Hound breeds: Harrier

Origin
    The most logical conjecture of the origin of the Harrier is that the Normans brought him to England. He was most likely a descendant of the Southern hound from which all British scent hounds descend. It is also likely that Greyhound blood was used in his development. Sir Elias de Midhope established the first pack of Harriers in England in 1260. This "Penistone" pack was held together for at least five centuries as recorded in history. The hunting of hare was probably even more popular than the hunting of fox in England, because the poor man could participate. Harriers can be hunted with on foot as opposed to on horseback with the Foxhounds. Among the hundred packs that hunted in England 50 or so years ago, many were "scratch" packs. A "scratch" pack was made up of hounds owned by many individuals, rather than one master. So the poorer men could get together and hunt the hare, as they could not the fox.
    Despite many theories of origin, it is most commonly believed that the Harrier is merely a smaller edition of the Foxhound, bred down from the larger hound by selective breeding. Save in size, he is the replica of the Foxhound.
    Harriers have been known in the United States since Colonial times.

General description