Beagle Harrier Breed Profile

Head: Somewhat long, yet mesaticephalic skull type is moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. The topskull is flat in profile or from the front. The occiput is slightly marked. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkle.

Eyes: Moderately large in size, oval, or almond, dark brown in color (the darker the better). The eye rims are well fitted and well pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.

Ears: The ears are medium in size and never overly pendulous. They are set approximately level with, or slightly above, the eye when in repose, and capable of being lifted some when alert. They are hound-type and V-shaped, yet somewhat short compared to the ears of other hounds, the tips and inner edges hang gracefully close to the head.

Muzzle: The muzzle is fairly long, somewhat full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The muzzle is gently tapered from the broad base to the nose. Upper and lower jaws are well developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipy or weak.

Nose: The nose is large, being well pigmented and black or self-colored according to the coat. Slight butterfly nose is permissible. The nostrils are well opened.

Neck: Moderately long length allows for good head carriage; it is strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck is powerful and graceful, tapering smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Some loose skin where the throat and jaw meet is acceptable, so long as it does not form a pendulous dewlap.

Chest: Deep and broad, but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.

Body: Deep, solid, and of good substance. The body is never overly racy and refined, nor is it heavy and cloddy. Width at forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.

Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.

Tail: Set somewhat high, but neither high nor low, as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapers toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often fairly high to gaily above the level of the topline in a merry fashion, but never tucked or curled up over the back. The tail is of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.

Movement: Strong, effortless, efficient, energetic, and enduring, the characteristics of healthy structure are evident: when moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in a line with the nose. The width between the forefeet when extended should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.

Temperament: Although an exceptional hunting dog, the Beagle-Harrier is also an adaptable hound. He is similar in temperament to the Beagle, being social and outgoing (although not quite as social as the Beagle), but with an air of seriousness and professionalism. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.