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From: [email protected] (Donna Smiley-Auborn)
Subject: rec.pets.dogs:  Harriers  Breed-FAQ
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                                 Harriers

Author

  Donna Smiley-Auborn, [email protected]
  Copyright 1995 by Donna Smiley-Auborn.

Table of Contents

    * Description
    * History
    * Temperament
    * Care/Maintenance
    * General Health
    * Availability
    * Resources

    _________________________________________________________________

Description

  Harriers are a type of scent hound bred for hunting hares and foxes in
  large packs. They are one of the few truly medium-sized breeds of
  dogs. Harriers stand between 19 and 21 inches at the shoulder, and
  weigh 45-60 lbs. They have short hair, hanging ears, and come in a
  variety of color patterns. A humorous, yet fairly accurate short-hand
  description of a Harrier is "a Beagle on steroids."

  Harriers should have lots of bone and substance for their size -- they
  should appear willing and able to work all day long, no matter the
  terrain. The muzzle should be square, of good length, with a
  well-developed nose and open nostrils. Eyes should be dark, alert and
  intelligent. Since pure speed was not part of their job description,
  their front and rears are only moderately angulated, which is better
  suited to providing stamina for long hours of work. The ribs should be
  well-sprung and extend down past the elbows to provide lots of heart
  and lung room. The feet on the Harrier should be tight cat-feet with
  well-developed thick pads that will hold up to rough terrain and lots
  of work. The tail is set on high and carried up; a brush of hair
  should be seen on the underside. The hair on the rest of the body is
  short, and on the ears is fine and soft. Dewclaws are removed from the
  front feet, and from the rear if they happen to be born with them.

  Coat color is not regarded as important in Harriers, so no color is
  preferred over the other. The typical Harrier is tan, black & white,
  with a black saddle blanket, tan on the head, ears & legs, and white
  on the feet, muzzle, chest, underside, blaze and on the end of the
  tail. However, tan, brown & white, or open-markings with lots of white
  are also fairly common.
    _________________________________________________________________

History

 In the UK

  Harriers were developed in England as a scenting pack hound. The
  earliest records of a pack of Harriers dates from the 1200's.
  Originally, they were used to hunt hare with the hunters on foot, so
  used to be a much slower, more methodical hound more reminiscent of
  the bloodhound type. Eventually, when foxhunting became the fashion,
  Harriers were adapted to hunt in front of mounted riders. Harriers are
  still used today in the British Isles, Australia and Nwe Zealand, with
  most packs hunting both fox and hare.

 In the US

  Harriers first came to the US in colonial days. There were even
  several Harrier packs in the US through the early part of this
  century. General George S. Patton (then a Colonel) was Master of the
  Cobbler Harriers from 1936 to 1938. The last US Harrier pack
  disappeared in the late 1960's when the hunt changed over to
  foxhounds.

  Harriers were one of the first breeds admitted to the AKC Stud Book in
  1885. Two Harriers were exhibited at the very first Westminster Kennel
  Club show in 1877. Never a popular breed in terms of numbers, Harriers
  consistently rank at or near the bottom of yearly AKC registration
  statistics.

  In the US today, the vast majority of Harriers are first and foremost
  housepets. Some also have careers in the show ring or obedience ring.
  A few are also used by rabbit hunters, as they are outstanding on
  snowshoe hare and other game too fast for most Beagles.
    _________________________________________________________________

Temperament

  As with most dog breeds, due consideration must be given to their
  original purpose when looking at a Harrier as a companion. A true
  hound, they are energetic, independent, self-willed and persistent.
  Harriers were bred to work absolutely all day long (covering 20-40
  miles) out in front of hunters, to think things out for themselves, to
  never give up the chase no matter what happened. Harriers perform
  their function remarkably well; hares and foxes are known to collapse
  from sheer exhaustion when pursued by the tireless Harrier.

  Because of their naturally independent, sometimes stubborn, nature,
  obedience training is highly suggested for Harriers. If you are
  looking for a dog to be constantly underfoot demanding attention with
  a tennis ball in their mouth or waiting on your next whim, then
  Harriers aren't for you. They love being with you, but are not
  dependent on you for entertainment. Because they will entertain
  themselves, care needs to be taken to see that Harriers are not
  allowed to get into unsupervised mischief!

  Harriers are full of energy, but are not hyperactive! They are ideally
  suited to participating in your athletic activities such as jogging,
  bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, etc. In the home, they are
  generally very sensible about their activity level, and love to share
  a lap, wrestle with the kids on the floor, or lay on a rug and chew on
  toys. However, Harriers are generally not recommended as apartment
  pets for most people; except for those willing to put forth the extra
  effort to provide adequate training and lots of daily exercise.

