Spotlight Breed: Harrier 

Welcome to our Spotlight Breed article of the week. This article will focus on a fun and unique dog breed from around the globe. We are excited to spotlight the Harrier today! This breed was initially bred to hunt hares and foxes. Today, the breed is not the most popular; however, their excellent sense of smell and high desire to work makes them a perfect fit for hunters.

Harriers are not recommended for a small home or apartment living. The reason being is that they require a lot of mental and physical stimulation. It is best for this breed to live in a larger area that promotes exercise. Another thing to note is that the Harrier does not like being alone for long periods. The breed may become anxious when bored, which may be a recipe for destruction!

The Harrier is one of the friendliest dog breeds. They are affectionate with family and love to form strong bonds with their “pack.” They also enjoy being around kids and other dogs. The only area where they may struggle is when they are around strangers. However, they should be fine with the proper socialization training at a young age.

The breed is very intelligent. This makes sense as they have a history of hunting hares and foxes. With this being said, the Harrier is relatively easy to train. They are more adept at forming an association between a prompt, an action, and a consequence. You must incorporate positive reinforcement in your training sessions with the Harrier. The breed often has a “what’s in it for me?” attitude. Another thing to note is that the breed has a high wanderlust potential. They are free-spirited, and if something catches their eye, they will do whatever it takes to get to it! Please make sure your Harrier is leashed or in a fenced-in yard!

Are you looking for an intelligent dog who strives for mental and physical stimulation? If so, the Harrier may be for you! We will leave you with our favorite quote about the breed: “Be wonderful like a Harrier. Love with all your heart!”