Owning dogs, especially providing care for the harrier, is a specialty of people. Some historians have proven dogs were domesticated between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that canines evolved from wolves. Since those days, humans have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-foot stature has earned them the title of tallest canine. But the most widespread canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The harrier is another favorite pick among dog owners. Some owners are uninformed, however, of some important harrier care tips.
General cost of care for your harrier
The yearly budget for caring for the harrier—including food and treats, to vet bills, toys and license—can range between four hundred twenty and $780. This doesn’t even consider capital costs for spay/neuter operations, collar and leash, dog carrier and a dog crate. Note: Make sure you have procured all your items before getting your harrier home.
Basic harrier Care
harrier Feeding Routine
- harrier pups between eight and twelve weeks need 4 bowls of food daily.
- harrier pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals every twenty-four hour period.
- Feed pups six months to one year old 2 meals in a day.
- By the time your harrier reaches his first birthday, 1 bowl daily is adequate.
- Many times adult harriers might eat two smaller bowls. It’s your duty to learn your harrier’s eating schedule.
Premium-quality dry food provides balanced nutrition for grown harriers and can mix with canned food, water, or broth. Your harrier may also dig cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these dishes should be less than 10 percent of his or her daily nutrition. harrier puppies must be fed excellent-quality, name brand puppy food. Please limit “people food”, however, because it can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies, bone and teeth concerns, and may result in some extremely picky eating habits as well as obesity. Give clean, fresh water only, and be sure to clean food and water bowls very regularly.
harrier Care Tips: Make sure your harrier gets plenty of daily physical activity
harriers must get some daily exercise in order to burn calories, stimulate their minds, and remain in good health. Exercise also seems to help harriers fight boredom, which often leads to naughty behavior. Getting out can curb most of your harrier’s desires to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Individual exercise needs will depend on your harrier’s level of health and his age—but ten minutes outside and just a walk down the street every day probably won’t cut it. If your harrier is a six to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will probably be a little higher.
Grooming tips for harriers
Frequent brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your harrier clean. Check for fleas and ticks daily during the summer or other warm weather. Many harriers don’t need a bath more than a few times a year. Prior to giving him or her a bath, cut out or comb any mats from the harrier’s coat. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
harrier Handling
Pups are obviously easier to handle. When carrying your harrier pup, take 1 of your hands and put it beneath the dog’s chest, either with your forearm or other hand supporting the hind legs and rump. Never attempt to grab or lift your puppy by the forelegs, back of the neck or tail. When you must pick up a larger, full-grown harrier, lift from the underside, holding his chest with 1 of your arms and rump with your other.
Housing your harrier
Your harrier needs a comfy quiet spot in order to relax apart from all the drafts and away from the ground. You may wish to think about buying a doggie bed, or think about making one out of a wooden box. Put a clean blanket, comforter, sheet, or pillow inside the bed for cushioning. Wash your harrier’s bedding often. If your harrier will be outdoors often, make certain he has access to shade and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a dry, warm, covered area in the cold.
harrier Identification
Be certain you follow the community’s licensing regulations. You should connect the license to your harrier’s collar. The license, together with an ID tag, will most likely help secure your harrier’s return if she happens to go missing.
harrier Behavior Information
Training Your harrier
Well-behaved, companion harriers are truly a pleasure to raise. However, when untrained, your harrier will most likely be a pain. Training your harrier on the fundamentals—”Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, and “Leave it”—improves the relationship with both the harrier as well as your house guests. If you’re the owner of a pup, start teaching her the right responses quickly! Use snacks as recognition and incentive. Puppies can commence obedience classes when they have been adequately vaccinated. Call your local SPCA or humane society for details on obedience class recommendations. It is best to walk your harrier on a leash while in public, even while a puppy. Be certain your doggie will come to you whenever you say. A disobedient or aggressive harrier cannot play with people.
The Health of Your harrier
harriers should see the veterinarian for a thorough screening, vaccinations and a heartworm examination every year, and ASAP if she is injured or sick.
