Breeds / Medium
Harrier puppies
The Harrier is an English pack hound built for hunting hare on foot, sociable and tolerant with people and other dogs. It is loud, strongly nose driven and needs a great deal of daily exercise.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 20.4 to 27.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 45 to 60 lb
- Adult height 48 to 53 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short double
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
Where these come from:
About the Harrier
The Harrier is an English pack hound built to hunt hare in front of followers on foot, which is why it sits between the Beagle and the Foxhound in size at 48 to 53 cm and 20.4 to 27.2 kg. It is compactly made with a short weatherproof double coat and heavy bone for its height. Bred to work shoulder to shoulder with other hounds and unfamiliar people, it is outgoing and tolerant, rated 5 out of 5 with both children and other dogs, though supervision and socialisation still apply.
Two things define ownership. The first is exercise: a Harrier needs a lot of it every day, and an under exercised one gets destructive. The second is the voice, rated 5 out of 5, a full pack hound bay that carries a long way and makes close neighbours a problem. Grooming is a weekly once over with a hound glove. Walks happen on the lead and gardens need real fencing, because the nose wins. The usual mistake is underestimating both the mileage and the noise.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Harrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Ear infections in the drop ears, found by checking and cleaning them weekly
- Weight gain, since the breed is food driven and gains easily when under exercised
From Harrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/harrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Harrier puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Harrier.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 27.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.