Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Beagle Versus Harrier: Introduction
- Beagle versus Harrier: Overview
- Beagle versus Harrier: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Beagle and the Harrier
- The Similarities Between the Beagle and the Harrier
- Size Comparison of Beagle versus Harrier
- Lifespan of Beagle versus Harrier
- Health Problems of Beagle versus Health Problems of Harrier
- Tolerates Being Alone: Beagle versus Harrier
- Do Beagles shed more than Harriers?
- Which one drools more, the Beagle or the Harrier
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Beagle or the Harrier?
- Does the Beagle Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?
- Do Beagles Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?
- Can Beagles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Beagle vs. Harrier
- Can Beagles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Beagle or the Harrier?
- Are Beagles good family dogs? What about Harriers?
- How Kid-friendly are Beagles and Harriers?
- Is the Beagle Easier to Train than the Harrier?
- Conclusion: Beagle versus Harrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
Beagle Versus Harrier: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Beagle and the Harrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Beagle and the Harrier better suits you.
We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Beagle and the Harrier.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Beagle and the Harrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Beagle and for the Harrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Beagle and the Harrier.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Beagle or the Harrier.
Beagle versus Harrier: Overview
A very important difference between the Beagle and the Harrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Beagle is a small-sized dog while the Harrier is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, both the Beagle and the Harrier are Hound Dogs. This means both the Beagle and the Harrier were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.
Beagle versus Harrier: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Beagle to the Harrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Beagle and the Harrier
| Factor | Beagle | Harrier |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Train | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 15 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Height | 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder | 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Weight | 18 to 30 pounds | 45 to 60 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Easygoing | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 12.5 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $1160 | No Data |
| Price Range | $650 – $1450 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
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Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Beagle in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Harrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for the Beagle is 71 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Harrier is 81 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Harrier is a better pet than the Beagle. So, you should get the Harrier!
Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Beagle and the Harrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Beagle and the Harrier
Below is a list of where the Beagle and the Harrier are most different:
- Beagles have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Harriers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
- Beagles adapt well to apartment living. However, Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.
The Similarities Between the Beagle and the Harrier
The Beagle and the Harrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Beagle and the Harrier are most similar:
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier do not have the tendency to drool.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier are not easy to train.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier can tolerate hot weather.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier are very easy to groom.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier are highly intelligent.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier get along well with other dogs.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier are very friendly towards strangers.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
- Both the Beagle and the Harrier are very playful.
Size Comparison of Beagle versus Harrier
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Beagle and the Harrier.
Beagles weigh 18 to 30 pounds when fully grown. Beagles are 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, Harriers weigh 45 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Harriers are 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Lifespan of Beagle versus Harrier
The lifespan of Beagles is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Beagles is 12.5 years.
The lifespan of Harriers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Harriers is 11.0 years.
Beagles live longer than Harriers.
Health Problems of Beagle versus Health Problems of Harrier
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the Beagle and the Harrier are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.
Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Beagle is prone to more genetic health problems than the Harrier.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Beagle than for the Harrier.
9 health tests are recommended for Beagle while 2 tests are recommended for the Harrier.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Beagles and in Harriers.
Beagle Health Problems
Beagles are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Beagle puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Beagle puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Beagle breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Beagles for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Beagles here.
Harrier Health Problems
Harriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Harrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Harrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Harrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Harriers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Harriers here.
Tolerates Being Alone: Beagle versus Harrier
Beagles do not like to be left alone.
Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Beagles shed more than Harriers?
Beagles shed moderately.
Harriers shed moderately.
Which one drools more, the Beagle or the Harrier
Beagles do have a very low tendency to drool.
Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Beagle or the Harrier?
Beagles are very easy to groom.
Harriers are very easy to groom.
Does the Beagle Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?
Beagles have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Harriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Do Beagles Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?
Beagles are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Harriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Beagles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Beagles cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Beagle vs. Harrier
Beagles have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Harriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Beagles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Beagles can tolerate hot weather.
Harriers can tolerate hot weather.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Beagle or the Harrier?
Beagles get along very well with other dogs.
Harriers get along very well with other dogs.
Are Beagles good family dogs? What about Harriers?
Beagles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Harriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Beagles and Harriers?
Beagles get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Harriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Is the Beagle Easier to Train than the Harrier?
Beagles are not easy to train.
Harriers are not easy to train.
Is the Beagle Better for Apartment Owners than the Harrier?
Beagles adapt very well to apartment living.
Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Beagle or the Harrier?
Beagles are OK for new dog owners.
Harriers are OK for new dog owners.
Conclusion: Beagle versus Harrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Beagle and the Harrier better suits you and your family.