The Harrier is a swift, prey-driven pack hound of medium size first bred in medieval England to chase hare. Outgoing and friendly, the Harrier is much larger than the Beagle but smaller than another close relative, the English Foxhound. A humorous description of a Harrier is that of "a Beagle on steroids."
The Harrier is a medium-sized dog breed of the hound class, used for hunting hares by trailing them. It resembles an English Foxhound but is slightly smaller, though not as small as a Beagle. Built for endurance, stamina, and the ability to hunt rabbit and hare over different terrains, the modern AKC standard reflects its origins: "The Harrier should, in fact, be a smaller version of the English Foxhound."
A Breed for the Hunt of the Hare
The Harrier is an English dog whose roots can most directly be traced to the 13th century and the popularity of hunting on horseback. A sport of the landed aristocracy, stag hunting employed a large pack of perhaps 20 to 30 scenting hounds to pursue fleet game across field and through forest. As traditional large game populations, boar and stag, diminished in the 1700s, hare hunting became popular.
To know the Harrier, you must understand its intended prey. The hare relies on close tactics and clever maneuvers in a smaller area to exhaust and confuse dogs in a chase, running in a large circle close to home and leading the dogs over rugged terrain, often several times over. To chase a hare with a leggy rocket like a Foxhound or a Greyhound could minimize the sport, so the Harrier was bred to fit this style of sport — smaller and more maneuverable than a foxhound, not as fast in pursuit, yet fast enough to hunt with on horseback or keep up with on foot.
One of the earliest citations of a smaller hound of the Harrier type came in 1260, when the crown chartered the Penistone Hunt in Yorkshire, and it's recorded that Edward II owned Harriers that came from Wales beginning in 1304. Welsh packs are honored even today as having less-diluted Harrier lines, tracing back to the original Southern Hounds. By the 1800s, foxhound lines' influence on Harrier packs made them hardly distinguishable to anyone but the actual breeders.
The Harrier has a long history of popularity as a working pack dog in England. In the Victorian era, it was included in the original Kennel Club Studbook (1874) as one of only 40 breeds recognized. The American Kennel Club recognized the Harrier in 1885, and Harriers arrived in the United States during Colonial times and were favored among hunters, potentially contributing genetics to American hound breeds.
By the middle of the 20th century, there were fewer than 50 Harrier packs in Britain, and strict breeding control meant they all but disappeared outside the hunting community. The Kennel Club eventually withdrew breed recognition in the early 1970s. Today the Harrier is still a rare breed — as of 2024, it ranked 183rd of the 202 AKC-recognized breeds.
A Smaller English Foxhound
The Harrier is a medium-sized, smooth-coated hound — well-balanced, compact without exaggeration, strongly built without coarseness. It stands between 19 and 21 inches at the shoulder and weighs 45 to 65 pounds. It's a muscular hunting hound with a small, hard coat, large bones for stamina and strength, and is slightly longer than tall with a level topline. The tail is medium-length and carried high, the skull is broad with a strong square muzzle, and the eyes are either brown or hazel with a mellow expression when relaxed and an alert expression when excited.
The coat is short, dense, hard, and glossy with a brush of hair on the underside of the tail, in various color patterns of black, brown, and white combinations.
Cheerful, Sweet-Tempered, and Sociable
The Harrier is cheerful, sweet-tempered, tolerant of people, and excellent with children. Friendly and lively, with aggression or nervousness unacceptable in the breed, the Harrier loves people and even other dogs — as a working pack hound, it must be able to get along well with other dogs. This pack dog prefers life in a pack with people, dogs, or both.
Harriers are typically a friendly breed, even with strangers and other dogs, as long as they've received proper training and socialization. However, their prey drive might cause them to perceive smaller household pets as prey.
Exercise and Activity
The Harrier requires daily exercise, such as long vigorous walks or runs. 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. The Harrier can work tirelessly for long periods no matter the terrain. Without appropriate exercise, the Harrier can become hyperactive, overweight, and/or destructive. While this dog was bred to run and work all day long and cannot be satisfied by a completely sedentary lifestyle, they adapt very well to the average home.
| Dog | Daily exercise | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy | 3–4 short play sessions of 10–15 minutes | Keep walks gentle; avoid hard surfaces while growing |
| Adult | 45–60 minutes total walk or play | Split into two shorter sessions if preferred |
| Senior | 30–40 minutes of gentle walking | Slow the pace and shorten distance with age |
The Daily Exercise Guide offers ideas for this high-energy hound.
Training a Harrier
The Harrier is an intelligent hound with a typical hound independent streak. Consistent, positive, patient training works best, along with reliable recall practice — the breed's prey drive and nose can make off-leash reliability a challenge. Early socialization ensures the Harrier's natural friendliness toward people and other dogs develops fully.
