North Country Beagle vs Feist - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Feist is a small dog from the United States, coming from Terrier dogs which were brought over to the States. It is believed that these Terriers included crosses between several terriers – the Manchester Terriers, Smooth Fox Terrier and English White Terrier – dogs used as ratters and known for their skills in killing rats.

The Feist isn’t a new type of dog and in fact there are records of the dog which go back centuries. George Washington even referred to them in 1770 already, and the breed was popularized by President Teddy Roosevelt, who hunted with his Feist.

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.

Standing at about 46cm to 56cm in height and weighing in the region of 10 to 15kg, the Feist is a short haired dog that doesn’t shed much and he is not hypoallergenic.

The coat of the dog is available in a variety of colors but they are essentially a bi-colored dog such as red and white, tan and white, black and white, while solid colors are fawn, white, light brown, black and brindle too.

Perhaps because of so many genes being involved with this dog, it is more easily identified because of its hunting abilities. He is a sturdy dog with a medium length tail which he holds up. Some Feist owners prefer the look of a docked tail and then docking is between the second and third joint of the tail. The Feist has erect or semi-erect ears.

Temperament:

Intelligent and alert, the Feist is a dog that will respond well to training. As with any other dog, training and socialization will be important for him so that he is obedient. He is energetic, curious and alert and above all he wants the attention of his human family.

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.

Loving to be around his human family and being a devoted and loyal canine friend, the Feist is also an intelligent, energetic dog who is fairly easy to train.

Bright and alert he makes a good watchdog too, but is amicable enough to get on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

He can be stubborn so training and socialization will be important for him. As it is, he likes a firm, strong owner and in exchange for good care, he will become your devoted, loyal friend.

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.

A Feist is a robust dog who doesn’t have any particular health issues, and with good care he can reach 18 years of age if looked after well. Hip Dysplasia is such a common dog illness that it always bears mentioning.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a ball and socket joint problem where the joint doesn’t function smoothly and the grinding of the bone leads to pain and arthritis for your pet. You'll notice he battles to play games anymore and he also battles to get up after lying down. You need to know that this disease isn’t reserved for old dogs but can start while your dog is still a puppy and that it can lead to lameness.

Allergies:

Look out for allergies in your dog as they can cause a host of problems which can include his skin, his breathing and problems with digestion. Typical symptoms of a dog with allergies include sneezing,scratching and very distressing for a dog, itchy and red skin which can eventually ooze.

As a responsible dog owner it is imperative when you detect problems with your dog, to get him to the vet immediately.

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.

Grooming:

Grooming your Feist dog isn’t going to be costly or difficult at all, as with his short, smooth coat he will essentially only require a brush twice a week.

It’s good to get into the habit of brushing him as not only does it keep his coat sleek and shiny, he loves you paying him attention.

All dog owners need to know that grooming goes beyond just brushing the coat. You want to also check his nails that they are short, check in and around his ears and brush his teeth with special dog toothpaste and toothbrush.

Diet:

Give your Feist the very best dog food there is. Home-made is always good but if you feed him commercially manufactured food, make sure its a quality one. Some raw meat added in every now and again is important for his health. Ensure fresh, cool water is available to him around the clock.

Exercise:

Your Feist is an energetic dog that has been accustomed to hunting and running down small prey. He is an outdoor dog, thriving on fun and games. Take him on your walks, your hikes or when you go cycling or swimming. He wants to be right there with you involved in everything. While he can slot into life in the city or the countryside, he isn’t an indoor dog and it certainly won’t be good for him if you keep him cooped up in a tiny garden and pretty much forget about him.

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.