Medium
12 Years
20 Kg
Hound Dogs
Cheerful, Friendly, Out-Going
The Harrier is a medium-sized tri-colour hound dog with a short coat that originated in the United Kingdom. This tri-colour scent hound is similar in looks to the Foxhound but is slightly smaller but not as small as the Beagle. It was originally developed to hunt hares in packs and is described as a hardworking scenting pack hound. The Harrier is a good-looking, sturdy breed with large bones for its size, well proportioned body that gives the impression of great strength and stamina. It is an active breed, well balanced, full of energy, able to work diligently for long periods no matter the topography. The Harrier is between 48cm and 53cm from the shoulders to ground but it is slightly longer from shoulder to rump. It has a short, dense, hard and glossy coat that comes in any colour combination and pattern.
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Harrier is a native breed of the United Kingdom and has been around for many centuries. Although, the oldest work on hunting hares dates back to the times of the great Greek historian Xenophone around 400 B.C., there is no written evidence regarding the exact origins of the Harriers in the United Kingdom. However, the first known pack of Harriers in the UK was the Penistone, which was owned and established by Sir Elias Midhope in 1260. There are several theories regarding the breed’s exact lineage. Some say that the Harrier is a result of crossing the Bloodhound with the Talbot Hound and the Basset Hound. Some experts say that the breed probably developed from Foxhounds, Fox Terriers and Greyhound crosses. Whatever the origins may be and although there are a lot of working Harriers in England, the breed is still not recognised as a distinct breed by the Kennel Club (UK).
Like the other English hounds, the Harrier is a cheerful, sweet-tempered, courageous, energetic, friendly, and out-going breed. It has an excellent sense of smell and is hard to return to call when hard on a trail. It is generally an even-tempered, easygoing and friendly dog and makes for a fine house pet. It has a high prey drive and makes a wonderful hunting companion. Typically, the Harrier is devoted, brave, energetic and patient. It can adjust fairly easy in any living environment as long as it gets its daily dose of exercise. It is always willing to work and thrives on human companionship.
Training is on the moderate side. Being a hunting dog, it requires a handler who is firm but gentle, confident and a strong leader. Consistent and firm training with positive reinforcement such as food rewards is the key to training the Harrier. Basic obedience training should be started early in the age of the dog. The Harrier is a large breed which can easily pull the handler over when on a lead if not trained early and properly. Basic commands as well as walking to heel should be prioritized. The breed responds very well to physical contact and praise.
The Harrier has a very short coat that sheds very little so it is an easy dog to groom. It is a clean dog and only requires weekly bathing and brushing to remove loose dead hair. Check the ears regularly and clean when necessary. Always keep the ears dry, especially after bathing. The long pendant ears can easily develop infection from fungus if kept moist.
It is a generally healthy dog with a lifespan of 12 – 15 years. It may be prone to the following medical problems:
Like the other hunting hounds, the Harrier also has a very large amount of energy and needs regular exercise in order to channel this reserve power. It should be taken on daily long walks, jogs or runs to prevent destructive behaviour caused by boredom. Running alongside a bike will suit the Harrier very well, as well as playing off-leash in a secured area. Never let the Harrier roam free in an unsecured area because its strong sense of smell can lead it to trail scent and is hard to return to call when it is tracking a scent.
The Harrier is tolerant of people and is excellent with children and other dogs because it is used to working in packs. However, it should be supervised around non-canine animals because of its strong prey drive. Young children should also be taught to treat the Harrier fairly. Adults must supervise the kids and the dog whenever playing together because this breed can be boisterous especially as a puppy. The Harrier has a high prey drive so caution is needed when it is around small animals such as rabbits, mice, cats, and similar house animals. Early socialisation to as many experiences as possible should correct this behaviour.
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