North Country Beagle vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison

North Country Beagle is originated from United Kingdom but Great Pyrenees is originated from France. North Country Beagle may grow 37 cm / 14 inches shorter than Great Pyrenees. North Country Beagle may weigh 43 kg / 94 pounds lesser than Great Pyrenees. Both North Country Beagle and Great Pyrenees has almost same life span. North Country Beagle may have less litter size than Great Pyrenees. North Country Beagle requires Low maintenance. But Great Pyrenees requires Moderate maintenance

History

Known also as the Northern Hound or the Northern Beagle, the North Country Beagle hailed from Britain and is extinct.

It hailed more specifically from- and was native to the Yorkshire and Northumberland regions of England. As a scenthound it was known for its hunting skills.

There isn’t much known about the dog but it is one of England’s oldest hound breeds, with much of its ancestry been lost. There are many theories surrounding the origins of this dog. Also, the date at which the North Country Beagle was developed is also debatable but it has always been a good hunter.

great pyrenees - historyThe Great Pyrenees could be from Spain or France because the dog hails from the Pyrenees Mountains, which spans both France and Spain.

The dog was used to defend flocks from predators but its lineage goes a long way back, thousands of years in fact. It is thought that they only arrived in Europe about 5,000 years ago. The dog was adopted into the court of Louis the XIV as a royal dog.

During the mid 1600s, the dog's numbers dwindled but the French developed kennel clubs where the dog could be bred and its numbers restored. It was in 1933 that the Great Pyrenees received American Kennel Club recognition.

Description

The North Country Beagle seemed to vary quite a bit in size and because there isn’t much information on this extinct dog, we can assume he was much the same size of the Beagle we know today which is roughly 33 – 45cm in height and weighing between 9 and 11kg.

Not much is known about the dog’s appearance but it is believed that it looked much like the Southern Hound and English Foxhound. It was likely a medium sized dog with longish ears, thick bones but always agile and athletic.

Temperament:

There is very little known on what this dog’s temperament was like. He was strong willed and if you owned such a dog you would have had to have him trained and socialized. It was a dog that showed very little signs of aggression. It seemed the dog was friendly, social and loving to his human family.

great pyrenees puppy - descriptionThis is a beautiful dog, noticeable by the essentially white coat and his overall size, standing at 70 to 82cm and weighing between 40 to 54 kg.

The double coat is medium to long, coarse and straight or wavy and and it can be solid white, cream or white with patches of light tan or grey.

The nose is black, the eyes brown, the ears of medium length and floppy and the tail long and plumed.

Temperament:

The Great Pyrenees is an intelligent, strong willed dog with a mind of his own so he will be able to be trained and socialized successfully.

His huge size will require that he be trained because when he is indoors he can knock things over and he must be able to respond to you telling him to lie down.

As a large dog, he isn’t suited for tiny homes, as he requires lots of space even though he doesn’t require a lot of exercise. Not only that, he takes his watchdog duties seriously and he is inclined to bark a lot, and in a small place, you’ll be getting constant complaints from the neighbors.

When trained and socialized, your big dog is social, active and loving. He gets on well with children, the elderly and with pets in the home. He isn’t that overly active and will happily make himself at home on your couch and bed.

Characteristics

The North Country Beagle was a social, energetic dog who loved spending time with his human family. They were intelligent too, so training and socialization were possibly easy for him.

They weren't regarded as raucous kind of dogs and were fairly quiet. They were quite social and didn't like being left alone for too long. They were adaptable too, slotting quite easily into country- or city life.

Coolish with strangers, the North Country Beagle made a good pet and companion with a generally happy, contented disposition.

great pyrenees dog - characteristicsThe Great Pyrenees is such a calm, independent, serious, well-mannered dog who loves to be around his human family and to please them. He is gentle and knows how to behave well around children, the elderly as well as with any pets in the home.

He makes a wonderful companion and although he loves indoor life as much as outdoor life, he is much happier settling into life in the country or the suburbs as opposed to life in the city and a tiny property.

Give your big white coated pet all the love he thrives on, and you'll enjoy a wonderful relationship with this large, amicable dog.

Health Problems

The North Country Beagle had a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, and while he was a fairly healthy dog breed, there were some common health issues to look out for. Some of these were patellar luxation, epilepsy and glaucoma.

Glaucoma:

This is a condition where there is pressure in the eye and where there is inadequate fluid drainage as well. Left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage to the optic nerve which can lead to blindness.

It is fairly common in certain breeds. There is primary and secondary glaucoma and symptoms for instance with primary glaucoma can be this high pressure within the eye and also a cloudy appearance in front of the eye along with redness of the blood vessels and dilated pupils. There can also be headaches and loss of appetite.

great pyrenees puppies - health problemsYour Great Pyrenees is a big dog with an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. His large size means you will need to look out for typical 'big dog' ailments such as hip dysplasia.

This problem can cause your pet to be in pain and he can also become lame, battling to walk and play and battling to get up after lying down.

Also, look out for bone cancer with your pet and as mentioned previously, bloat, which is a life threatening disease where the stomach of the dog swells up.

