You might have seen an old photo of your beagle in which he looks completely different. Apart from his size, he has an entirely different color and spots now. So is it normal? Do beagles change color?
Beagles change the color of their coat throughout their lives. The transition is more noticeable during puppyhood. The change in color of the coat when the beagle puppy becomes an adult is called ‘break.’
Colors of Beagle
Beagles have various color combinations. There are namely ten colors that make up these combinations:
- Black
- White
- Brown
- Tan
- Lemon
- Fawn
- Red
- Redtick
- Blue
- Bluetick
- Fawn
According to AKC, there are 25 color combinations of the beagle. However, beagles constantly change their colors, which results in color shading. This leads to numerous more color combinations of beagles.
Color Change in Beagle Puppies
The most noticeable color change of coat is during puppyhood of beagles. They would unto drastic change in the color as well as the shape of the color patch.
Beagles are mostly born in black and white color. Later as they grow, blacks start fading, and more colors or shades of colors are visible. During a few initial months, the color of the puppy may brighter up or fades down, and the patches may change the shape. That’s why a beagle breeder gets three chances to change the color of the pup on AKC registration papers.
For instance, most lemon-colored beagles are pure white during their birth. They start gaining lemon color at around three weeks mark.
Whereas, tri-colored and bi-colored beagles are usually just black and white during their birth. Their black color may change and become brown or red as they grow.
You will also notice a color change in your beagle’s coat from puppy to adulthood. This transition in color is called ‘break.’ As beagles mature, their coat changes color quite a few times.
Color Change due to Aging
As humans grow old, our hair starts turning grey. Just like that as beagles age, the color of their hair starts getting lighter.
After a certain age, loss of color pigments occurs in a beagle’s coat. Their color starts getting lighter. While this is not a case in every beagle, it’s quite common, and there’s hardly anything you can do about it.
Other reasons behind the color change
Few other reasons can cause a change in color. Let’s have a look at them:
Hormonal Problem: Hypothyroidism can cause a change in the color and texture of the beagle’s coat. Other symptoms of this medical condition are loss of hair, brittle hair, obesity. You can refer to this article for a better understanding of hypothyroidism.
Vitiligo: Vitiligo causes loss of pigments, which results in drastic color change mostly on the beagle’s face. This can be temporary as well as permanent. Refer to this article for more information regarding vitiligo.
Sunlight: Direct sunlight can also cause loss of color pigmentation in beagles.
When do beagles stop changing color?
Beagles’ coat never stops changing the color. The color transition is drastic during their puppyhood. However, as they grow up, the color change is hardly noticeable.
Final Thoughts
Color change in the coat is quite normal in beagles. One thing you can do is take your pooch’s photo at a regular interval of a month. In this way, you will be able to see the changes in the color of the coat and shape of patches.
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