North Country Beagle vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison

North Country Beagle is originated from United Kingdom but Basque Shepherd is originated from Spain. North Country Beagle may grow 16 cm / 6 inches shorter than Basque Shepherd. North Country Beagle may weigh 18 kg / 39 pounds lesser than Basque Shepherd. Both North Country Beagle and Basque Shepherd has almost same life span. Both North Country Beagle and Basque Shepherd has almost same litter size. North Country Beagle requires Low maintenance. But Basque Shepherd 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.

basque shepherd - historyThe Basque Shepherd is one of the oldest dog breeds. With this Spanish dog, you’ll find paintings dating back 12,000 years ago. The Basque Shepherd is known as a landrace breed, which means the dog hasn’t gone through the same selective breeding programs as what other breeds have. Landrace breeds have more variations in appearance and temperament than regular breeds.

The Basque Shepherd has 2 distinct varieties, the Gorbeiakoa and the Iletsua. The smooth-haired Gorbeiakoa has a softer coat that is fairly short while the rougher-haired Iletsua has a lighter coloured coat, and unlike the Gorbeiakoa, the ears are not typically erect.

Even though this is an ancient breed of dog, only the Royal Canine Society of Spain recognizes the breed with the two varieties, and in January 1996, the two breeds - Iletsua and Gorbeikoa – were recognized.

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.

Two Varieties

basque shepherd puppy - descriptionThe Basque Shepherd is a strong, well proportioned dog with brown eyes and medium sized ears, which sometimes have folds. This medium-to-large dog has a beautiful fawn coat of medium-length hair that can be straight or slightly wavy. He has a long feathery tail that will wag readily when he sees his owner. You’ll find other colors for the Basque Shepherd shared between the two varieties - a yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black. His hair is shorter on the head and he doesn’t battle with hair over the eyes.

An Intelligent Breed

The Basque Shepherd is a highly intelligent dog and also very energetic. Of the two different kinds of Basque Shepherd, it is the Gorbeiakoa which is the more outgoing. The dogs will require a firm owner and they thrive on the discipline when it is combined with lots of with lots of exercise and activities.

The Basque Shepherd is generally friendly with people, if not a little reserved with strangers. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home, although socialization and training will be necessary to bring out their best.

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.

basque shepherd dog - characteristicsThe dog is well suited to being a family pet, loving to spend time with family, being a people-oriented breed. He gets on well with children as well as other pets in the home, but can be reserved with strangers.

He doesn’t have an aggressive nature, and yet he does what it takes to protect his beloved human family.

He is full of energy, hardy and tough. He loves his human family and wants to be included in all their activities. He is energetic though and as a responsible dog owner, you want to make sure that your Basque Shepherd has enough space to run.

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.

basque shepherd puppies - health problemsBecause this is an ancient breed, the Basque Shepherd doesn’t have to contend with genetic health problems such as more modern breeds. Just like other dogs though, he could be prone to certain conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear infections and cancer. As a larger breed, he may also be prone to bloat.

Chronic Ear Infections

Breeds with floppy ears, such as the Basque Shepherd will be more prone to developing ear infections. To prevent infection, keep his ears clean and dry. If you’re unsure, the vet can guide you how- and what to do.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease which is common to other dog breeds too and not just the Basque Shepherd. This condition affects the hip joints and can result in chronic pain for the dog and also lameness. Checking your dog’s weight is important and the pain can be managed with medication.

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.

basque shepherd dogs - caringThis is a medium to large breed dog and he should therefore be fed a high quality food which has been formulated for medium to large breeds. Because he is a herding dog, you might want to also look at an active-dog or working-breed formula to supply him with that much needed energy.

Grooming

The Basque Shepherd’s coat is lush and long with either straight or wavy hair. Regular brush at least twice a week will maintain the coat, get rid of loose hair and prevent fleas.

Training

The Basque Shepherd is an intelligent breed that will respond well to socialization and training. He is a breed that loves sports too because of this very high energy levels. You need to be careful with the Basquae Shepherd around small children, not because he is aggressive in any way, but because he is highly active, and his exuberance and boisterous antics could see him unintentionally knocking over small children.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
Spain
Height Male:
33 - 45 cm
12 - 18 inches
47 - 61 cm
18 - 25 inches
Height Female:
33 - 45 cm
12 - 18 inches
46 - 59 cm
18 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
17 - 29 kg
37 - 64 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 11 kg
19 - 25 pounds
17 - 36 kg
37 - 80 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 7
6 - 9
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Northern Hound, Northern Beagle
Basque Herder, Basque Sheepdog
Colors Available:
black, orange, Mainly white, perhaps tan
fawn, yellow orange or copper coat with other shades being red, blue and black
Coat:
Short and smoothish
smooth and soft to rough and coarse
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, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Sweet
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. Border Collie vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Sakhalin Husky vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Alaskan Husky vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  29. Catahoula Leopard vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  30. German Pinscher vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  31. Portuguese Water Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Puli vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  34. Borador vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. German Spaniel vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  36. Canadian Eskimo Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  37. McNab vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  38. Porcelaine vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  39. Finnish Lapphund vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  40. Berger Blanc Suisse vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  41. Griffon Nivernais vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  42. Hokkaido vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  43. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  44. Pumi vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  45. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  46. Basque Shepherd vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  47. Basque Shepherd vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  48. Basque Shepherd vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  49. Istrian Sheepdog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Jamthund vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds