Yes scruffy! (Possible new blog name.)
The types of beagles we have in the US today are pretty straightforward: 13 inch and 15 inch, measured at the highest point of the shoulder. But looking back to the 19th century, there were lots of different types in the UK as the breed was being developed including pocket beagles, glove beagles, fox beagles, dwarf beagles and super awesome rough-coated beagles.
For reasons unknown (and unforgivable), the scruffy variety didn’t last long into the 20th century. But if I ever get my hands on a time machine, they will be making a comeback. (Do not speak to me about the importance of not altering the timeline or killing Hitler or whatever – this is official beagle business.)
I love them.
So much.
Fascinating. Love all those different beagles. That seems to have been the case for other breeds as well. Seems there once were wire haired and long haired whippets. The long haired ones are still available, though of course the claim is that they are not really whippets and of recent development. The wire haired kind seem to have disappeared, there is only an old photo of one, and maybe a painting. In general there seem to have been more sight hounds in the past.