meet the...Harrier
Breed Summary
Breed Group Group 7: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
Sub-group :
Origin Country Great Britain
Weight Males: 40-65 pounds. Females: 40-65 pounds.
Height Males: 19-21 inches. Females: 19-21 inches.
Breed Type Pure
click here for FULL BREED STANDARD
Origins
The Harrier is a breed of antiquity that can be traced through historical texts back to the year AD 1260. It was during this time that Sir Elias de Midhope was documented as owning the first recorded hunting pack. However, it’s likely that the dogs predate the text. The Harrier is a medium-sized dog, being neither as large as a Foxhound, nor as small as a Beagle, but it shares a common ancestry with the dogs used to develop both of those breeds. The Harrier was originally used to trail the slower, larger European Hare, but was also found to be useful for trailing foxes as well. They were originally hunted in packs and followed by huntsmen on foot.
Ironically, although the breed originated in and has existed in England for centuries, it is most popular in Ireland, where there are upwards of 150 hunting packs. Another oddity about the breed is that although the dogs hail from England, they are not recognized in their own country of origin’s national registry, but they have been recognized by most other international breed organizations.Breed Characteristics
Head: Somewhat long, yet mesaticephalic skull type is moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. The topskull is flat in profile or from the front. The occiput is slightly marked. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.
Eyes: Moderately large in size, oval or almond, and dark brown in color (the darker, the better). The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: The ears are medium in size and never overly pendulous. They are set approximately level with, or slightly above, the eye when in repose and capable of being lifted some when alert. They are hound-type and V-shaped, yet somewhat short compared to the ears of other hounds. The tips and inner edges hang gracefully close to the head.
Muzzle: The muzzle is fairly long, somewhat full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The muzzle is gently tapered from the broad base to the nose. The upper and lower jaws are well developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Nose: The nose is large, being well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. A slight butterfly nose is permissible. The nostrils are well opened.
Neck: Moderately long length allows for good head carriage. It is strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck is powerful and graceful, tapering smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Some loose skin where the throat and jaw meet is acceptable, so long as it does not form a pendulous dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Body: Deep, solid, and of good substance. The body is never overly racy and refined, nor is it heavy and cloddy. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set somewhat high, but not too high or low, as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapers toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often fairly high to gaily above the level of the topline in a merry fashion, but never tucked or curled up over the back. The tail is of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.
Movement: The movement of the Harrier breed is strong, effortless, efficient, energetic, and enduring. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: Although an exceptional hunting dog, the Harrier breed is also an adaptable hound. They are far less instinctually driven than the Foxhound breed and are similar in temperament to the Beagle breed, being social and outgoing (although not quite as social as the Beagle breed). Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 7: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
Proportions: Off-square to slightly rectangular with the length of the body, measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being just slightly greater than the height at the withers. The length-to-height ratio is between 5:4 and 10:9. Distance from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump may be equal to, or just slightly greater than, the height at the withers. The body is well put together, with sturdy substance and moderate bone. It is capable of speed, endurance, stamina, and agility. The weight of males or females is always proportionate to height.
Head
General Appearance: Somewhat long, yet mesaticephalic skull type is moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body. The topskull is flat in profile or from the front. The occiput is slightly marked. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.
Expression: Kind, pleading, noble, and alert.
Stop: The stop is moderately defined.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 1:1 to 5:4, with the topskull being equal to or just slightly longer than the muzzle.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel.
Muzzle: The muzzle is fairly long, somewhat full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The muzzle is gently tapered from the broad base to the nose. The upper and lower jaws are well developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The lips are fairly clean and fit rather tightly over the teeth and jaws. They should allow for just enough depth to give the muzzle a squared rather than tapered appearance and should never extend beyond the lower plane of the jaw. They are never pendulous or “wet.”
Nose: The nose is large, being well-pigmented, black, or self-colored, according to the coat. A slight butterfly nose is permissible. The nostrils are well opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks are smoothly muscled, appearing neither chiseled nor coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: Moderately large in size, oval or almond, and dark brown in color (the darker, the better). The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: The ears are medium in size and never overly pendulous. They are set approximately level with, or slightly above, the eye when in repose and capable of being lifted some when alert. They are hound-type and V-shaped, yet somewhat short compared to the ears of other hounds. The tips and inner edges hang gracefully close to the head.
Body and Tail
General Description: Deep, solid, and of good substance. The body is never overly racy and refined, nor is it heavy and cloddy. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderately long length allows for good head carriage. It is strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck is powerful and graceful, tapering smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Some loose skin where the throat and jaw meet is acceptable, so long as it does not form a pendulous dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: Level or slightly sloped from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut, flat, level, or slightly arched yet supportive. The back is never swayed or roached.
Croup: Broad and gently sloped.
Underline: A slight to moderate tuck-up is present. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set somewhat high, but not too high or low, as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapers toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often fairly high to gaily above the level of the topline in a merry fashion, but never tucked or curled up over the back. The tail is of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. The shoulder blades are long and approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of moderate bone, and parallel to one another.
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are long, equal in length, strong, sturdy, moderate bone, and well-muscled.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The coat is short to medium-short, yet protective. It is smooth and close to the body throughout. The texture is harsh and glossy. The coat may be slightly longer on the neck, forming a light ruff and preferably forming a slight brush on the tail. No fringe or feather otherwise is permissible.
Coat Color or Pattern: All hound colors are permissible. Primarily white with black saddle and tan to red markings, white with black and tan points, white with saddle and creeping tan.
Movement
The movement of the Harrier breed is strong, effortless, efficient, energetic, and enduring. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
Although an exceptional hunting dog, the Harrier breed is also an adaptable hound. They are far less instinctually driven than the Foxhound breed and are similar in temperament to the Beagle breed, being social and outgoing (although not quite as social as the Beagle breed). Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper, healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
