Information, Facts & Origins of the Harrier
The
Harrier originates from England and is a dog of medium size. The
harrier is similar to the Foxhound but is somewhat more playful
and outgoing. It was bred originally to hunt small game - fox,
rabbit and hare . It's origins can be dated back to the Middle
Ages and it is classified as one of the Hound Dogs Group which we
go on to describe in describe in detail in the section at the
bottom of this page.
The
Harrier - A Scent Hound
The
Harrier belongs to
the collection of dogs referred to as Scent Hounds, which
specialise in following the scent or the smell of its quarry. It
wasn’t until the mid 1500's that hounds began to be classified
according to their purpose, i.e. sight hounds, scent hounds, etc.
Scent Hounds have distinctive characteristics, features and traits
which are perfect for their purpose. They have large noses which
have deep, open nostrils and their lips are loose and moist,
designed to pick up scent particles and follow the trail of an
animal. Their ears are long which concentrates the scent on the
nose. Their bodies are designed for endurance, an essential asset
when following any scent trail. Hunting takes different forms and
as man opts for hunting their quarry either on foot or on
horseback the scent hounds have been selectively bred to produce
small legs, to enable a man to easily follow on foot, or longer
legs suited to keep up with a man on horseback. Most scent hounds
were used in packs - making a loud, deep baying noise alerting
hunters to their location. As a pet the Harrier is a very active
dog and is best suited to families who are very experienced with
dogs. It has a friendly & non aggressive character.
Information, Facts &
History of the Harrier Dog
The Harrier - what's in a name? The Harrier's name is described as
being a derivative of many different origins - all seem to be
logical so we have included them all!
Harrier - meaning
the word Hound from the Normans
From the Middle
English harien - to force or to move along by harassing or
worrying
Middle English
hairer, eirer influenced by hare
The
Harrier was bred in England specifically for hunting hares and
rabbits. It was probably cross bred originally from French hunting
dogs during the Middle ages. This French influence occurred during
events such as the Norman Invasion of 1066 and it will come as a
revelation to many that the only spoken language of the famed
English King, Richard the Lionheart, was in fact French. English
Hunters wanted smaller and faster dogs than the traditional Hound
dogs. Harriers were considered the poor man's alternative to the
upper class practice of hunting with packs of foxhounds. The
breeding process included strains of the Bloodhound Terrier,
Bulldog and Greyhound to eventually produce the Harrier known
today. During the 17th and 18th century Harriers were used
specifically for hunting rabbits and hares at a pace that enabled
hunters to follow on foot. Harrier packs were, however, also kept
by the aristocracy as the Harrier was also capable of running with
mounted hunters. The Harrier was introduced in America during the
times of the first settlers. The first AKC (American Kennel Club) registered English
Foxhound was registered in 1909.
Description
of the Harrier Dog and Puppies - Coat and Colours info
The Harrier's coat comes in a range of the following colours:
Tri-colour - Black/White/Tan or Pied - Fawn/White Coat. The coat
is dense, short and glossy.
Dog
Health information - potential health problems of the Harriers
All owners of
dogs and puppies are concerned about the health care of their pets
and just as with humans dog health issues arise from time to time.
Resolving dog health problems, including those of the Shikoku, can
prove to be costly and it would be wise to consider the benefits
of obtaining dog health insurance. Diseases in dogs may occur
because of trauma, infection, immune system abnormalities, genetic
factors, or degenerative conditions. Common health problems and
questions occur in relation to the Bones, Joints, Muscles, Nerves,
Ears, Eyes, Teeth and the Mouth. Other, more serious, issues can
relate to the Digestive System, Heart & Respiratory Systems,
Immune & Blood Systems, Reproduction and Urinary Systems.
There are no apparent common health problems with the Harrier.Please click the following link for additional
information which we have provided via our:
This describes the most common canine health problems concisely but simply without using medical jargon. A section on Dog and Puppy Vaccinations is also included offering information on each of the diseases, symptoms and effects for which immunization vaccines are available. Not sure of the name of the dog or puppy illness? A Dog Symptom Sorter is also featured. The Online Encyclopaedia of Common Dog Health Problems should only be used as an informational guide and when and if any dog or puppies health problems occur it is essential to raise any questions you may have with a Dog Health care professional.
Description
of the Harrier Dog and Puppies - Comparative Sizing
Pictures & info
The pictures above allow for a
useful sizing perspective between an average man (Five feet ten
inches) or an average sized woman (Five feet six inches) in
comparison to the average sized Harrier dog which we have
detailed above. These pictures are extremely important as they
provide an immediate and accurate visual representation of the
height
of an average Harrier compared to the height of a male or
female - essential information but unique to this
site. Use the pictures to help to estimate the size of this
breed of
dog to each the various growing stages of
children. Use the pictures to provide a guideline to the adult
size of Harrier Puppies. The pictures will also prove to
be invaluable when comparing the sizes and heights of other dog
breeds. The
dimensions will vary according to the sex of the dog or puppy.