  Developed as a working pack hound, Harriers are by nature a
  gregarious, friendly hound that gets along well in large numbers. They
  should never be aggressive to either people or other dogs. They
  usually fit in nicely with other pets - dogs, cats, horses, etc.

  Harriers have a truly outstanding temperament - friendly, outgoing and
  fun-loving. And they seem to innately love children; they are sturdy
  and patient enough to put up with endless play, grasping fingers and
  clumsy feet with hardly a complaint, although of course dogs and young
  children should never be left together unsupervised. They are very
  affectionate, sweet and loving hounds that tend to view every stranger
  as just an old friend that they haven't yet met. As such, they do not
  make good guard dogs. Harriers are, however, good watch dogs. They
  will most certainly notice anything unusual and will sound the alarm
  with a loud, alert voice.
    _________________________________________________________________

Care/Maintenance

  Harriers are generally sturdy, healthy, happy, low-maintenance hounds.
  But of course, as it is with all dogs, proper veterinary care is
  required.

  Because they are a short-coated hound, Harriers require only a minimum
  of grooming -- a good brushing and nail-trimming once a week should be
  sufficient. Their long hound ears also require an occasional cleaning.
  Like all short-haired dogs, Harriers do shed, but the majority of this
  tends to be seasonal.

  While Harriers are independent (with an occasional stubborn streak),
  housebreaking should not be a problem as long as consistency and
  positive reinforcement are used. Unfortunately, quite a few all-breed
  reference books put forth the mistaken idea that Harriers are
  difficult to housebreak - NOT TRUE! In fact, quite a few people who
  have had other breeds prior to Harriers have commented on the ease
  with which their Harriers were housebroken as opposed to their other
  breeds.

  Harriers can also be vocal -- some love to howl, as they were bred for
  centuries to do when trailing after game. Some also love to dig (under
  fences, into flowerbeds, etc.) Training and proper care are needed to
  keep both of these traits in line, especially if you have close
  neighbors.

  A securely fenced yard is essential. If given the opportunity (such as
  an open gate or broken fence), most Harriers will not think twice
  before taking off in pursuit of any interesting scents that they
  chance upon. While they will usually return home if they are able, a
  secure yard will prevent them from getting lost, injured or killed.
    _________________________________________________________________

General Health

  The scarcity of Harriers has helped to make the breed as healthy
  genetically as it is. Because there has never been a high demand for
  Harriers, breeders have always had to give careful consideration to
  their breeding decisions, and normally only breed the very best to the
  very best.

  Hip dysplasia is very rare in Harriers, but has been found on two
  occasions. Those two were diagnosed through routine OFA exams, not
  because the hounds were lame. Most Harrier breeders are careful to OFA
  prior to breeding. CERF testing is also highly encouraged among
  breeders, and so far no eye problems have ever been found. Prospective
  buyers should ask for OFA & CERF certification.

  In the past, several Harriers were known to have epilepsy. Currently,
  however, as a result of careful breeding, epilepsy has not been seen
  in many years.

  Genetic shyness ("squirrelly-ness," for lack of a better term) is
  occasionally seen in Harriers. Hounds with this problem will usually
  be normal at home in familiar surroundings. But they can "freak out"
  over silly things - a stranger with an umbrella, the garden hose, a
  white for-sale sign, etc. This is not caused by lack of socialization,
  because this has occurred even in hounds that were extensively
  socialized from a very young age. Prospective buyers should check the
  pups to see how they react to strange stimuli - they should be
  outgoing, curious and confident.
    _________________________________________________________________

Availability

  As mentioned previously, Harriers are one of the rarest AKC breeds. To
  illustrate this, in all of 1994 there were only four Harrier litters
  born in the entire US (resulting in only 31 puppies). So if you are
  seriously considering a Harrier as a pet, please be aware that you may
  have to wait a while to find one -- you will not be able to go out
  next weekend and get one! There are only a handful of breeders across
  the US, and litters are normally few and far between. If you are
  willing to consider an adult instead of a puppy, sometimes breeders
  have adults that are in need of homes too.

  Even though Harriers are a rare breed, you can expect a puppy to cost
  generally $300 to $400.
    _________________________________________________________________

Resources

  If you would like a listing of HCA members and breeders nearest you,
  please contact:

    _Harrier Club of America _
    c/o Kim Mitchell, Club Secretary
    301 Jefferson Lane
    Ukiah, CA 95482

  or contact me via email at the address below.

  _***NOTE: The Harrier Club of America (HCA) does not recommend,
  guarantee, endorse, nor rate breeders, their kennels, or their stock.
  Individual dogs are not examined by the HCA. Buyers should be certain
  to check all matters relating to AKC registration, health, quality,
  and stud agreements with the breeders, sellers or stud owners before
  making any decision.***_
    _________________________________________________________________


   Harrier FAQ
   Donna Smiley-Auborn, [email protected]

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