Duke

Every great story begins with a spark, and for us, that spark was Duke. From the moment we brought him home, he wasn’t just a dog—he was family. Duke’s personality was larger than life. He made us laugh daily with his goofy antics, warmed our hearts with his loyalty, and somehow always seemed to know exactly when we needed comfort. We often joked that if we could “clone” him, we would, because there would never be another quite like him.

Duke also grew to be much bigger than your typical beagle. At first, we dreamed of carrying on his incredible spirit through breeding, but we quickly realized that it wouldn’t be right for the breed. As hard as it was to let go of that dream, we knew that true love for dogs—and for Duke—meant putting his health and the integrity of the beagle breed above our own wants.

That’s when the vision for Hound Kings was born. Instead of trying to recreate Duke, we decided to honor him by building a program rooted in the same values he taught us every day: joy, loyalty, and unconditional love. Duke reminded us that dogs aren’t just pets; they’re family members who change the rhythm of your home, who claim your couch as their throne, and who leave paw prints not only on your floors but also on your heart.

Hound Kings exists because of Duke, but it continues because of the love we carry for him and the responsibility we feel toward the breed. Every puppy we raise is a tribute to the lesson he gave us: when you put your dogs first, everything else falls into place.