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The Harrier Dog is a small hound, bred for hunting rabbits ('hares'). It resembles a foxhound but is smaller.

Appearance
The Harrier is a small, muscular hunting hound with a short, hard coat. It has large bones for stamina and strength. The Harrier is slightly longer than tall, with a level topline. Tail is medium-length, carried high, but not curled over the back. Skull is broad with a strong square muzzle. Rounded ears are pendant, and the eyes are either brown or hazel, wide nose is black Their expression is mellow when the dog is relaxed and alert when he is excited. The teeth should meet in a scissors or level bite. The feet are tight and cat-like, and the front toes may turn inward.

Temperament
The Harrier is more playful and outgoing than the Foxhound, but not as much as the Beagle. Cheerful, sweet-tempered, and tolerant, it is excellent with children. This pack dog is good with other dogs, but should be supervised with noncanine pets unless it is raised with them from puppyhood. It prefers life in a pack with people, dogs, or both. This active dog likes to go exploring, sniffing, and trailing, so be sure to keep it on a leash or in a safe enclosed area. Some Harriers like to bay.

Health
This breed's lifespan is generally 10-12 years and they are generally a healthy breed.

History
There are conflicting stories about the origins of this breed. Some say the earliest Harrier types were crossed with Bloodhounds, the Talbot Hound, and even the Basset Hound. According others, the breed was developed from crosses of the English Foxhound with Fox Terrier and Greyhound. Another story has the Harrier being simply a bred-down version of the English Foxhound.

In any case, today's Harrier is between the Beagle and English Foxhound in size and was developed primarily to hunt hare,(Rabbit Season!) though the breed has also been used in fox hunting. The name, Harrier, reveals the breed's specialty. Neither hare nor fox can escape its exceptional sense of smell, its cunning, and its unequaled boldness. Prey chased by the inexhaustible Harrier have been known to collapse from sheer exhaustion. The Harrier is still fairly rare in the USA, but has a long history of popularity as a working pack dog in England.

Exercise
The Harrier is a very energetic breed. It needs plenty of exercise. Though smallish in size, this is not an apartment dog.

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