Caring The Pet

Your North Country Beagle was a social animal and he always had a whole lot of love and friendship to offer his human family.

Today, if you bring such a dog into your home, its your responsibility to care for him and provide him with love.

Diet:

A puppy such as this would have been fed 4 times a day. As he got older he would have had his meals cut down to one or two a day. His owners would have chosen a dog food according to age and activity levels, but always made sure that the food was rich in vitamins and minerals.

Dry kibble has the advantage of keeping your dogs teeth clean. Home-made food was and is always a welcome treat and can occasionally be added to the dry kibble. Keep the food consistent and simple to avoid stomach upsets.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as carrots, sweet potato and spinach would have kept the Beagle happy and healthy and is an excellent diet today for modern dogs. Sometimes you can also give a little bit of raw meat. Never leave any dog without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Your North Country Beagle would have required lots of energy and will have required being exercised. His owners may have taken him for walks every day, and modern Beagles today would require ball games and games that also provide him with the chance to think and work things out.

Veterinary Care:

If you bring a pet home such as what the North Country Beagle was like, as a puppy, you would have had to make a vet appointment to ensure he had his vaccinations to protect him from deadly diseases.

Grooming:

General grooming of your North Country Beagle would have required you brushing him twice a week, checking inside and outside his ears for infection. This is particularly of importance with floppy eared dogs like this. Check his eyes and teeth too. His nails couldn't be neglected either, as left long, they could have hooked onto objects, tearing and causing pain and bleeding.

Exercise:

great pyrenees dogs - caringYour Great Pyrenees isn't going to be a dog leaping around you demanding a game or walk like what you get from some energetic dogs. He certainly doesn't require strenuous exercise but will require a nice, brisk walk every day. Give him some ball or rope games too. He's territorial and likes large grounds to walk around and guard and this constant guarding is a good form of exercise too.

Grooming:

With two layers, the coat of the Great Pyrenees will need to be brushed twice a week to prevent burrs attaching to the fur and to prevent it from matting, It also gets rid of loose hair during shedding.

He tends to drool so it's handy keeping a damp cloth close by just to give his face area a wipe down. Your dog's ears will need to be cleaned with special ear-cleaning lotion and his nails will also need to be trimmed.

Socialization and Training:

Socialize your Great Pyrenees with other dogs and people from a young age. Without proper socialization, this breed can become territorial and possessive of his family, which could lead to aggression. He bonds with his family but tends to be wary of strangers.

Diet:

It is far better to feed your Great Pyrenees smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to 2 large meals a day. A large dog like him can develop bloat from gulping down a large amount of food too quickly.

If you feed your Great Pyrenees commercially manufactured food, make sure it is high in omega 3 and 6 to keep his thick white coat luxurious.

Your dog will need a dog food targeted at a large breed. Remember to include some raw meat as well as cooked chicken, vegetables and brown rice into his kibble and always ensure fresh, cool water is available.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
France
Height Male:
33 - 45 cm
12 - 18 inches
70 - 82 cm
27 - 33 inches
Height Female:
33 - 45 cm
12 - 18 inches
65 - 78 cm
25 - 31 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
44 - 54 kg
97 - 120 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 7
7 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Northern Hound, Northern Beagle
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Colors Available:
black, orange, Mainly white, perhaps tan
cream, White, white with patches of light tan or grey
Coat:
Short and smoothish
Medium to long, coarse, straight or wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pharaoh Hound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  2. Redbone Coonhound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  3. Norwegian Elkhound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  4. Santal Hound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  5. Podenco Canario vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  6. Podenco Andaluz vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  7. Podenco Galego vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Polish Hound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  9. Russian Harlequin Hound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  10. Russian Hound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  11. Sabueso Espanol vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  12. Schillerstovare vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  13. Schweizer Laufhund vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  14. Schweizer Niederlaufhund vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  15. Serbian Hound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  16. Silken Windhound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  17. Smalandsstovare vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  18. Stephens Stock vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  19. Thai Ridgeback vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  20. Walker Hound vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  21. Whippet vs North Country Beagle - Breed Comparison
  22. North Country Beagle vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  23. North Country Beagle vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  24. North Country Beagle vs Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  25. North Country Beagle vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  27. Great Pyrenees vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  28. Great Pyrenees vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  29. Great Pyrenees vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  30. Great Pyrenees vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  31. Great Pyrenees vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  32. Great Pyrenees vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  33. Great Pyrenees vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  34. Great Pyrenees vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  35. Great Pyrenees vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  36. Great Pyrenees vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  37. Great Pyrenees vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  38. Great Pyrenees vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  39. Great Pyrenees vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Great Pyrenees vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  41. Great Pyrenees vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  42. Great Pyrenees vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  43. Great Pyrenees vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  44. Great Pyrenees vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  45. Great Pyrenees vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  46. Great Pyrenees vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  47. Great Pyrenees vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Great Pyrenees vs German Longhaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  49. Great Pyrenees vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  50. Great Pyrenees vs Entlebucher Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds