Kerry Beagle
Also called An Pocadán Ciarraíoch, Scarteen Black and Tan
From Ireland, especially the south-west (County Kerry and neighbouring counties).1
At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, smooth coat
Despite the name this is a sizeable, athletic hound built for speed and stamina, with a broad head, long ears and a short, close coat.1
Personality what they are like
A friendly, sociable pack hound with a strong nose and hunting drive, which also makes a pleasant family pet for active households.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High: two or three walks a day plus regular off-lead runs in safe areas.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short coat is easy to keep; a regular brush and ear checks are enough.1
Home where they are happiest
An active home, ideally rural or with secure access to open ground.1
Company who they like around
A pack animal that enjoys company, both human and canine.1
The story where it all began
The Kerry Beagle is thought to date to the 16th century, and pedigrees survive from 1794. It began as a staghound and later hunted hare and fox; by the 1800s only a few packs remained, notably the Scarteen pack in County Limerick, which still hunts today.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
'Beag' means small in Irish; the hound was small only compared with the wolfhounds it worked alongside.1
- 2
Irish emigrants took these hounds to the Americas, where they helped shape coonhounds and the American Foxhound.1
- 3
The black-and-tan colour of the Scarteen hounds is linked to the 'Black and Tans' nickname given to police recruits in 1919-21.1
Recognised by the official bits
- Irish Kennel Club
- Recognised in 1991.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Kerry Beagle. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Kerry Beagle - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for all fields
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.