Breeding Practices

Goals: I breed for the betterment of the Beagle breed. Every litter I breed is bred with the intention to keep the most suitable puppy (or puppies) for my breeding program. Which puppy (or puppies) I keep depends upon what I need to improve in my breeding program. My goal is to produce the perfect Beagle; in Health, Looks (conformation), and Temperament. This may be an impossible goal, but it is what I am working towards. I Breed For: 1. Health - The Beagle breed suffers from multiple genetic conditions, read more on the NBC Beagle Health page. 2. Looks (Conformation) - Good conformation is necessary for a Beagle to do what it was bred to do - Track! It can also contribute to longevity. Conformation is judged at dog shows. 3. Temperament - Without a good stable temperament a dog is unpleasant to be around, in the long run about 80% of Beagles become pets, in order to be a good pet, show dog, or performance dog, a Beagle needs a good stable temperament. This also includes trainability - a Beagle who doesn't want anything to do with people will not be very trainable. Health Testing: I test all of my breeding stock prior to breeding and on a regular basis. I test according to CHIC guidlines set up by the National Beagle Club. My health testing schedual is: 1. Hip Dysplasia - OFA Hip x-rays 2. Eye Problems - CERF'd annually 3. Thyroid Problems - OFA Thyroid test after 12 months of age. You can see the results of health testing on our A-Quality beagles by viewing their individual pages which contain links to copies of each test done, or you can get an overview by checking out our "Health Database".