Bagel Hound vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

The Bagel Hound is a hybrid breed that emerged in the early 2000s by crossing the Beagle and Basset Hound. Both parent breeds have ancient origins—Beagles were bred for hunting small game with their exceptional sense of smell, while Basset Hounds, with their calm demeanor and powerful scenting ability, were also used for hunting.

The Bagel Hound was developed to combine the Beagle’s playful, energetic nature with the Basset Hound’s laid-back, affectionate temperament. Though relatively new, this hybrid quickly became popular for its friendly disposition, moderate energy, and suitability as a family companion.

Although the Cretan Hound or the Kritikos Lagonikos is recognized in both Greece and Germany, the hunting dog breed is from the island of Crete, Greece. The dog’s history goes back thousands of years. It is an ancient breed and some believe it is one of the oldest hunting breeds in Europe.

The Cretan Hound has been bred as a working dog, combining sight and scent to track down their prey. Today it is still a rare dog breed that you won’t easily find outside of Crete.

Greece kennels recognize this dog as well as some European kennels, but it isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Bagel Hound is a medium-sized, affectionate hybrid breed resulting from the cross between the Beagle and the Basset Hound. With a sturdy, muscular body and a short, dense coat, this breed combines the best features of its parents.

Typically, a Bagel Hound has a short to medium-length coat that can come in a variety of colors, including tri-color (black, white, and tan), bi-color, or combinations of tan, white, and black. Their face is expressive with long, floppy ears and a soft, gentle gaze, a trait inherited from both parent breeds.

This breed is known for being friendly, affectionate, and playful, making it an excellent companion for families, including those with children or other pets. While generally calm, they do have a stubborn streak due to their strong scenting instincts, so consistent training is important. Despite their playful nature, they are not overly energetic and are typically content with moderate exercise, such as daily walks and playtime.

The Bagel Hound has a balanced temperament—loyal, loving, and a little mischievous—which makes them a popular choice for families and first-time dog owners who are willing to invest in training and care.

Known for its extraordinary scent abilities as well as its speed, this dog has always been used as a hare hunter because of these skills.

It’s a slender dog of medium to large size and stands at about 60-68cm in height and weighs between 20 – 30kg. It is lean, strong, muscular and swift with a body that is inclined to be longer than tall.

He is slightly heavier than other scenthounds and his ribs aren’t seen. The head is wedge-shaped and the ears drop down, are folded back or can be semi-erect. The eyes are dark and the tail is long and curves upwards with longer hair being found on the tail.

The coat is short and smooth, and coat colors of the dog are varied and can be fawn, sandy, grey, white, black or brindle, and it can be tri-colored too.

Temperament:

The Cretan Hound is alert to sight, sound and scent and when it senses prey, the tail moves in a circular way and the dog becomes rigid for a while before he is off on the hunt.

He is a gentle, intelligent dog, reserved around strangers but making an excellent family pet as he gets on well with all his human family members as well as pets in the house. With good training and socialization, the dog becomes more relaxed around strangers.

He isn’t an aggressive dog, and while he is alert to sounds and smells, he doesn’t make a particularly good watchdog.

The Bagel Hound is a friendly, affectionate, and playful breed, combining the best traits of its Beagle and Basset Hound parents. They are medium-sized with a sturdy, muscular build, and a short, dense coat. Bagel Hounds are social and enjoy being around people, often following their owners around and seeking attention. They have a gentle, patient nature, making them great with children and other pets.

While they are generally calm, they are also curious and scent-driven, which can make them a bit stubborn and prone to distractions. Their affectionate personality and loyal nature make them great companions, though they benefit from consistent training and exercise.

The Cretan Hound is an energetic, curious dog, but when it comes to being a family pet, he is affectionate and gentle.

He is a reserved dog around strangers. He likes to be busy and will love his walks and games with his human family members. He is smart so is readily trained and he likes to be obedient and to please.

The Cretan Hound will live in harmony with other dogs in the home and they’re also patient and good around disciplined children who have learned to respect animals.

Provide your Cretan Hound with his fair share of love and attention and he will go out of his way to be a loyal and loving family friend.

Hip Dysplasia

A common genetic condition where the hip joint doesn't fit properly, causing pain and potential arthritis. It can lead to limping or difficulty moving, especially as the dog ages.

Ear Infections

The Bagel Hound’s long, floppy ears trap moisture and debris, making them more susceptible to infections. Regular ear cleaning and keeping ears dry can help prevent this issue.

Obesity

Bagel Hounds love food, and without proper portion control and exercise, they can easily gain weight. Obesity can lead to other health problems like heart disease, joint issues, and reduced life expectancy. Regular exercise and a balanced diet are essential to keep them at a healthy weight.

The Cretan Hound is a healthy, robust dog breed, but even so, he can suffer from some common health problems that other dogs are also susceptible to. Some of these are hip dysplasia , cancer, ear infections, bloat and cherry eye.

Remember that if you don’t want your dog to have puppies, they can actually benefit health-wise from being spayed or neutered. Doing this for your pet can prevent a number of health issues later on down the line.

Make sure too, that your puppy receives his vaccinations in a timely fashion so as to avoid terrible, life threatening illnesses such as parvo and rabies.

Daily walks help keep them fit, while interactive play sessions like fetch offer mental and physical stimulation. Avoid overexerting them, especially in hot weather, to prevent exhaustion.

Provide a balanced diet with portion control to maintain a healthy weight. Brush their coat weekly to manage shedding, and clean their ears regularly to avoid infections.

Use positive reinforcement during training for best results. Regular vet check-ups ensure they stay healthy, and keeping an eye on their weight helps prevent obesity.

You’re certainly not going to have to do too much grooming with the Cretan Hound as he is a low maintenance breed.

The dog is a short haired breed and an average shedder, so a good brush twice a week will keep the coat free of loose hairs and maintain the condition of the hair.

As with all dogs, the nails as well as the ears must be checked and attended to. The veterinarian can advise you on how to keep his ears clean and free of infection, as prodding around without knowing can damage his ears.

Exercise:

This Cretan Hound has high activity needs. He is energetic and also hard-working, and you’ll need to be taking him on long walks and providing him with some highly energetic playing sessions. Throw ball for him and take him with you when you go jogging or cycling.