Breed History
The origin of the Harrier is a bit of a mystery, and while there are many theories as to the beginnings of this breed, no one can say for certain how it came to be....
Some believe the Harrier descends from a breed known as the Southern Hound, with a tinge of Greyhound blood. Others claim that the dog is an amalgamation of the now extinct Talbot and Saint Hubert Hounds, and possibly the French Basset Hound. Whatever its origin the Harrier has certainly existed in Britain for a very long time, entering the historical record definitively toward the end of the 12th century. By 1260 a man by the name of Sir Elias Midhope had established the first Harrier pack. These dogs trailed hare at a pace that humans could match, and the breed therefore became a kind of common mans hare hunter since those without horses could nevertheless follow the dog on foot. Evidence of the Harriers working class heritage can also be seen in the great popularity of Harrier scratch packs, in which several men each owning one or more Harriers combined their dogs to make a kind of makeshift pack. The Harrier was introduced to North America during colonial times, and has been used there as a hare trailer since that time. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885, but in all its long history in America it has never been a very popular breed. Debate still rages as to where exactly this dog came from, but more and more people are beginning to see the Harrier as simply a smaller version of the English Foxhound.