Is the American Staffordshire Terrier Better than the Harrier as a Pet? Our Answer.

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American Staffordshire Terrier Versus Harrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the American Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier or the Harrier.

American Staffordshire Terrier versus Harrier: Overview

Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are similar in size. The American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the American Staffordshire Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

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 Staffordshire Terrier versus Harrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the American Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier

Factor American Staffordshire Terrier Harrier
Life Span 10 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Height 16 to 19 inches 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 5/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Weight 40 to 60 pounds 45 to 60 pounds
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 12.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1340 No Data
Price Range $575 – $2000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • NCL-A (Cerebellar Ataxia)
    		•
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the American Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Harrier is 81 out of 125.

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

    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 Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier

    Below is a list of where the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are most different:

    • American Staffordshire Terriers do not get along well with other dogs. However, Harriers get along well with other dogs.

    The Similarities Between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier

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

    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are not prone to gaining weight easily.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are very easy to groom.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are highly intelligent.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier are very playful.
    • Both the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.

    Size Comparison of American Staffordshire Terrier versus Harrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier.

    American Staffordshire Terriers weigh 40 to 60 pounds when fully grown. American Staffordshire Terriers are 16 to 19 inches 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 Staffordshire Terrier versus Harrier

    The lifespan of American Staffordshire Terriers is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of American Staffordshire Terriers is 12.5 years.

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

    American Staffordshire Terriers live longer than Harriers.

    Health Problems of American Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier is prone to more genetic health problems than the Harrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the American Staffordshire Terrier than for the Harrier.

    7 health tests are recommended for American Staffordshire Terrier while 2 tests are recommended for the Harrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in American Staffordshire Terriers and in Harriers.

    American Staffordshire Terrier Health Problems

    American Staffordshire Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing American Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your American Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terriers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • NCL-A (Cerebellar Ataxia)

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for American Staffordshire Terriers 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: American Staffordshire Terrier versus Harrier

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do American Staffordshire Terriers shed more than Harriers?

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Harriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the American Staffordshire Terrier or the Harrier

    American Staffordshire Terriers drool moderately.

    Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the American Staffordshire Terrier or the Harrier?

    American Staffordshire Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Harriers are very easy to groom.

    Does the American Staffordshire Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?

    American Staffordshire Terriers 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 Staffordshire Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?

    American Staffordshire Terriers 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 Staffordshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    American Staffordshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: American Staffordshire Terrier vs. Harrier

    American Staffordshire Terriers 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 Staffordshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    American Staffordshire Terriers 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 Staffordshire Terrier or the Harrier?

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Harriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are American Staffordshire Terriers good family dogs? What about Harriers?

    American Staffordshire Terriers 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 Staffordshire Terriers and Harriers?

    American Staffordshire Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the American Staffordshire Terrier Easier to Train than the Harrier?

    American Staffordshire Terriers are very easy to train.

    Harriers are not easy to train.

    Is the American Staffordshire Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Harrier?

    American Staffordshire Terriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    American Staffordshire Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Harriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: American Staffordshire Terrier 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 Staffordshire Terrier and the Harrier better suits you and your family.