Origin
The Beagle Harrier has its roots in France and can be traced back as early as the 19th century. A breeder named Baron Gerard crossed two different dog breeds: the Beagle and the Harrier in hopes of creating the ultimate hunting dog.
Throughout its history, the Beagle Harrier has been most commonly used for tracking and hunting game such as rabbit, fox, deer, and wild boar, proving its superior abilities to perform in almost any environment while providing companionship.
The destruction of World War II threatened the complete extinction of the Beagle Harrier.
Credited for saving the breed are several unnamed breeders, who worked feverishly to repopulate the breed to the stable numbers it remains as currently.
Today, while the Beagle Harrier has attained regional popularity as a hunting and companion dog, the breed remains rather rare outside of France.
Traits and Behavior
Best known for its outgoing and spunky nature, the Beagle Harrier is full of character. This breed thrives on strong and dependable relationships with humans. These dogs are highly intelligent and generally easy to train.
As a pet, the Beagle Harrier is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate. The Beagle Harrier is not suited for an apartment or full-time indoor living, as it enjoys spending time outdoors and playing games such as fetch.
Pet Care and Diseases
While the Beagle Harrier is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, including hip dysplasia, skin allergies and sensitivity, various dental issues, and distichiasis – ingrown eyelashes.
The short-haired coat of the Harrier is easy to groom. Occasionally brush and comb out the dead hair.
This breed is an average shedder. Harriers are not recommended for apartment life unless the owners are very active people who plan on taking them out daily for jogs, hikes or hunts.
Allow this dog to go outside so it can run and play, but accompany it.
You can ask a veterinarian or a dog’s breeder to give you lessons on how to take good care of this particular dog to maintain its optimum health.
Appearance
The Beagle Harrier appears to be either a larger Beagle or a smaller Harrier.
It is a medium-sized dog, between 45 and 50 centimeters (18 to 20 inches) tall at the withers and it weighs between 19 and 21 kilograms (42 to 46 pounds).
Its coat is usually tricolor, featuring the colors fawn, black, tan, or white. There are also grey-coated (tricolor) Beagle Harriers. The Beagle-Harrier’s body is usually muscular and its coat smooth and thick.
General Information
The estimated lifespan of this breed is about 12-13 years. The average litter size is approximately 2-14 puppies.
Breed Club
Visit this dog club website dedicated to Beagle-Harrier. Click this link: