The Harrier

The Harrier is a friendly and happy pet. He really needs company and because of his high energy level, a place to consume that energy is highly recommended. So a yard, a human companion or maybe another dog, these are Harrier’s favorites.

Everybody knows that there are dogs that are used for doing special things, take the Anatolien Shepherd for example; this dog is used exclusively as a guard dog or we can take a look at the Dogo Argentino, this beautiful dog, that only comes in the color white, is mostly used in illegal dog fights and of course, there is the German Shepherd that has been the Police Officer’s good friend for many years. Some of these dog’s histories are well known, their history is perfectly documented and preserved, there are other breeds that we do not know so much about and one of these breeds is the Harrier.

There are several theories surrounding the origin of the harrier, there is one that states that the Harrier (the very first harriers) were crosses with several different dogs such as the Bloodhound the Talbot hound (now extinct) and the Basset hound, but other people say that it is not true, the Harrier really came form the Greyhound, the Fox Terrier and the English foxhound.

However, did you know that there are still others that claim that the Harrier is nothing other then a smaller version of the Foxhound?

There is one theory that everybody seems to agree on and that is the one that states that the Harrier has been with us for just around one thousand years; so, who is right, well who cares, all that matters is that we have this wonderful animal here with us today, helping us when on the hunt and playing with our children.

The Harrier is a dog that should be 19 to 20 inches at the shoulder, he should be slightly longer then he is tall, with good bone and muscle, this is a dog that has been bred for one purpose, to hunt and because of this, the Harrier should be a dog that does not get tired easily, he has been built to be able to work on all kinds of terrain and his body should reflect that ability.

People used the harrier to hunt on foot, he was basically a poor persons dog because the rich people of England preferred the foxhound which could only be followed by horse, the Harrier on the other hand is quite different, you could follow him on foot. Because of this, people used to bring a pack of dogs together (called a scrap pack because they all had different owners) and go on the hunt. As this dog’s name shows it was hares that the Harrier was used to hunt mostly, although they were used for a little bit of foxhunting as well.

The Harrier is a fun loving breed of dog that will be a delight to you and your family this breed is great with children and does not have quite the high energy levels that the Beagle does…this is a breed that should never be taken outside without a leash because he will take off and you might never see him again, just remember he is first and foremost a hunting dog and there are a lot of exciting smells out there in the big wide world.

These dogs are not recommended for apartment life because of their high energy level, the most suitable place for them to live is where they will have constant access to a nice big yard, one that has a high fence around it. These dogs were bred to hunt in packs and because of that it is necessary for them to have a playmate with them for most of the day, be it another dog or a family member, a Harrier that does not receive adequate exercise can become a nuisance that likes to eat the furniture so it is a good idea to keep them occupied.

Never buy a puppy from a puppy mill because these animals can have unstable personalities, the puppies that come from such places usually do not have their vaccines, their backgrounds and breeding are unsure, and usually there is no regard whatsoever for the breed standard. It is just a better idea to look for a breeder with a good reputation that can guaranty the health and quality of his animals.