Beastmaster will be better as a limited job than a full one.

[AceofRains]

It would be a melee DPS still, I kind of doubt they'd let it sit halfway between melee and range. As for a specific pet I feel that kind of detracts from what a Beastmaster is. Even if it was a small subset it's supposed to be pseudo Pokemon go out and collect them.

That said it wouldn't be the first time they decided to break tradition so who knows.

It could be considered ranged and scale with strength, opposite of ninja that’s melee that scales with dex.

Also part of ranged attacking could simply be using the whip to command the beast attack. While other attacks less used may come directly from the whip at melee range.