Hound Medium size 19-21 kg

Beagle Harrier

A friendly French pack hound between a Beagle and a Harrier, great with families but a determined nose that ignores the recall.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Medium
Size
19-21 kg · 45-50 cm
Very high
Exercise needs
Tireless; needs a job and hard daily exercise
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with a normal workday if eased in
Moderate
Training
Capable but needs motivation
Wash-and-go
Coat care
Wash-and-go coat
Excellent
Fit with kids
Excellent and gentle with children
Good
Other pets
Generally sociable with other animals
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia

The Beagle Harrier typically weighs 19-21 kg, stands 45-50 cm, and lives 12-13 years.

Consider this breed if…

you want a cheerful, kid-proof hound that fits into a busy family,
you can offer long daily outings and secure areas to run,
another dog at home would suit you - pack hounds love company,
you accept hound quirks: baying, scent obsession, selective hearing.

Do not consider this breed if…

you dream of reliable off-leash walks - a scent trail beats your recall every time,
close neighbors would not tolerate a loud, melodious hound voice,
you want a quick-to-find breed; it is rare outside France and usually means imports and waits,
your yard fence is low or unfinished - this hound follows its nose under and over.

A typical day with a Beagle Harrier

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    Long brisk walk, nose glued to the ground
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Naps after breakfast, snores included
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Sniffy walk on a long line
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Fetch, scent games, or a run in a fenced field
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Cuddles into the family pile on the couch
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Sleeps deeply after a full day outdoors

Temperament and training

Friendliness Very high
Scent drive Very high
Pack sociability Very high
Vocality High
Independence High
Guarding tendency Low
Common owner mistakes
Trusting the recall once a scent trail is in play · Underfeeding the exercise budget and blaming the dog for howling · Free-feeding a food-obsessed hound until it balloons

Family and environment

Kids Excellent
Gentle, sturdy, and endlessly tolerant of family chaos.
Dogs Excellent
Bred to live in packs; a second dog is a feature, not a problem.
Cats Conditional
Household cats usually fine when raised together; outdoor cats get chased.
Apartment Conditional
The baying, not the size, is the real obstacle.
House with a yard Suitable
With a genuinely secure fence - hounds are escape artists.
City Manages
Copes with enough exercise, but scent-rich country walks suit it better.
Countryside Ideal
Trails, fields, and room to use the nose.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Dental Disease Routine dental care and cleanings needed
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; watch for early lameness
Bloat (GDV) Feed smaller meals and know the emergency signs
Chronic Ear Infections Keep the ears dry and check them often

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Same merry temperament, smaller and easy to find
Beagle
A merry, kid-proof scent hound that follows its nose over your commands - and tells the whole street when left alone.
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The other parent breed, similar size and drive
Harrier
A sturdy, sociable pack hound like a bigger Beagle - cheerful and good with company, but energetic with a nose that pulls it away.
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Bigger pack hound with the same stamina
English Foxhound
A sociable pack hound built for stamina and following a scent, best for a rural home with room to run, not an apartment.
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Frequently asked questions

How much does a Beagle Harrier cost?
Be honest with yourself about availability first: this is a French hunting hound with very few breeders outside France, so most US buyers import, bringing the total to roughly $1,500-$3,000 with transport and paperwork. Over a 12-13 year life, food and routine vet care typically add $15,000-$22,000 or more.
Is a Beagle Harrier just a big Beagle?
Close, but not quite. It is its own FCI breed, developed in France by crossing Beagles and Harriers, sized between the two. Temperament is very Beagle-like - merry, social, food-driven, scent-obsessed - with a bit more leg and stamina. If you know Beagles, you know most of what to expect.
Are Beagle Harriers good with kids?
Among the best. Pack hounds were bred to get along with everyone, and this one is patient, playful and sturdy enough for family life. The trade-offs are noise and energy: it needs real daily exercise, and its hound voice carries. Supervise as with any dog, but temperament is a genuine strength.
Can a Beagle Harrier be let off leash?
Assume no. Once the nose locks onto a rabbit or deer trail, the dog is functionally deaf and can travel miles. Use a long line for freedom, invest in scent games that channel the drive, and save true off-leash time for securely fenced areas.