Northern Hound

The origin of the North Country Hound is debated. Some authors suggest that it is derived from the Talbot that was imported to Great Britain in the 11th century by William the Conqueror. Crossing with Greyhounds, in order to 'invigorate' the heavy Talbot could have given rise to the North Country Hound.

It was a large and bony hound with a square head and long, drooping ears. Mostly raised in Yorkshire County, it was common in northern England (hence its English name of northern beagle and northern hound, literally 'northern beagle'). It was a fast dog with a good sense of smell, although it was less good at this than the Southern Hound. The development of the Beagle breed by Phillip Honeywood is said to have been based on crosses between North Country Hound and Southern Hound. It is likely that the Harrier and the English Foxhound also have North Country Beagle blood in their veins. The population of the North Country Hound declined in the 18th century, when hunting was looking for faster dogs to make hunts last less long. It persisted until the 19th century through its use for rabbit hunting.