hair?

Beagles start growing gray hair anywhere from their third year of life to their seventh year of life, but the average is about five years of age. You shouldn’t be too surprised to see gray hairs on your beagle if they are still in the third year of their life, but you can cut down on this development by feeding them nutritious food and making sure that they have a nice, clean diet with plenty of vitamins.

Additionally cutting down on stress, like it is for humans, is also an effective tool to try and minimize gray hairs on beagles (and give them a better quality of life at the same time). This can be as simple as helping them curb common problems like separation anxiety, or giving them a safe space to relax via crate training.

While there are some other things that could cause certain dogs to gray early on, it is important to note that these aren’t things you can control.

What Is The Rarest Color Pattern On Beagles?

The “Blue” tri-color pattern is probably the most rare color combination you can find on a beagle. This pattern is only present on about three in every one-hundred beagles. In addition, if your beagle has this pattern you are less likely to find them in the U.S., as it is more common in other parts of the world.

Another rare color to find on beagles is the all-black coat. This pattern is fairly common in other breeds of dogs, but it is rare in beagles.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, beagle color changes occur a lot during the dog’s first year of life. These can be subtle, or they can help you see drastic differences between each puppy in a litter. Beagles tend to stay on the lighter side throughout their lives, but things like stress or diet can definitely change what your beagle looks like when it is older and has gone through hormonal changes. Beagles also grow gray hairs as they get older, just like how humans do.