Knowing Your harrier’s Oral Health
While many of us might object to our harrier’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might be a symptom of. Foul-smelling breath is most commonly a sign that your harrier should get an oral exam. Dental plaque , which is caused by germs brings a terrible odor that can only be freshened with professional treatment. After you give your harrier a cleaning from a professional, his mouth can be kept healthy by eliminating table food, feeding a special diet focused on maintaining dental health, and brushing regularly. Your veterinarian can give you other guidance on eradicating periodontal ailments and bad breath. You can clean the harrier’s teeth using a dog toothpaste or a paste made of baking soda and water twice weekly. Brush them with a nylon stocking wrapped around the finger, a gauze pad, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the gums and teeth, sometimes affects harriers. Sometimes, loss of teeth happens due to gum infection. Infections can sometimes also spread to the rest of your harrier’s body. The veterinarian usually will clean your harrier’s teeth in her routine health checkup.
Halitosis in harriers
If your harrier has foul breath, gum disease may simply be a symptom of another health problem. A sweet, fruity smell may sometimes be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. If your harrier’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible cause. If you notice your harrier has halitosis along with other indicators of ill health, such as loss of appetite, vomiting or nausea, weight loss, bad mood, a lot of urinating or drinking, plan a trip to his veterinarian.
harrier Tick and Flea Issues
In the warm seasons, it’s important for you to perform daily inspections of your harrier for fleas and ticks. Use a flea comb to remove fleas. There are many new technologies of flea mitigation. Talk with your harrier’s doctor about his options.
harriers With Heartworm Issues
This parasite resides in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your harrier by mosquitoes. Heartworm infestations can be potentially fatal. It’s very critical to ensure your harrier has a blood test for this parasite each year in the spring. A monthly pill given during the warm, wet time of the year will help to protect your harrier. If ever you vacation in a warmer-than-usual climate with your harrier in winter, he needs to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some warmer areas, vets recommend preventive parasite medication throughout the year.
Poisions and Medicines
Please don’t give your harrier medication that hasn’t been prescribed by his vet. One little ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in harriers. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your harrier. Be sure to contact your dog’s doctor when you suspect your harrier has been exposed to poison. You should also notify the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hour help.
Spaying and Neutering harriers
Male harriers should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by six months old. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the risk of breast cancer, which is a common and usually deadly health problem of older female dogs. Spaying also eradicates the chance of an infected uterus, a traumatic problem in older females that demands intensive medical care. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
harrier Immunizing
- Your harrier puppy should be vaccinated with a combination immunization (called a “5-in-1”) at 2, 3 and four months of age, and then once every year. This immunization protects your pup from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. Your harrier must be immunized for at least the first four months of her life.
- If you have an uninnoculated harrier older than 4 or 5 months, he will need a set of 2 immunizations given 2 to 3 weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.
- Your harrier pup’s socialization should coincide with the innoculation program. Most doctors recommend that new owners bring their harrier pups to socialization classes, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks old. At this point, they should have already received their first series of vaccines.
Since rules vary between different areas, call a neighborhood vet to get info on rabies shots. In New York City, for instance, the statute requires any pets older than three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The original rabies vaccine must be followed up by another shot the following year, and then every 3 years after that. There are a variety of immunizations, many of which are right for your harrier. There are others that are not, however. Ask your harrier’s vet for his opinion. Also, if your harrier gets sick because she is not innoculated, do not administer the innoculation until the dog has made a full recovery.
Worms in harriers
harriers are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Microscopic eggs produced by roundworms and hookworms are transmitted through an infected harrier’s stool. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry hookworms or roundworms. Getting an accurate, early detection is the secret to effective treatment. This will make certain that the medicine is highly effective against the parasite your dog has. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your harrier’s doctor can best figure out the culprit—and decide the right treatment.
harrier: Miscellaneous Care Tips
harrier Supply Checklist
- Excellent-quality dog food and treats designed for harriers and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Box or dog bed with quilt or towel
- Dog toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
Never, ever feed your harrier the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Caffeinated foods, like coffee, tea or chocolate
- Raisins and grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, garlic or chives
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems or unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
The “Bottom” Line
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in space, always keep your harrier on a leash. Whenever your harrier goes #2 on a neighbor’s grass, her sidewalk or any other public spot, please take care of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about harriers
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