Beagle-Harrier

As the name suggests, this breed was created by crossing the Beagle with the Harrier, aiming for a scenthound suited to hunting hare and roe deer at a moderate pace. It was developed in France in the 19th century and has stayed rare even in its home country, never matching the Beagle's popularity. A male can weigh up to 20 kilograms, and the short, close coat needs minimal grooming. Like most French scenthounds it has a powerful nose and can follow a trail for hours on end. At home the Beagle-Harrier tends to be calm, though outdoors it's hard to pull off an interesting scent. Because of its rarity, finding one outside France is genuinely difficult. Life expectancy runs 11 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Beagle-Harrier: how old in human years?

43–48 cmHeight
16–20 kgWeight
11–13 yrsLife expectancy

Italian Hound (smooth-haired)

FCI group: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
FCI section: Section 1.2: Scenthounds, Medium sized
FCI: 19
Country of origin: France

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 45–48 cm

Females 43–46 cm

Weight

Males 18–20 kg

Females 16–18 kg

Life expectancy

11–13 yrs

Coat

short (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Beagle-Harrier's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 4/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Beagle-Harrier's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Beagle-Harrier's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 4/5

Grooming & Care

Beagle-Harrier's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Beagle-Harrier

Once a Beagle-Harrier picks up the line of a hare, your voice becomes a radio playing faintly in another room. It is a French scenthound, bred to work in a pack and follow game for hours, so its nose leads a life of its own and its legs are happy to follow. Its prey drive and hunting instinct are very strong: off-lead running belongs in fenced or otherwise safe places, and cats and small pets interest it more than you'd like.

It has plenty of energy and needs to spend a lot of it every day: long walks, running, scent games, tracking. It learns reasonably well but with opinions of its own, so treats, short sessions and a great deal of patience work better than a stern voice. Like any proper hound it likes to have its say, and the neighbours will hear the barking and baying too, which makes a flat a poor fit.

It gets on easily with people and other dogs, having been bred to be part of a pack. It is friendly with the family, patient with children and meets strangers without hostility; it will announce a visitor but it is no guard. It is happiest in a home with a garden, where somebody is usually around and weekends are spent in the woods or the fields.

Grooming and coat

The Beagle-Harrier's coat is short and close-lying, so looking after it takes less time than your morning coffee. Once a week, go over it with a rubber mitt or a firm bristle brush: dead hair and dust come away and the shine comes back. It doesn't shed much, though you will still find short hairs on a dark sofa. Baths are rarely needed, usually only after it has found something outdoors to roll in and is very proud of it.

What sits under the coat deserves more attention. Hanging ears pick up seeds and mud after a run through grass and scrub, so lift them and look inside every week; redness, discharge or a bad smell is a reason to see a vet. After long days outdoors, check the paws and pads, and trim the nails if they don't wear down on their own.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for medium breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (20 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 260 g of dry food a day, from €14,13 a month For a neutered, normally active 18 kg dog. Calculate for your dog