Harrier vs Otterhound
Compare two breeds
Pick two breeds to see them compared side by side.
Harrier
The Harrier was used in England to hunt hare for hunters following on foot, smaller than a Foxhound but fast and tireless enough to run quarry down across open fields for hours. The name comes from an old French word for hare, which describes its sole historic purpose precisely. The short, dense coat needs minimal grooming. A male weighs up to 27 kilograms, muscular and high-energy, at its best with a job or at least a long daily run. The breed tends to hunt by scent even in a domestic setting, so a leash outdoors is close to essential. Life expectancy runs 10 to 12 years.
Otterhound
The Otterhound was bred in England to hunt otters, once regarded as pests that damaged river fisheries, and that job explains almost everything about the breed's build. The rough double coat with its oily, water-resistant outer layer sheds water, while webbed feet let it swim nearly as efficiently as it runs on land. When otter hunting was banned in Britain in 1978, the breed lost its original purpose and is now among the rarest in the world, with fewer than a thousand living dogs. A male can weigh up to 52 kilograms, large but not clumsy, built for long swims in cold water. A deep, carrying bark was a genuine working asset, audible over noisy river currents at distance. Life expectancy runs 10 to 13 years.
At a glance
| Harrier | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Height (male) | 48.0–55.0 cm | 61.0–69.0 cm |
| Weight (male) | 20.0–27.0 kg | 30.0–52.0 kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–12 yrs | 10–13 yrs |
| Coat | short, dense | rough, double, harsh outer coat |
Temperament & Family Life
| Harrier | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Family friendly | ||
| Good with children | ||
| Good with other dogs | ||
| Friendly with strangers | ||
| Intelligence | ||
| Trainability |
Exercise, Energy & Space
| Harrier | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy level | ||
| Exercise need | ||
| Apartment friendly | ||
| Prey drive | ||
| Hunting instinct |
Guarding & Alertness
| Harrier | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Guarding instinct | ||
| Watchfulness | ||
| Barking level |
Grooming & Care
| Harrier | Otterhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Shedding | ||
| Drooling | ||
| Grooming need |
Temperament and care scores (1-5) are a general guide based on the breed standard — every individual dog is different.