Is the American Eskimo Dog Better than the Harrier as a Pet? Answer…

Quick Links: Table of Contents

American Eskimo Dog Versus Harrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the American Eskimo Dog and for the Harrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the American Eskimo Dog or the Harrier.

American Eskimo Dog versus Harrier

American Eskimo Dog versus Harrier: Overview

A very important difference between the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The American Eskimo Dog is a small-sized dog while the Harrier is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the American Eskimo Dog belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Harrier belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

American Eskimo Dog versus Harrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the American Eskimo Dog to the Harrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier

Factor American Eskimo Dog Harrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Height 15 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
General Health 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight Starts at 30 pounds 45 to 60 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1220 No Data
Price Range $750 – $1500 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 118 183

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the American Eskimo Dog in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Harrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the American Eskimo Dog is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Harrier is 81 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the American Eskimo Dog is a better pet than the Harrier. So, you should get the American Eskimo Dog!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier

    Below is a list of where the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are most different:

  • American Eskimo Dogs adapt well to apartment living. However, Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • American Eskimo Dogs are very easy to train. However, Harriers are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier

    The American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are most similar:

  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of American Eskimo Dog versus Harrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier.

    American Eskimo Dogs weigh Starts at 30 pounds when fully grown. American Eskimo Dogs are 15 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Harriers weigh 45 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Harriers are 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of American Eskimo Dog versus Harrier

    The lifespan of American Eskimo Dogs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of American Eskimo Dogs is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Harriers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Harriers is 11.0 years.

    American Eskimo Dogs live longer than Harriers.

    Adopting the American Eskimo Dog versus Adopting the Harrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many American Eskimo Dogs and many Harriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male American Eskimo Dog named Cottonball that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable American Eskimo Dogs like Cottonball on pefinder.com.

    Also, like American Eskimo Dogs, Harriers are also available for adoption. For example, Bailey is a Male Harrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Harriers like Bailey that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Eskimo Litter is the name of another American Eskimo Dog (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Pilot is an adorable Male Harrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    American Eskimo Dogs and Harriers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more American Eskimo Dogs and Harriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of American Eskimo Dog versus Popularity of Harrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the American Eskimo Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Harrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the American Eskimo Dog is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Harrier is 183 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of American Eskimo Dog

    Popularity of American Eskimo Dog

    Popularity of Harrier

    Popularity of Harrier

    Year American Eskimo Dog Popularity Rank Harrier Popularity Rank
    2013 110 173
    2014 120 181
    2015 118 183
    2016 122 186
    2017 118 183
    2018 122 189
    2019 120 186
    2020 119 190

    Health Problems of American Eskimo Dog versus Health Problems of Harrier

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the American Eskimo Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Harrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the American Eskimo Dog than for the Harrier.

    8 health tests are recommended for American Eskimo Dog while 2 tests are recommended for the Harrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in American Eskimo Dogs and in Harriers.

    American Eskimo Dog Health Problems

    American Eskimo Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing American Eskimo Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a American Eskimo Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your American Eskimo Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen American Eskimo Dogs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for American Eskimo Dogs here.

    Harrier Health Problems

    Harriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Harrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Harrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Harrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Harriers for:

  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Harriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in American Eskimo Dogs and Harriers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the American Eskimo Dog Breed is Degenerative Myelopathy problems.

    This is because the American Eskimo Dog ranks 6 out of 70 dog breeds for Degenerative Myelopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 68 American Eskimo Dogs, 17 of them had Degenerative Myelopathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in American Eskimo Dogs, and how common these diseases are in American Eskimo Dogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 6 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 9 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 48 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 122 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 123 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 136 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Harrier Breed is Hips problems.

    This is because the Harrier ranks 76 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 375 Harriers, 58 of them had Hips problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Harriers, and how common these diseases are in Harriers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Hips problems: Rank 76 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in American Eskimo Dog and in Harrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier:

    Disease American Eskimo Dog Rank Harrier Rank
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 6 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 9 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 48 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 122 out of 198 dog breeds 76 out of 198 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 123 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 136 out of 182 dog breeds Not Common

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: American Eskimo Dog versus Harrier

    American Eskimo Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do American Eskimo Dogs shed more than Harriers?

