Harrier

Medium sized, smooth coated hound. Well balanced, compact without exaggeration. Strongly built without coarseness.

Characteristics

Built for endurance, stamina and the ability to hunt rabbit and hare over different terrains.

Temperament

Friendly, lively, never nervous or aggressive.

Head and Skull

Head long with an appearance of quality. Skull fairly broad, of medium width, tapering towards muzzle. Occiput not prominent. Eyebrows pronounced. Slight stop. Clean cheeks. Rectangular muzzle of moderate depth. Flews not excessive. Large nose with broad, open nostrils.

Eyes

Oval, very bright and deeply set. Playful, lively expression. Colour harmonising with coat colour.

Ears

High set, pendant, with rounded tip, of fine texture. Carried close to the head.

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Long, clean and slightly arched. Sufficiently long to enable head to come down to scent. Well-muscled.

Forequarters

Shoulders well laid back, not loaded. Upper arm angulation enabling front legs to stand well under body. Forelegs straight, clean cut, well boned down to ground. Pasterns short and strong.

Body

Chest deep, reaching below the elbow. Well sprung ribcage, of good length. Back ribs deep and long. Topline level with slight arch over broad, well-muscled loin.

Hindquarters

Long and muscular with good bend of stifle. Well-muscled second thigh. Strong, low set hocks.

Feet

Strong, round cat foot with well knuckled toes, hard padded, with strong nails.

Tail

Long, set on and carried high, fairly straight. Never curled or carried over the back.

Gait/Movement

Free striding, tireless with the ability to gallop. Good drive behind, with no indication of roll.

Coat

Short, dense and weatherproof.

Colour

Any recognised hound colours and markings.

Size

Ideal height: dogs 53 cms (21 ins); bitches 48 cms (19 ins), with a tolerance of 2.5cm (1in) smaller.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.