Harrier

AKC Group: Hound

Club: Harrier Club of America

Corresponding Secretary : Ellen Parr
Address: PO Box 503, Woodburn, OR , 97071-2145
Website: www.harrierclubofamerica.com
Email: ellen@wynfieldhounds.com
Club Type: Specialty

General Apperance:

Developed in England to hunt hare in packs, Harriers must have all the attributes of a scenting pack hound. They are very sturdily built with large bone for their size. They must be active, well balanced, full of strength and quality, in all ways appearing able to work tirelessly, no matter the terrain, for long periods. Running gear and scenting ability are particularly important features. The Harrier should, in fact, be a smaller version of the English Foxhound.

Size:

Size --19 to 21 inches for dogs and bitches, variation of one inch in either direction is acceptable. Proportion is off-square. The Harrier is slightly longer from point of shoulder to rump than from withers to ground. Substance --Solidly built, full of strength and quality. The breed has as much substance and bone as possible without being heavy or coarse.

Coat:

Short, dense, hard and glossy. Coat texture on the ears is finer than on the body. There is a brush of hair on the underside of the tail.

Temperament:

Outgoing and friendly, as a working pack breed, Harriers must be able to work in close contact with other hounds. Therefore, aggressiveness towards other dogs cannot be tolerated.

History:

The oldest work on hare hunting dates back to the ancient Greek historian Xenophon about 400 B.C. The Harrier, as he exists today, was unknown in Xenophon's time. The great English authority on all breeds, Stonehenge, was a little mystified by the origin of the Harrier. The theory he advances rather cautiously is that it springs from the old Southern hound, with an infusion of a little Greyhound blood.

The first pack of Harriers in England was the Penistone, which was established by Sir Elias Midhope in 1260. These Harriers were held together for at least five centuries. Hunting the hare has always had great popularity throughout the British Isles. One great cause of its popularity was that a pack of Harriers could be followed on foot. This enlisted the interest of many, and among the hundred-odd packs that hunted regularly in England over half a century ago, many were scratch packs. A scratch pack was made up of hounds owned by various individuals-thus bringing the sport down to the level of the poorer man.

Despite all stories of the ancient origin of Harriers, it is the general belief that the dog of today is merely a smaller edition of the Foxhound, and that he has been bred down from the larger hound by selective breeding. With the exception of size, the Harrier is the external replica of the Foxhound.

Harriers have been known in the United States as long as any of the scent-hound breeds, and they have been used for hunting since Colonial times.

Fun Facts:

• The first pack of Harriers in England was the Penistone, which was established by Sir Elias de Midhope in 1260.
  
  
• Harriers have been known in the United States as long as any of the scent-hound breeds, and they have been used for hunting since the Colonial times.
  
  
• Despite all stories surrounding the ancient origins of Harriers, the general belief is that the dog of today is a smaller edition of the Foxhound, bred down by selective breeding.
  
  
• The Harrier is particularly useful in the drag hunt, in which his slower pace is no detriment.
  
  
• Harrier supposedly derives from the Norman harier, denoting Saxon raches, or hounds.
  
  
• Some specimens of Harrier bear a unique blue mottle color.