Harrier

Feed your Harrier a high-quality dog food matched to its life stage, whether puppy, adult, or senior, and to its activity level. The diet should also suit the dog's size and any health concerns your vet has flagged.

This breed loves its food and will happily beg for more, so keep an eye on portions. Monitor how much your Harrier eats and adjust meals and treats as needed to support a healthy weight.

Give table scraps sparingly, if at all, and avoid cooked bones and foods high in fat. Learn which human foods are safe for dogs and which are not. Your veterinarian can help you set the right nutrition and feeding guidelines, and is the person to check with about any weight or diet concerns.

The Harrier's short, glossy double coat asks for little maintenance. A weekly brushing with a soft-bristle brush or a hound glove removes dirt and loose hair and keeps the coat in good shape. An occasional bath with a gentle shampoo helps keep a doggy odor away.

Inspect the ears regularly and clean them when needed with soft gauze and an ear-cleaning solution; your veterinarian can recommend a suitable product. Trim the nails often if they do not wear down naturally, since overly long nails cause discomfort and make walking and running harder.

Brush the teeth, trim the nails, and clean the ears regularly.

Harriers were bred to spend hours in the field chasing prey, so they need plenty of exercise every day. Without it, a Harrier can grow bored and destructive. Give it the activity it needs and it adapts to a range of home situations, happiest living indoors with its family and glad to join long walks and hikes.

This breed was built to hunt, chase, and follow a scent, and the nose always wins. Keep off-leash time to securely fenced areas and walks on a leash, because a Harrier on a trail will follow that scent.

Mind and body both stay sharp through canine sports such as tracking, rally, and coursing ability tests. Their hunting background makes them strong at tracking and coursing, and these are activities that dog and owner can share.

Like many hounds, Harriers are loving and amiable, with an independent streak and a stubborn side. They respond well to calm, loving, firm leadership, and reward-based methods help too. Training takes consistency, patience, and an understanding of scent-hound temperament.

Early socialization and puppy classes help a Harrier grow into a well-adjusted, well-mannered companion. This is a friendly, outgoing, people-oriented breed that enjoys being part of family life.