#Talbothound

[stuartmoss]

I had a great photo walk around #Leeds city centre today. Here are three of the four #TalbotHounds that make up the Talbot Hounds #Fountain in #TrevelyanSquare. This #stone fountain was originally at a stately home in Halifax, but was brought to Leeds in the 1990s after the home fell into disrepair. #art #culture #statue #sculpture #LeedsPhoto #IgersLeeds #VisitLeeds #LoveLeeds #LeedsLife #travel #tourism #tourist #leisure #life #city #travelphoto #travelphotography #travelblog #Yorkshire #England #VisitYorkshire #VisitEngland #artphoto #LeedsBid #Leeds2023 (at Trevelyan Square) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1wxmCQHeBr/?igshid=8l1vmuth04uh

[fluffybuttsfamily-blog]

The Harrier is a very rare and not very popular breed of dog.  Those who love it, though, may affectionately describe it as “a Beagle on steroids.”

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Beagle

Harrier

The origin of the Harrier breed isn’t rightly known.  Some believe they came about from the crossbreeding of the Bloodhound, Talbot Hound, and Basset Hound.  Others believe they are bred-down English Foxhounds.  Still others think they may have come about through the crossbreeding of the English Foxhound, the Fox Terrier, and the Greyhound.

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Bloodhound

Talbot Hound

Basset Hound

English Foxhound

Fox Terrier

Greyhound

Like Beagles and Foxhounds, Harriers were bred to hunt in packs.  They mainly hunted hare, but were later also used in fox hunting and the hunting of other game too fast for Beagles.  It is said the stamina of the Harrier is such that their prey would drop from exhaustion while being pursued by a pack of Harriers.  Even though the Harrier has now become primarily a family companion, that tirelessness has not gone away.  Harriers need plenty of exercise; a long daily walk, jog, run, bike, or hike will do.  They will otherwise get bored and may become desctructive or obnoxious.  For this reason, they do best with an active family or, at the very least, a family with a large, fenced yard or fenced-in acreage for them to roam.  When not within a fenced area, Harriers should always be kept on leash so they don’t take off after a rabbit or squirrel and end up getting lost.

As a typical hound, Harriers are independent-minded and can be stubborn.  Training should, therefore, be reward based and start at an early age.  Puppy classes and obedience classes are highly recommended for this breed!

Not quite as outgoing as the Beagle, Harriers are, nevertheless, very people and dog-friendly.  As pack animals, they should never be dog aggressive.  They are excellent with children with their playful, gentle nature and thick bones, which makes it harder to accidentally injure them.  Nevertheless, children and pets should always be supervised.  Harriers also require supervision when around smaller, non-canine pets as they may view them as prey.  They can get along with cats if introduced to them at a young age.

As pack dogs, Harriers prefer not to be left on their own for long periods of time.  If left alone too long, they may start baying constantly, which will most certainly get on the nerves of neighbors within hearing distance.  One should take this into consideration before purchasing or adopting a Harrier.  Even though they dislike being left alone, Harriers do not demand constant attention.  They are very capable of doing their own thing, but it’s up to their owners to be sure they’re behaving and not creating mischief.

Harriers are excellent watchdogs as they will bark or bay at anything they see, hear, or smell that’s strange or wrong.  They should not be kept as guard dogs, though, as they will happily greet anyone that gets close enough and then sit and watch as they make off with the household goods.

The coat of the Harrier is short and shiny.  It comes in several different colors, but the most common are tricolor (black, tan, and white), and red and white.  Grooming is easy as it’s needed only once a week, sometimes less, and need only last a couple minutes, enough to remove loose fur and distribute skin oils.

Fun Fact: The Harrier breed is still not recognized in England even though there are many working Harrier packs.

Do you or have you owned a Harrier? Please tell us about him/her in the comments below!  I’d love to hear about your experiences with the breed.

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Breed of the Week: Harrier The Harrier is a very rare and not very popular breed of dog.  Those who love it, though, may affectionately describe it as "a Beagle on steroids."