History of occurrence
The Harrier is a very old hound, originating in Great Britain in the 1200's. It is descended from the larger Foxhound, the Greyhound, and the Fox Terrier. It was used to hunt hares as its name implies, and worked best in packs, while the hunter followed on foot. This tireless hunter has an acute sense of smell, and once on the scent of its prey, can generally outlast the prey.
General form
Strong and light dog, less powerful and more distinguished than the Foxhound.
Отличительная особенность породы Harrier
Head: expressive, moderately large.
Skull: flat, occipital crest slightly marked.
Nose: black, well developed.
Muzzle: quite long and rather more pointed than square.
Lips: covering the lower jaw.
Eyes: always dark, never prominent, of medium size, not too round.
Leathers: v shaped, almost flat, slightly turned, quite short and rather set on high.
Neck: long and free although well tied into the shoulders. Slightly arched in its upper part.
Back: straight and muscled.
Loin: strong and slightly arched.
Chest: more developed in depth than in width.
Ribs: rather flat than too rounded.
Flank: must neither be too full nor too tucked up.
Forequarters:
General appearance: forelegs straight and vertical.
Shoulders: sloping and well muscled.
Hindquarters:
Hips: strong, hip bones quite prominent.
Thighs: long and well let down.
Hockjoint: neither too straight nor too bent.
Feet: neither too tight nor too round.
Of medium length, with some longer and coarser, slightly offstanding hairs (like ears of grain) towards the tip; well carried.
Skin: white with black markings.
Hair: smooth, of English style, i.e. flat and not too short.
Colour: usually white as base colour, with all shades of black to orange, in France generally tricolour with black mantle covering the upper part of the back.
Character
The Harrier is somewhat more playful and outgoing than the Foxhound, but not as much as the Beagle. Cheerful, sweet-tempered, and tolerant, it is excellent with children. This pack dog is good with other dogs, but should be supervised with non-canine pets – unless it is raised with them from puppyhood. It prefers life in a pack with people, dogs, or both. This active dog likes to go exploring, sniffing and trailing, so be sure to keep it on a leash or in a safe enclosed area. Some Harriers like to bay.
Maintenance care
The Harrier needs daily exercise, but its needs can be met with a long walk or jog and a vigorous game in the yard. It can live outdoors in temperate climates as long as it is given warm shelter and bedding. The coat is easily cared for, needing only occasional brushing to remove dead hair.
Lifespan — 10-12 years.
Dignity
The shorthaired coat of the Harrier is easy to groom.
Cheerful, sweet-tempered, and tolerant, it is excellent with children.
This pack dog is good with other dogs.
Difficulty keeping
Should be supervised with non-canine pets.
Diseases
The Harrier is prone to problems like epilepsy and perianal fistula. The major health issue affecting this breed is canine hip dysplasia (CHD). To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend hip and eye exams for this breed of dog.
