Harrier breed: the golden mean

The Harrier is an intelligent, friendly and very people-oriented breed of dog. It was originally used to hunt rabbits, most of the time exclusively in packs.

Some say the breed is the perfect happy medium between the Beagle and the Foxhound. As well as being an excellent hunting dog, the Harrier is also a super family dog, very devoted to its owners. On the other hand, it has a hard time being alone, given that it has been kept as a pack-hunting dog from the beginning.

History

The exact origin of the Harrier is not clear; it is likely that , like the Beagle and the English Foxhound, it is a descendant of the so-called southern bloodhound. Records dating back to 1260 have been found, suggesting that it was in use before the spread of smaller game. Many people think that the hounds of that time were more a common ancestor of the modern hounds (most people think of the Southern hound, which is now extinct). There may be some truth to this theory, as there are many similarities between the hound breeds in England.

It is said that from 1304 onwards, King Edward II of England also kept Harriers, which came straight from Wales. (The Welsh line is still held in high esteem. In the English line, there was a great deal of mixing of different species of hoofed animals, with the result that by the 19th century it was almost impossible to distinguish rabbit hounds from fox hounds). In the 1700s, the population of large game dwindled, giving way to smaller game such as foxes and hares. The former has its own challenges, but contrary to popular belief, the latter is not easy to catch. Especially if you hunt for pleasure, just for the love of the sport.

Good hunters

Hunters of the 1700s and 1800s considered it important to shoot the game in a style that suited the game. In the case of the rabbit, this meant that efforts were made to hunt it fairly, not in a way that gave it no chance of escape. For this reason, a Foxhound or Greyhound was not suitable for the job, as they would have ended the hunt too quickly. “We have to give them room for every little trick, not kill them in a vile way, with overpowering force.” – writes Peter Beckford in 1779 in.

So the Harrier had to be skilful and good at sniffing to do well in the sport. At the same time, it must not be too big or too fast, as this would not make the hunt enjoyable enough. With this in mind, the breed was bred to be fast enough to hunt on horseback and to manoeuvre skilfully in the field or in confined spaces.

Breed standard

Medium sized, slightly stocky, but well built and muscular; like a smaller version of the English Foxhound. Mares about 50 cm high and 20-25 kg in weight. It has a short to medium length, close-fitting body and a thick coat of mostly tricolour: white, yellow and black. White is the base colour, with yellow and black patches. The back is muscular and short, the chest is deep and the loins are strong. Relatively short-looking (but by no means disproportionate), its straight legs enhance its robust yet athletic appearance. Tail of medium length, slightly upturned. Head long, powerful, streamlined, eyes dark brown, v-shaped ears drooping (but not extending beyond the base of the neck). The FCI adopted the breed in 1974 and the most recent breed standard was published in 1998. It is classified in FCI Group 6, Copper and related breeds.

Character

In addition to being very friendly, intelligent, people-oriented and family-oriented, the Harrier has a very good temperament. Tha Harrier is an active, lively dog, always ready for an adventure. It loves spending time with his family, but he is not primarily a couch potato. He was bred to hunt for hours if necessary, so it is important that he provides the right amount of mental and physical stimulation for his owner.

This dog is a very easy learner, likes to prove himself and likes to perform well, but can have his moments of stubbornness. This should not be too much of a problem in training; with positive reinforcement, consistent training, a calm owner and enough patience, he can be an excellent companion. It’s important to remember that he is a hunting dog, so his hunting instinct is quite strong. For this reason, he needs to be watched carefully, especially when walking in woods or in areas where he may encounter some ‘chasing’ game.

Ideal environment

Ideal for active owners, excellent for hiking or even a longer walk. He appreciates a garden, but is not an outdoor dog, he likes to be close to his owners. With regular exercise he can be kept well indoors. Although it should be noted that he is a barker. If there is a yard, it is of paramount importance that he cannot jump over the fence, because if he chases a prey, there is not much to stop him. It should be remembered that it needs daily exercise, otherwise it will become bored and unhappy, which can lead to destructive behaviour.

A good choice for him might be some kind of dog sport, like tracking. He is patient with children and gets on well with other dogs. He is not normally recommended with small animals (such as cats) because of his hunting instinct. But early socialisation can avoid problems later on.

Care

Caring for it does not require much effort. A brush should be used once a week to go over the coat to remove any accumulated dust and any hairs that are about to fall out. It can tend to give off a typical “dog smell”. So it is advisable to bathe him regularly, preferably using a gentle, skin-friendly dog shampoo. In addition, his ears should be checked frequently and cleaned carefully to prevent them from becoming inflamed. His claws will wear down with enough exercise, but it’s worth checking them occasionally so that they don’t cause problems when walking.

Common health problems

Although basically a healthy dog breed, it can also be prone to some problems, so a responsible breeder will test their dogs. With frequent routine veterinary checks, they can live a long life. Most often, the following diseases can occur in Harrier:

• Hip joint dysplasia;
• Epilepsy;
• Perianal fistula: a fistula is an abnormal connection between organs or body cavities through which fluid or solid matter passes unnaturally.