A classic hallmark of the Beagle breed is its iconic white tip . While not every Beagle has a picture-perfect white-tipped tail, most do, a trait consistently maintained over generations of selective breeding by heritage breeders. Not just a pretty face – uh, tail, the white tip serves to reveal a hunting Beagle’s whereabouts in the field. It’s hard to miss.
Some Beagles may have a tiny amount of white, and in some Beagles, white covers half the tail. A complex interaction of genetic modifiers influence the exact extent and placement of white markings. The white tip is mostly caused by the piebald (sp) allele at the S locus, which is controlled by the MITF gene. Almost all Beagles carry two copies of this piebald allele (sp/sp) which is what gives them characteristic white markings on their paws, chest, belly, and most notably, the tip of the tail.
The MITF gene basically controls how pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) spread out while the Beagle is developing in utero. Wherever these cells don’t make it, the coat ends up white. Thanks to the piebald genotype, Beagles almost always have certain spots—like the tip of the tail—where there’s no pigment, and that part stays white. This is a textbook case of “white spotting.”
What isn’t textbook is the old wives tale (ha, a pun) that a white tip is proof that a Beagle is purebred. It’s not. There are certain cultures that associate white markings with luck or protection, though these beliefs are seen more in horses than in dogs. As far as we know, there aren’t any superstitions linking white tail markings to luck or protection, but as we see it, every Beagle owner is fortunate to have the company of such an amiable breed.
Photo by © Tomislav Birtic/Dreamstime.com
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