Harrier

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated April 3, 2009)

When the sport of chasing the hare was very popular the Harrier was usually the first dog that the hunter would choose and continued as a favorite even to the sport of foxhunting. Harriers are used primarily in packs with other dogs for hunting. Their friendly and outgoing temperament makes working with others ideal. Despite his favorable temperament, he has not reached or maintained much popularity

Many contend that the Harrier is but a small edition of the Foxhound, but some authorities have written that the breed came from a cross between the Beagle and St. Hubert Hounds. Stonehenge advanced the theory that the Harrier came from the Southern Hound, with an infusion of a little Greyhound blood. The West Country Harriers, which are colored white, white-and-lemon, badger-pie, and hare-pie, are said to have descended from the heavy, light-colored Staghounds of the Exmoor section. The rough-coated Beagle is also said to have had a part in the foundation of the breed. Foxhound blood has been introduced into many English packs.

The points of the modern Harrier are very similar to those of the English foxhound. The Harrier, however, is smaller than the English foxhound and the most popular size is nineteen to twenty-one inches. The males usually weigh from 65 to seventy pounds, while the females weigh between sixty to 65 pounds.

Additional information on the Harrier can be found at the website for the American Kennel Club.

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Don't Feed Your Cat Too Much Liver

Animals' diets are just as important to their health as our diets are to ours. You need to be careful what you feed your ...

Discover More

Weatherproof Your Dog's Doghouse

If you keep your dog outside, you may have to deal with keeping your dog comfortable with the weather. Take the ...

Discover More

Greyhound

Used primarily for racing today, the Greyhound was once a great forest hunter. He has keen eyesight and is known for his ...

Discover More
More Pet Tips

Whippet

Extremely fast, the Whippet is used for coursing rabbits and match racing. He is quiet, dignified and affectionate.

Discover More

Norwegian Elkhound

Bold, strong and energetic, the Norwegian Elkhound is ideal for hunting large game. He is highly intelligent and very ...

Discover More

Irish Wolfhound

With great speed and gaming abilities, the Irish Wolfhound is often used for hunting wolf, coyote and other large game. ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is nine minus 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)