The Dog Training Guide and Puppy Care Guide offer a solid foundation.
Grooming a Harrier
The Harrier has a short, dense, hard, and glossy coat that's low-maintenance — occasional brushing to remove dead hair is all that's needed. Routine care includes nail trimming, ear cleaning (their pendant ears need regular checks), and tooth brushing.
| Task | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing | 1–2 times a week | Brush in the direction of the coat and check for tangles |
| Bathing | Every 6–8 weeks or as needed | Use a mild dog shampoo |
| Nail trimming | Every 3–4 weeks | Trim when you hear nails clicking on the floor |
| Ear checks | Weekly | Look for wax, redness, or odor |
| Teeth brushing | 2–3 times a week | Dental chews help as a supplement |
The Dog Grooming Guide covers caring for a short-coated hound.
Feeding a Harrier
A Harrier should be fed high-quality food appropriate to its age, size, and activity level, typically in two meals per day. As a very active hound, it needs sound nutrition to support daily exercise.
| Life stage | Meals per day | Portion per meal (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (under 6 months) | 3–4 meals | 1–1.5 cups | Use a large-breed puppy formula |
| Adult | 2 meals | 2–3 cups | Adjust to activity level and body condition |
| Senior (7+ years) | 2 meals | 1.5–2.5 cups | Consider a senior or joint-support formula |
Your veterinarian can recommend the right diet and portions.
Health and Veterinary Care
The Harrier's lifespan is generally 12 to 15 years. Hip dysplasia is known to occur in the breed, and as a deep-chested hound, it can be at risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus). Responsible breeders screen their stock for typical hound health conditions.
| Check-up | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness exam | Annual | Includes dental and weight check |
| Vaccinations | Annual booster | Follow your veterinarian's schedule |
| Heartworm prevention | Monthly (or as advised) | Year-round in most regions |
| Dental check | Annual cleaning as recommended | Watch for tartar buildup |
| Hip and elbow dysplasia screening | Discuss with your vet | OFA/PennHIP on parents |
| Senior wellness checks | Start from age 6–7 | Early detection of age-related conditions |
The Signs of a Healthy Pet guide is a useful home checklist.
Home Environment
The Harrier is a great companion — cheerful, sweet-tempered, and excellent with children. It's friendly even with strangers and other dogs with proper training and socialization, and adapts very well to the average home while still needing its daily exercise. Harriers should be supervised with non-canine pets unless raised with them from puppyhood.
Because the breed is rare, it can be hard to find one — as of 2024, it ranks 183rd among AKC-recognized breeds. If you're weighing whether a Harrier fits your life, the Choosing the Right Pet guide can help you compare honestly.
Common Ownership Challenges
Owning a Harrier means committing to a high-energy, prey-driven hound that needs daily vigorous exercise and must be kept on leash or in a secure, enclosed area. They have a tendency to bark and bay, a high prey drive that may extend to small household pets, and can become hyperactive, overweight, or destructive without enough exercise. The breed is also rare and hard to find.
Yet for the right owner, the Harrier is incomparable — a cheerful, sweet-tempered pack hound full of stamina, the agile hare hunter of medieval England.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Cheerful, sweet-tempered, and excellent with children
- Friendly with strangers and other dogs
- Low-maintenance short coat
- Adaptable to the average home
- Hardy, healthy hound
- Great endurance and stamina
Disadvantages
- Very high exercise needs
- Strong prey drive
- Tendency to bark and bay
- Needs leash or secure enclosure
- Rare breed — hard to find
- Can be destructive when under-exercised
Frequently Asked Questions
How big do Harriers get? 19 to 21 inches; 45 to 65 pounds.
How long do Harriers live? Typically 12 to 15 years.
Are Harriers good family dogs? Yes — cheerful, sweet-tempered, and excellent with children.
Are Harriers easy to train? Intelligent hounds with an independent streak — patience needed.
Are Harriers good with other dogs? Yes — they're pack hounds that get along well with dogs.
Are Harriers good with cats? Supervise with non-canine pets unless raised together.
Are Harriers rare? Yes — ranked 183rd among AKC breeds as of 2024.
What were Harriers bred to do? Hunt hare in packs, on foot or with horses.
Do Harriers bark a lot? Some Harriers like to bay — a tendency to bark.
Are Harriers good apartment dogs? Not ideal — they need daily vigorous exercise.
Do Harriers shed much? Medium shedding; low-maintenance coat.
What health problems do Harriers have? Hip dysplasia and bloat risk.