Pastor Garafiano vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison

Hailing from the Canary Islands, the Pastor Garafiano is a dog which was once used for working purposes but which is essentially a pet today.

Also known as the Spanish Collie, it is not really sure if the dog really has any links to the Collie.There are dog experts who claim that there are actually very few pure specimens of this dog because of interbreeding with other breeds such as the German Shepherd.

There was a time that the breed almost disappeared but a working group was established to further establish breeding centers for the dog. Today the Pastor Garafiano is a recognized breed and he has been registered since 1982.

The Beagle Harrier, the breed that was made mixing the France Scent Hounds and a Beagle. It is not quite sure if this breed was made on purpose or the mix of the breeds happened and resulted in a great dog so the breeding continued. Since they are not large dogs as hounds, they are used to hunt small animals.

This first breeding took place in England, but after the 14th century, they were breed on purpose in France.

This is a medium to large dog, with its hindquarters being a bit higher than the shoulders. The body is strongly built with a deep chest. He stands at between 55 to 64cm in height and weighs between 24 to 35kg.

The nose is black and the eyes brown. The ears are slightly erect. The double coat is long and thick and the color is almost golden or tawny, much like a lion. Puppies are born brown and the color changes as they get older.

The tail is long, and when the dog is in motion or alert the tail is lightly curled. He is an active dog requiring a lot of intensive physical exercise. It is therefore not recommended that he be kept on a small city property but that he be on a farm or have a large garden.

Temperament:

This is a good looking, confident sheepdog who is also intelligent and therefore easily trained. He makes a splendidly obedient pet when he has been trained and socialized.

He is docile, calm and friendly and good with children in the home who have been taught to be kind and gentle with him. Apart from regular play, make sure he gets his regular exercise and he is constantly allowed to be part of the family.

The Beagle Harrier is a scent hound that is described as a big sized Beagle or a small sized Harrier. This breed was developed from this two breeds, actually. Despite the looks of these breeds, the Beagle Harrier is an energetic kind of dog who gets very attached to his family. This medium sized pet comes in variations of colours and they are usually tricoloured. They usually have dark coloured eyes, white paws, and They usually grow up to have a very muscular body, but, if you don’t provide them with the daily activity they need, they will quickly get obese and unhappy.

The Pastor Garafiano is such a wonderful docile and friendly pet that he is guaranteed to make a wonderful companion for any family.

He is a dog that simply loves spending time with his human family and won’t do well when left alone in the backyard day after day. Take good care of this beautiful tawny dog and give him your attention and you will have a wonderful canine friend that is difficult to beat in terms of loyalty and devotion.

Children friendliness

The Beagle Harrier, if trained properly and socialized while he was still a pup, will be the great playmate for any child. They get along with strangers, as well. We might say that they will get along with anybody who is ready to run and play with him. Children are most likely that kind of playdate, so it appears that they like children more. The Beagle Harrier is a great family pet, and he is great with babies, toddlers, teenagers… so don’t be afraid to leave the dog alone during the playdate!

Special talents

hunting, scent tracking, search dog

Adaptability

Some will say that the Beagle Harrier is one of the most desirable pets because of his loving and lively nature. They get along with almost anyone and they don’t mind living indoors if you have the time to take him out for a daily run each day. They will do great in a large group of people and any public places so you can take your Beagle Harrier with you anywhere you go.

Learning ability

Since the Beagle Harrier is placed in a group of the hound dogs, you must be aware that he will have the attitude of the pack leader. Once you got the Beagle Harrier puppy, you must start training and socializing him in order to grow the pet that will be easy to handle and accepted by the family and all the people around you, even strangers. They are very intelligent and they have a calm nature so they will be quite easy to train.

Your Pastor Garafiano can reach anything from 10 – 14 years of age if he is happy and well taken care of. Every dog however, can fall prey to one of the many common dog illnesses there are. Some of these are -

Dermatomyositis:

This is an inherited inflammatory disease of the skin, blood vessels and muscles. Signs of dermatomyositis can vary from mild to severe skin lesions and inflammation of muscles and even a decrease in muscle mass. Severely affected dogs can even have difficulty with swallowing. Symptoms of the disease are usually seen before the dog is 6 months of age.

Progressive Retinal atrophy:

This is an eye disease where there is a gradual deterioration of the retina. Dogs can become night blind early in the disease and as the disease goes on, they can even lose their daytime vision.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a very common dog ailment – the abnormal formation of the hip socket can cause pain, arthritis and even lameness. It is severe enough to know that dogs with hip dysplasia should never be bred.

Dysplasia

Almost every active dog suffers from joint diseases. Even though it’s generally a genetic disease, you can lower the chances of hip or elbow dysplasia by taking care of your dog’s weight, diet and daily exercise.

Ear infections

The Beagle Harrier has big ears that are always set down. That makes them ideal for the dirt accumulation, ear irritations and ear infections. Check his ears regularly and clean them at least once a week.

Grooming:

Groom your Pastor Garafiano at least twice a week. Your dog’s coat is fairly long and it sheds too and you want to make sure it doesn't become all matted. There are different brushes you can use for his beautiful coat.

You can also use this grooming session to check other areas of your dog. Check inside his ears, check his eyes and feel for new or unusual lumps. Make sure to keep his nails trimmed.

Exercise your pet every day. Take him on walks or hikes and provide him with ball or frisbee games. Exercise keeps him fit and healthy but also happy and content.

Diet:

Nutrition is of critical importance to your pet's wellbeing. It is important to know what your pet needs to stay healthy and have a strong immune system which can ward off disease.

There are some good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market but it is important to choose the one that doesn’t come filled with toxic colorants, preservatives and fillers. Protein should be high on the list of ingredients listed on the pet food packaging. Also make sure to feed your pet food that had been made for his size, his breed, his age and his energy requirements.

To provide some variety to your pet’s diet, give him some tasty home-made food. Dog’s do well on simplicity and consistency. Some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables such as spinach, sweet potato and carrots all chopped up and added into his dry kibble occasionally will keep him bright eyed and with his tail constantly wagging.

He’ll thank you for not varying his diet with things that can give him an upset stomach such as coffee, tea, popcorn, grapes, onions and chocolate.

Diet tips

Since the Beagle Harrier is an active dog breed, they will need food for the active dogs. Make sure you provide them with quality food that will give them enough strength to get through the very active day, and not gain too much of the weight. It is very important that you don’t overfeed him because this breed quickly becomes obese. It is advisable to use treats while you train him to do new tricks, but be very careful with the amount you give to the dog.

Puppies need to be fed only two times a day. Once you decide which brand of food you will use, stick with them until the dog is 6 months old. Make sure they have enough nutrients and the quality ingredients that will help them with growing strong and healthy bones.

Points for Good Health

If you want Beagle Harrier to grow up in a happy and healthy dog, make sure you provide him with quality food, lots of exercises and unconditional love. They are extremely loving and they get depressed if left alone. Grooming tips are very clear – they need a regular brush because shed a lot. The more you brush, the less hair you will find on your hands during the belly rubs.

Games and Exercises

If your Beagle Harrier is trained and socialized, the dog park will be the best daily activity for him. If there is no dog park near your house, take him to the bike ride, jogging, swimming, hiking, markets, parks… They love to be off the leash and with people but since they are the hound dogs, don’t be surprised if they get distracted by smelling something more interesting than the ball. They would love to grow up in a house with a large yard, but, if you live in the apartment, make sure that you take time for his daily activity.