    American Eskimo Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Harriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the American Eskimo Dog or the Harrier

    American Eskimo Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the American Eskimo Dog or the Harrier?

    American Eskimo Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Harriers are very easy to groom.

    Does the American Eskimo Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?

    American Eskimo Dogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Harriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do American Eskimo Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?

    American Eskimo Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Harriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can American Eskimo Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    American Eskimo Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: American Eskimo Dog vs. Harrier

    American Eskimo Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Harriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can American Eskimo Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    American Eskimo Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Harriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Eskimo Dog or the Harrier?

    American Eskimo Dogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Harriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are American Eskimo Dogs good family dogs? What about Harriers?

    American Eskimo Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Harriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are American Eskimo Dogs and Harriers?

    American Eskimo Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Harriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the American Eskimo Dog Easier to Train than the Harrier?

    American Eskimo Dogs are very easy to train.

    Harriers are not easy to train.

    Is the American Eskimo Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Harrier?

    American Eskimo Dogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the American Eskimo Dog or the Harrier?

    American Eskimo Dogs are very good for new dog owners.

    Harriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the American Eskimo Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the American Eskimo Dog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the American Eskimo Dog:

  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Keeshond (82 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Keeshond.
  • West Highland White Terrier (81 percent match with American Eskimo Dog). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Harrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Harrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Harrier:

  • American Foxhound (82 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the American Eskimo Dog vs American Foxhound.
  • Black and Tan Coonhound (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the American Eskimo Dog vs Black and Tan Coonhound.
  • Black Mouth Cur (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the American Eskimo Dog vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bluetick Coonhound (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the American Eskimo Dog vs Bluetick Coonhound.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the American Eskimo Dog and how the Harrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the American Eskimo Dog and of the Harrier to other breeds:

    American Eskimo Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    American Eskimo Dog versus Tibetan Terrier     American Eskimo Dog versus Mudi     American Eskimo Dog versus Golden Cocker Retriever     American Eskimo Dog versus Golden Cocker Retriever     American Eskimo Dog versus Afghan Hound     American Eskimo Dog versus Puggle     American Eskimo Dog versus English Toy Spaniel     American Eskimo Dog versus Standard Poodle     American Eskimo Dog versus German Shepherd Dog     American Eskimo Dog versus Pharaoh Hound     American Eskimo Dog versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     American Eskimo Dog versus Weimaraner     American Eskimo Dog versus Kooikerhondje     American Eskimo Dog versus Weimaraner     American Eskimo Dog versus Swedish Vallhund     American Eskimo Dog versus Afador     American Eskimo Dog versus Shih Tzu     American Eskimo Dog versus Chihuahua     American Eskimo Dog versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     American Eskimo Dog versus Newfoundland     American Eskimo Dog versus Bullmastiff     American Eskimo Dog versus Maremma Sheepdog     American Eskimo Dog versus Havanese     American Eskimo Dog versus Sussex Spaniel     American Eskimo Dog versus Tibetan Terrier     

    Harrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Harrier versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Harrier versus Samoyed     Harrier versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Harrier versus Bulldog     Harrier versus Great Pyrenees     Harrier versus Carolina Dog     Harrier versus Australian Shepherd     Harrier versus Bearded Collie     Harrier versus Toy Poodle     Harrier versus Frenchton     Harrier versus Boxerdoodle     Harrier versus Collie     Harrier versus Biewer Terrier     Harrier versus Pyredoodle     Harrier versus Pomeranian     Harrier versus Cockalier     Harrier versus Catahoula Bulldog     Harrier versus Portuguese Water Dog     Harrier versus Irish Terrier     Harrier versus Cockapoo     Harrier versus Border Collie     Harrier versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Harrier versus Norwich Terrier     Harrier versus Maltipoo     Harrier versus Estrela Mountain Dog     

    Conclusion: American Eskimo Dog versus Harrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the American Eskimo Dog and the Harrier better suits you and your family.