These guys were bred to hunt in packs and so are used to being in a group. For this reason, they may benefit from living alongside a dog pal whom they can also spend time with. Although intelligent, these guys can be very independent and stubborn so training must be made fun and positive reinforcement must be used as opposed to harsh correctional methods. They make fantastic watchdogs and will often alert their owners to anything suspicious. However, if a burglar was to come in whilst your dog was home alone, they would be more likely to watch the burglar take off with all your possessions! As long as these guys receive lots of socialization, they mature into happy and well-rounded dogs and have the potential to make lovely family pets!

There are several stories regarding the origins of this breed so many are still unsure how they came to be. However, the word Harrier translates to 'hound' in Norman French, so our best guess is that the earliest versions of this breed were probably descendants of Bloodhounds, Talbot and even Basset Hounds, all of which originated in France and Belgium. The breed was then developed in the UK as early as 1260, making them an extremely old breed! It's thought they were originally bred to hunt hare alongside hunters, meaning they were quite slow however, as hunters adapted to using horses, they developed the speed of the Harrier as well. They were supposedly first imported to the USA in the early 1700s and although still a relatively unpopular breed, they were the 13th breed recognized by the American Kennel Club!