Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Dalmatian Versus Harrier: Introduction
- Dalmatian versus Harrier: Overview
- Dalmatian versus Harrier: Comparison Table
- The Similarities Between the Dalmatian and the Harrier
- Size (Weight and Height) of Dalmatian versus Harrier
- Adopting the Dalmatian versus Adopting the Harrier
- The Popularity of Dalmatian versus Popularity of Harrier
- Health Problems of Dalmatian versus Health Problems of Harrier
- Which one drools more, the Dalmatian or the Harrier
- Does the Dalmatian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?
- Do Dalmatians Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Dalmatian versus Harrier
- Can Dalmatians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Dalmatians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- How Kid-friendly are Dalmatians and Harriers?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dalmatian or the Harrier?
- Is the Dalmatian Easier to Train than the Harrier?
- Wanderlust Potential: Dalmatian vs. Harrier
- Are Dalmatians good family dogs? What about Harriers?
- Do Dalmatians shed more than Harriers?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Dalmatian or the Harrier?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dalmatian
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Harrier
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Dalmatian versus Harrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
Dalmatian Versus Harrier: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dalmatian and the Harrier? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian and the Harrier.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian or the Harrier
Dalmatian versus Harrier: Overview
Both the Dalmatian and the Harrier are similar in size. The Dalmatian and the Harrier are both medium-sized dogs.
Furthermore, the Dalmatian 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.
Dalmatian versus Harrier: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Dalmatian 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.
| Factor | Dalmatian | Harrier |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 13 to 16 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Height | 19 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder | 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Weight | 48 to 55 pounds | 45 to 60 pounds |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 14.5 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $1410 | No Data |
| Price Range | $1000 – $1800 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 60 | 183 |
*Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Dalmatian 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 a Dalmatian is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Harrier is 81 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Harrier is a better pet than the Dalmatian. 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 Dalmatian and the Harrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Similarities Between the Dalmatian and the Harrier
The Dalmatian and the Harrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dalmatian and the Harrier are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Dalmatian versus Harrier
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dalmatian and the Harrier.
Dalmatians weigh 48 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Dalmatians are 19 to 24 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.
Adopting the Dalmatian versus Adopting the Harrier
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Dalmatians 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 Dalmatian named Eddie that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Dalmatians like Eddie on pefinder.com.
Also, like Dalmatians, Harriers are also available for adoption. For example, Chico is a Male Harrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Harriers like Chico that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Travis is the name of another Dalmatian (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also Harold, an adorable Male Harrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Dalmatians and Harriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Popularity of Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian and the Harrier over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Dalmatian is more popular with dog owners than the Harrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Dalmatian is 60 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Harrier is 183 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Dalmatian
Popularity of Harrier
| Year | Dalmatian Popularity Rank | Harrier Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 64 | 173 |
| 2014 | 66 | 181 |
| 2015 | 62 | 183 |
| 2016 | 62 | 186 |
| 2017 | 63 | 183 |
| 2018 | 56 | 189 |
| 2019 | 59 | 186 |
| 2020 | 51 | 190 |
Health Problems of Dalmatian versus Health Problems of Harrier
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.
Both the Dalmatian 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 Harrier is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Dalmatian.
2 health tests are recommended for Dalmatian while 2 tests are recommended for the Harrier.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Dalmatians and in Harriers.
Dalmatian Health Problems
Dalmatians are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Dalmatian 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 Dalmatians for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Dalmatians 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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Harriers here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Dalmatians 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 Dalmatian Breed is Baer Hearing Test problems.
This is because the Dalmatian ranks 1 out of 21 dog breeds for Baer Hearing Test problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 8730 Dalmatians, 1003 of them had Baer Hearing Test problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Dalmatians, and how common these diseases are in Dalmatians relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
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:
The table below lists the common health problems in Dalmatian and in Harrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Dalmatian and the Harrier:
| Disease | Dalmatian Rank | Harrier Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Baer Hearing Test problems | 1 out of 21 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Hyperuricosuria problems | 1 out of 11 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Thyroid problems | 6 out of 115 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Advanced Cardiac problems | 9 out of 71 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | 10 out of 159 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Dentition Database problems | 11 out of 49 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Degenerative Myelopathy problems | 51 out of 70 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Elbow problems | 132 out of 144 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Eyes problems | 161 out of 182 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Hips problems | 170 out of 198 dog breeds | 76 out of 198 dog breeds |
*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.
Which one drools more, the Dalmatian or the Harrier
Dalmatians do have a very low tendency to drool.
Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Is the Dalmatian Better for Apartment Owners than the Harrier?
Dalmatians do not adapt well to apartment living.
Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Does the Dalmatian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?
Dalmatians have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other 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 Dalmatians Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?
Dalmatians are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Harriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dalmatian or the Harrier?
Dalmatians are OK for new dog owners.
Harriers are OK for new dog owners.
Tolerates Being Alone: Dalmatian versus Harrier
Dalmatians can be left alone only for a short time.
Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.
Can Dalmatians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Dalmatians can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Can Dalmatians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Dalmatians can tolerate hot weather.
Harriers can tolerate hot weather.
How Kid-friendly are Dalmatians and Harriers?
Dalmatians get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Harriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dalmatian or the Harrier?
Dalmatians get along very well with other dogs.
Harriers get along very well with other dogs.
Is the Dalmatian Easier to Train than the Harrier?
Dalmatians are very easy to train.
Harriers are not easy to train.
Wanderlust Potential: Dalmatian vs. Harrier
Dalmatians have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Harriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Are Dalmatians good family dogs? What about Harriers?
Dalmatians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Harriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Do Dalmatians shed more than Harriers?
Dalmatians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Harriers shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Dalmatian or the Harrier?
Dalmatians are very easy to groom.
Harriers are very easy to groom.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dalmatian
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian:
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:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Dalmatian and how the Harrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dalmatian and of the Harrier to other breeds:
Dalmatian Versus Other Dog Breeds
Dalmatian versus Shetland Sheepdog Dalmatian versus Pyrenean Shepherd Dalmatian versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Dalmatian versus Brittany Dalmatian versus Saluki Dalmatian versus Standard Schnauzer Dalmatian versus Australian Cattle Dog Dalmatian versus Collie Dalmatian versus Maltese Dalmatian versus Papillon
Harrier Versus Other Dog Breeds
Harrier versus Boxerdoodle Harrier versus Cane Corso Harrier versus Pharaoh Hound Harrier versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog Harrier versus Tibetan Terrier Harrier versus Gordon Setter Harrier versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle Harrier versus Goldador Harrier versus Keeshond Harrier versus Bolognese
Conclusion: Dalmatian 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 Dalmatian and the Harrier better suits you and your family.