Dossier No. 14 · England, 13th c. (hare-hunting packs)
Harrier
Sporting estates and active rural households with land to roam.
- Stature
- Medium
- Coat
- Short dense — tricolor or red & white
- Temperament
- Merry, pack-oriented, inexhaustible outdoors
- Origin
- England, 13th c. (hare-hunting packs)
I
Harrier History & Origin
Hare-hunting packs of medieval England — the harrier predates the foxhound by centuries and gave Trollope's hunting novels their soundtrack. The breed remains rare in America, kept chiefly by a small number of enthusiasts devoted to the preservation of the breed.
II
Harrier Personality
Merry, sociable, and pack-oriented to the marrow. They are inexhaustible in the field and equable at home. They sing, rather than bark — a melodious bay that carries beautifully across open country.
III
Living With a Harrier
Rural property, sporting households, and ideally another dog for company. They are not apartment dogs. Given a good garden, a job, and companions, they are among the easiest hounds to live with.
IV
Notable Companions
The harrier has always belonged to the English sporting squirearchy rather than the throne or the screen. Trollope immortalised their music in his hunting novels, and they remain the private passion of a small, devoted circle of American sporting families who prefer tradition to trend.
Questions we are asked
Harrier: pedigree & puppy questions
Where does the Harrier come from?
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The Harrier originates from England, 13th c. (hare-hunting packs).
What is the Harrier's temperament?
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Merry, pack-oriented, inexhaustible outdoors. Sporting estates and active rural households with land to roam.
How big is a Harrier and what is its coat like?
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Stature: Medium. Coat: Short dense — tricolor or red & white.
How do I check a Harrier pedigree?
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Ask the breeder for the registered pedigree of both parents (AKC, The Kennel Club or FCI), then verify registration numbers with the registry and review the parents' health test results. GildedLeash reviews pedigrees and health clearances for every Harrier on our register before any introduction.
How can I find a health-tested Harrier puppy?
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GildedLeash works with a private register of vetted Harrier breeders and arranges introductions to health-tested puppies. Email matchmaker@gildedleash.com or take our match questionnaire to begin.
Unsure whether the Harrier suits your household? Take the match questionnaire, read our breed matching guide, or see how our puppy concierge sources pedigree puppies.