Please read the following and then look at the pictures below.   All the pictures are of various hound dogs or hound mixes that are NOT Harriers. If, after viewing this page, you still think you may have a Harrier, please contact Wendy McCleery at happytails8@comcast.net To illustrate their scarcity, there were only 6 litters (24 puppies) registered with the AKC during 1999 in the entire US.  So the chances that one ended up in a pound are exceedingly remote.  But it has happened in the past, so it’s not impossible – just highly improbable. On the other hand, there were over 19,000 Beagle litters, and over 49,000 individual puppies, registered with AKC in 1999.  Once you add in the thousands of unregistered (“unpapered”) Beagle litters, plus all the Beagles that bred with some other dog, you get a very large number of hound-type dogs that may resemble Harriers. Beagles are supposed to be no taller than 15” at the shoulder.  However, this size restriction is very difficult to breed for even amongst good conscientious breeders who know what they are doing. 

So it is very common for back-yard-bred Beagles, or Beagles bred by people who don’t know or don’t care about keeping them under the 15” restriction, to be well over 15”.  Seventeen inch Beagles are not uncommon.  Simply because your hound is taller than 15” does not make them a Harrier. If your dog has dewclaws on it’s rear feet (or evidence that rear dewclaws were removed) then they are NOT a Harrier.   This is fairly common in Beagles, but is unheard of in Harriers.  Wardrobe Moving Box Dimensions(Corollary 2:  If your dog does NOT have dewclaws on the rear feet, their absence does NOT mean it must be a Harrier.)Toy American Eskimo Puppies For Sale Texas Most veterinarians, veterinary technicians, dog groomers, shelter workers, and other pet professionals have never seen a Harrier in person.  Repairing Glass Block Grout

If you were told by a pet professional that your hound is a Harrier, ask them how they know.  Are they are working from first hand knowledge of the breed?  If they based their guess on a picture in a book or on a chart, chances are, they are incorrect. When a Beagle crosses with another breed, the offspring tend to be very houndy-looking dogs that are generally bigger than a Beagle. These are often mistaken for Harriers. Walker Hounds and Coonhounds are also fairly common breeds, and many of them (as well as mixes) are thought to be Harriers.  Walkers Hounds were only recently added to the AKC, so it will be a few years before there are good statistics on their numbers; but there are definitely many more of them than Harriers. Walkers & Coonhounds are popular amongst some of the hunting community; unfortunately many are abandoned or discarded when they don’t hunt the way their owners want them to. The following pictures are some examples of hounds that are NOT Harriers, the breed, if known, or our best guess is listed below each picture.

This is a 5-6 month old puppy. We think it is a Walker Hound.  Notice the size of the puppy, even the largest Harrier puppy would be several inches shorter at this age. We think this is a Beagle Cross. No Harrier has ever had blue eyes that we are aware of, but it has occurred in Beagles and other breeds. We aren't sure what the breed is on this example, he may be a Beagle and/or Pointer cross,  but he certainly isn't a Harrier. We are not sure what this girl is.  Possibly a hound mix of some kind. This is likely a Beagle mix. These are two Beagles, the one on the right is over-sized, but still a Beagle. This is a Whippet/Red Tick Coonhound Mix. Harrier is the crossbreed of the Beagle and Harrier. It was thought to combine the best of two breed's aimed at improving hunting abilities. should stand midway between its two parent breeds. Coat: Smooth and tri-colored.With Children: Enjoys the company With Pets: Also enjoys the company of other dogs.

The Beagle Harrier was developed in 1920's by Baron Gerard Grandin de l"Epriever with the aim of combining all the hunting abilities of the Beagle and Harrier. developed to hunt hare, although now it also hunts the fox, wild boar, Registries: FCI (Group 6) Average size of male:Ht: 19-21, Wt: 50-60 Average size of female:Ht: 19-21, Wt: 50-60 Harrier Dogs Available on Petfinder Right Now The Harrier is somewhat more playful and outgoing than the foxhound, but not as much as the beagle. He is amiable, tolerant and good with children. His first love is for the hunt, and he loves to sniff and trail. He needs daily exercise in a safe area. He tends to bay. The Harrier needs daily exercise, but his needs can be met with a long walk or jog and a vigorous game in the yard. The coat is easily cared for, needing only occasional brushing to remove dead hair. Dogs Related to the Harrier Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Interested in the history of the Harrier dog breed?

The word Harrier was Norman for dog or hound, so it is difficult to unravel the ancient history of hounds in general. nonetheless, the harrier may be one of the older Scenthounds still in existence today, with references dating from 13th-century England. They probably stem from the long-extinct Talbot and St. Hubert hounds, and perhaps the Brachet and later, the French Basset. This lineage produced a dog that tracked hare by scent at a pace that enabled hunters to follow on foot. Thus, although Harrier packs were kept by the gentry, poorer hunters without horses could also hunt with Harriers, often combining the few dogs each individual had to form an impromptu pack. Smaller English Foxhounds may have been bred with these dogs in the early 1800s to develop a longer-legged, faster dog also capable of running with mounted hunters. The Harrier has been known in America since Colonial times. Despite his classic proportions and handy size, he has never been popular as a show dog or pet.