Harrier
Bred to hunt hare in packs, and it sits squarely between the beagle and the foxhound in size. Rare now, and it still wants company all day long.
Photo by Evforce, CC BY-SA 4.0
Overview
The Harrier is a pack hound bred to hunt hare, sitting between the Beagle and the English Foxhound in size and, historically, hunted on foot rather than on horseback. It is one of the oldest English hound types.
It is also one of the rarest AKC breeds, with only a handful registered in some years, and almost all of them live in working packs rather than as pets.
Temperament
Cheerful, tolerant and thoroughly pack oriented. Harriers are good natured with people and children and excellent with other dogs.
They are hounds. Recall on a scent is unreliable, the bay is loud and carries, and they are stubborn in the specific way of understanding perfectly and choosing otherwise. They do badly alone and want canine company.
Care and grooming
A short hard coat, a weekly brush. The ears need weekly cleaning.
Hip dysplasia and epilepsy occur at low rates, and the working gene pool has kept the breed sound. Twelve to fifteen years is good for the size.
Living and exercise
Two hours a day minimum, and preferably with another dog and a chance to trail.
Secure fencing, always. Finding one is the practical obstacle, since most breeding is done by hunts rather than for the pet market.
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