Girl dogs, or bitches, are on average, 2 inches smaller than boy
dogs. Another useful piece of information when considering
puppies.
Information
on Grooming and Care of the Harrier Dog Breed
The Harrier requires a
minimum amount of grooming. Regardless of the
breeds, a certain amount of grooming
and care is necessary to keep dogs and puppies looking at their best.
Grooming consists of not only brushing out the coat and bathing
but also giving attention to the eyes, teeth, ears, feet and
nails. A regular routine also ensures that any potential health
problems are identified as quickly as possible, especially
important in puppies and older dogs.
Information
on the Temperament
and Character of the Harrier Dog Breed
The Harrier is a very sociable breed, traditionally a pack hound,
they are playful, inquisitive, tolerant and gentle. It makes a
good house pet as long as it receives plenty of exercise and
companionship. Developed as an active hunting dog it is also
obedient although it is a natural scent trailer and will go off
following a scent. Reserved with strangers.
Living
conditions and Exercise Requirements of the Harrier Dog
Breed
The Harrier dogs and puppies are not well suited to living in the
town because it requires a substantial amount of exercise. It is
well suited to living in the country and outdoors in kennels with
a pack. The foxhound is an easygoing dog that needs plenty of
exercise - it has a tendency to bay.
Harrier
Puppies info
The
following considerations should be taken into account when
choosing Harrier puppies:
Budget
- Purchasing, training, equipment, medication and feeding
costs of the breed
Convenience
and Grooming time e.g. long or short hair
Personal
situation - time available and medical conditions such as allergies,
asthma or back pain
Exercising requirements for the Harrierbreed
Living
Conditions for the breed - suitability for puppies
Family
- child suitability
Children and Puppies!
The pictures above allow for a useful comparison of sizes
providing an accurate portrait of the size of an average
Harrier- essential
information and unique to this site. It should also be noted that
the pictures feature adults. The size of puppies are naturally
considerably smaller and the full grown size of the animal can
easily be forgotten when confronted with cute puppies! The slogan
" A dog isn't just for Christmas - it's for life!" was necessitated
by well meaning people buying puppies at the Christmas, unaware of
the puppies growth rate. The pictures provided make it extremely
clear exactly how small puppies will develop and whether it will
suit the life and living conditions of the family.
Age
comparison between the Harrier Dog Breed and a Human
Age
comparisons between dogs and humans are always a matter of
debate - we hope that the following information clarifies the
situation. After the first year of life, a dog is equivalent to
sixteen human years. After two years, they are equivalent to a 24 year old, at
three years a 30 year old, and each year after, add 5 human years to determine
a dog's age.
Life
Expectancy of the Harrier Dog Breed
The life
expectancy for this particular breed is between
10 – 12 years.
Hound
Dog Breed Information
As implied by its name the Hound has been bred to chase a
quarry by sight or smell, or a combination of both senses.
Sighthounds have exceptional eyesight, combined with the speed and
stamina necessary to catch the intended prey once seen, typical
examples being the Greyhound and the Whippet. Hounds which rely
strongly on the sense of smell to follow the trail of a prey, such
as the Bloodhound, quite literally follow their noses, speed and
eyesight is of less importance.
Characteristics and features have been introduced and strengthened
by
breeding from animals who already demonstrated the desired traits.
Breeding for appearance was only introduced in the 19th Century.
Before this time dogs and puppies were bred to increase useful abilities and traits
helpful for the duties they were intended for. Thus, the
various hound breeds were initially introduced to help man
according to specific requirements such as:
Hunting
and running down small quarry
Flushing
out and Driving game
Vermin
Hunting
Guard
duties
Tracking
In
this day and age only a few hounds still undertake these tasks, but
nevertheless, they still harbour the skills and characteristics that made
the original Harrier dog breeding program successful.
The
Hound Breed Group of dogs differ in that some hunt by scent and
others by sight. Many hounds are kept in packs, in outdoor
kennels. Any dogs and puppies belonging to the Hound breeds require a
significant amount of exercise as they have high stamina levels
suitable for hunting quarry. There are some breeds in this group
who make a distinctive ' baying ' sound - invaluable information
should be considering puppies. The pictures above allow for a
useful size comparison providing an accurate portrait of the size
of an average Harrier dog - essential information but unique to this
site.
Examples
of other Breeds within the Hound Dog Group
The Hound group of dogs includes the Harrier
and all of
the following breeds:
Afghans, Foxhounds, Basenjis, Bassets, Beagles, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Bloodhounds, Borzoi, Dachshunds, English Foxhounds, Greyhounds, Harriers, Irish Wolfhounds, Norwegian Elkhounds, Otterhounds, Petit Basset Griffon
Vendeens, American Fox hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds
and Whippets.
Pictures and information about all of the above Hound Dog breeds,
together with all other dog groups,
may be found
on this website via the following links:
