Chris, my dogs are Harrier than most and they make fine pets if you can handle the temperment and drive. Does that help? :grin:

 

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/harriers.html

 

I hear you Don, just want to see what the dog is about and make sure the possible owner knows what he may be getting into. I would imagine a good bit more work than the other dog that is an option, a King Charles. But like you said it could still work

 

Chris,

They're vertical take off jet fighters. They're expensive to feed and I don't think would make very good pets at all

 

They look similar to a tall Beagle, and are supposed to be gentle dogs. However there are numerous people stating that their dogs are Harriers, when in reality, they are Heinz 57.

It is noted as a swift, hunting hound. Harrying means worrying.

Here's one of the better sites (I think):

http://gomestic.com/pets/the-intrepid-harrier-hound/

 

So that’s why there aint many around, now it is all coming together. This is the first time I read input that is more useless than my typical input. Im pissed, I was the head useless input guy around here.

 

Chris,

You're still the head useless input guy. Some of us have occasional spurts of useless input, but for consistent useless input........................You're the man

 

King Charles Spaniels are one of the most genetically screwed up breeds in existence today if that helps with a decision. It is what they are best known for.

 

Except for Thomas, thanks for the input. Don I heard that those king things can have a lot of issues. My sister has on but due to the fact it is grossly morbidly obese it wouldn’t be fair for me to judge based on the one I know. I think its to a point that your typical American pet dog person thinks all dogs are supposed to have sickly issues. I think it’s a conspiracy that was started by vets and dog clubs or something.
No one knows of a breeder in the US or over the pond? I didn’t find to much on Google But I was hoping to get a first hand recommendation

 

It is the hobby breeders Chris. The vets just tell em how good they are doing so they can keep the ball rolling. LMAO Who made the King Charles what it is.....hobby breeders raise your hands!!

 

Cavaliers are notorious for health problems. They suffer from major heart defects and rage syndrome I believe. I do know someone with 2 of them and they are a vet bill waiting to happen. Not saying they aren't cute, as they are very cute, fuzzy, and friendly little guys, but they are sickly.

Heart mitral valve disease (MVD) is a terminal illness which afflicts over half of all Cavalier King Charles spaniels by the age of 5 years and nearly all Cavaliers by age 10 years. It is CKCSs' leading cause of death.

Syringomyelia (SM) is reported to be "very widespread" in the Cavalier King Charles spaniel breed. Syringomyelia is a disorder of the brain and spinal cord, which may cause severe head and neck pain and possible paralysis.

Hip dysplasia reportedly afflicts up to one out of every three Cavalier King Charles spaniels. It is a genetic disease which can cause the dogs pain and debilitation.

The size and shape of its head can cause serious breathing problems for the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Elongated soft palates, stenotic nares, everted laryngeal saccules, and laryngeal collapse are inherited developmental defects in the breed.

http://www.cavalierhealth.org/

^ Just look at that page, that's more than enough to steer anyone away from them. What I quoted isn't even half the list of commonly noted health problems.

As for Harriers, I've never met one. But I don't care much for hounds to start with.

 

Up until a few years ago when hunting with dogs was banned, there were apparently twenty packs of Harriers registered with the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles here in the UK. As they are still vigorously opposing this ruling in the hope to have it overturned, I suspect there is probably a reasonable stock still available.

Here is a link I took some of my information from, there's also some general info on the hunting hounds ..

http://www.mfha.org.uk/information/...formation/press-releases/future-of-hound-breeds-under-threat-from-hunting-bill/

 

So why a harrier?

If he just wants a nice, sweet hound type, check petfinder or the local shelter, especially after hunting season when the hounds that got lost and didn't make it home start turning up skinny and exhausted and never get claimed.

Friend of mine adopted one of those 'too useless as a hunting dog to feed' hounds from shelter. Nice gentle, easy going dog. Not a runner. We always figured he'd tried the freedom thing once, which was how he ended up in a shelter, and was pretty happy being a pampered house pet.

 

So why a harrier?

If he just wants a nice, sweet hound type, check petfinder or the local shelter, especially after hunting season when the hounds that got lost and didn't make it home start turning up skinny and exhausted and never get claimed.

Friend of mine adopted one of those 'too useless as a hunting dog to feed' hounds from shelter. Nice gentle, easy going dog. Not a runner. We always figured he'd tried the freedom thing once, which was how he ended up in a shelter, and was pretty happy being a pampered house pet.

Cause a Harrier is what they think they want right now. Yes, Leslie we all know there are dogs in the pounds. I got my share of friends who got their dogs from the pound. A few of the dogs are ok but most suck ass and should have been turned into ash. What I think it comes down to for most is they want a good family dog for the kids, it will likely be around for 10 or more years. So they do what they can to make the odds lean towards getting a good dog. It’s the dog there kids are going to grow up with and remember. They would rather the memories not be of getting bit by the family dog. Most people looking for a dog are not skilled enough to go to a pound spend 15 minutes with a few dogs they know nothing about and pick a winner. I know Im not. The reality of it is there are good dogs in the pound like the one your friend got, but there are a whole lot that suck real bad. We all know it’s not guaranteed but for most people buying a dog from a good breeder increases their chances of getting what they want.

 

The Harrier has been around for a long time but never been popular.
In AKC registration it's one of the lowest numbers you'll find. That means rare, expensive and a sucky gene pool. You get what you get!
In the 14- 15 yrs I did the AKC show and obedience circuit I never saw one.

 

He is sending some emails back and forth to these guys. We will see what happens, thanks

http://www.jackpotbgl.com/pages/show%20dogs%20home.htm

 

Seems people can be as dumb about picking good breeders as they are about adopting shelter/rescue dogs. Guess I've known more people who have adopted dogs from the pound and who have walked away with an awesome dog, myself included, than have taken home a liability.

I hope the breeder they've chosen is a good one and they get the dog that they're looking for.

 

Ha, so far it’s the only breeder that can be found for this dog. Im not into the show dog stuff either and I think the akc, blue ribbons, pink papers and most dog sports did way more damage than good for dog breeds. I don’t know if they are going to actually get a dog from this breed, but there is a good group of people on here to throw out a question to try and find more out about this breed. I thought it would be ok to do mostly because it is or was supposed to be a hunting dog.
Maybe you and your friends are better at picking a dog than most people walking into a pound. It does take some skills that take a lot of experience to develop. Maybe the pounds in your neck of the woods are better at putting the bad dogs in the freezer. Maybe you and your friends are just smarter. But everyone I know that just wants a family dog already knows that there are pound dogs out there. For some reason I been getting hit by the goody goods out there pushing pound dogs, like you’re a bad person for not taking on someone else’s mistake. I appreciate the thought and I feel bad for the dogs. If it makes you feel any better my greyhound was a rescue. His moma went and got herself knocked up by another track dog and they did not know what one. They did not know the lines, so they got rid of the whore dog and my dog was one of her pups. Warms my heart thinking about it.

 

As an aside, one of the best dogs I ever owned (GSD/Dane) was from the pound.
The only dog I ever chose to name another dog of mine after. Thunder!

 

Did the pound charge you 10g? :-D