Harrier Question

[Richie12345]

As alot of you know I am going to get a harrier. My parents and I have found a good breeder, and we are hoping to get puppies by Oct. possibly (YAY!:D). I have been doing some research on the breed. I know every breed shouldn't be trusted off leash, but if a gate is left open by a chance while I'm outside with him, will he just go running towards the street? My friends can be flakes at times and not close doors or gates all the way (even I do that at times), or if I happend to drop the leash while walking him will he just run away? Note that I am going to be taking him to obedience school and everything thx! :) -Richie

[gaddylovesdogs]

I have dropped my girls' leashes I don't know how many times accidentally while walking them. They just kept on walking, and I quickly grabbed the leash back up. Now they know the "stop" command. They stop and wait for me when I tell them to. It's very useful in many situations and could save your dog's life.

[gaddylovesdogs]

And sorry to be nosey, but what health tests does the breeder do?

~ Nosey Gaddy and her gang

[Barb04]

I found this site that tells all about them and their temperament, etc:

http://www.harriers.net/harriers/harrier-FAQ.html

[BigDog2191]

Well, the key is to make them be with you all the time. Get them used to the leash and collar at an early age... attatch the leash to yourself and let him be with you. The key is early age.

Rocky almost never leaves my side unless it's to go towards my dad. This is because at an early age, he started this. I was always with him and he was always with me, followed me everywhere. So I never had a problem with it.

[Richie12345]

And sorry to be nosey, but what health tests does the breeder do?

~ Nosey Gaddy and her gang
lol, don't worry I'm the same way... I believe my mom asked the breeder, I forget tho. It might be on the site let me check. Oh, BTW we are not fully sure about the breeder. But we will most likely get puppies from her. I might of said it like we have decided on a breeder, but I just said she was good because she was much nicer than the other one we called :)

[Summer Magic]

Congratulations on your decision to get a puppy. All dogs will run and play if they are allowed to do it without restraint. My advice to you is get your pup in a puppy kindergarten class right away and find a good obedience class to follow up the kindergartgen class soon as you can. Continue to work on recall and your other commands daily and you will never have a problem with your dog running away from you.

[stirder]

wether or not it will run out a open gate I think depends on the individual dog, and wether you are being more interesting at the time that anything/everything outside the gate. harriers are coursers and love to sniff and chase, so I would be really carefull and maybe put a lock on the gate?

[gaddylovesdogs]

Wait, in both posts you put "puppies". Are you planning on getting two puppies.

[Richie12345]

I'm sorry, I type fast and make several typos. I am just going to get one pup. Maybe I'll go to the rescue for another in a couple years, if I think I can handle another.