The North Country Beagle was a scent hound dog breed that lived in Great Britain till the early 19th Century. It was a large-sized dog that was used for hunting animals like deers, hares, foxes, wild boars, wolves, and rabbits.

Talking about the appearance, the North Country Beagle had a considerably large and bony body with long trailing ears and square head. They also had deep-throated neck and loose skin without any wrinkles.

Origin & History

The North Country Beagle is thought to have originated in the 11th century in England. While this breed was extremely popular in Great Britain back then, some even believe they descended from dogs brought by the Normans.

North Country Beagle is an extinct dog scent hound that lived in Great Britain.
PC: EasyPetMD

Some ancestors believed that the North Country Beagle resulted from the crossbreeding of the dogs that the Norman Conquerors brought from France around 1066. After the breed originated, it gained huge popularity and spread throughout Wales and England. In addition, these hunting dogs were later crossed with other French breeds like the Grand Bleu de Gascogne and Bloodhound.

A different theory of the origin of this breed claims that it was a descendant of the Talbot Hound. This dog was widely popular in Northern England and they were mainly used to hunt games in a pack.

How Did The North Country Beagle Got Extinct?

The North Country Beagle got extinct in the early 1800s or 19th century. The reason behind their extinction is thought to be their competition with the English Foxhound.

As the English Foxhound served the same purpose as the North Country Beagle, people started choosing the foxhounds over the beagles. They also kept breeding and using the English Foxhounds more for hunting which decreased the value of the North Country Beagles. Therefore, people decreased efforts of breeding this breed and increased using the foxhounds over them. This led to their disappearance from the world.

Temperament, Behavior, & Personality

The North Country Beagle had affectionate, loving, and loyal temperament. They were so determined that they would follow the trails of animals for hours without getting tired. Moreover, they were extremely fast running dogs and could catch up with the animals they were meant to hunt easily.

The North Country Beagles used to get along with other dogs very easily but couldn’t be trusted around other pet animals as they would quickly think them as their prey and strike. Likewise, they were definitely friendly and playful towards human beings. However, they would also be strong-willed and independent at times.

Was North Country Beagle a Child-Friendly Breed?

Yes, the North Country Beagle, like its modern-day predecessor Beagle, was also a child-friendly dog breed. They would get along with children really quickly and would play all day long but never get bored. The only thing to consider was the large body of these dogs which would possibly hurt toddlers without the dogs’ intentions. Therefore, it was very necessary to keep the dogs and the kids under proper supervision.

Some Lesser-Known Facts

  • The North Country Beagle was also known as Northern Hound or Northern Beagle.
  • It has helped in creating the modern Beagle breed.
  • It was widely popular in Wales and Northern England where their prime use was hunting.
A sketch of a North Country Beagle.

Colors

The North Country Beagle was found in the following colors:

  • White, Black & Brown/Orange Mix
  • White, Black & Tan Mix

Size

The North Country Beagle’s height ranged between 19-21 inches (48-50 cm) whereas they weigh somewhere around 35-90 pounds (16-41 kg).

Puppies

On average, a mother North Country Beagle used to give birth to 2-7 puppies at a time.

Similar Dog Breeds

Here are some dog breeds which are similar to the North Country Beagle:

Visit Doglime if you want to know more about other extinct dog breeds.

Tags