Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Harrier. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Harrier

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Entlebucher Mountain Dog Versus Harrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Entlebucher Mountain Dog 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 Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Harrier

Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Harrier: Overview

Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are similar in size. The Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

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.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Harrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Entlebucher Mountain 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.

Factor Entlebucher Mountain Dog Harrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 13 years 10 to 12 years
Height 16 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Weight 45 to 65 pounds 45 to 60 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 11.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2020 No Data
Price Range $920 – $2500 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 157 183

    *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 Entlebucher Mountain 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 a Entlebucher Mountain Dog is 72 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog. 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 Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier

    Below is a list of where the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are most different:

  • Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Harriers are very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier

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

  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Harrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier.

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs weigh 45 to 65 pounds when fully grown. Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are 16 to 20 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.

    The Popularity of Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Harrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog is 157 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Harrier is 183 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Entlebucher Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Entlebucher Mountain Dog

    Popularity of Harrier

    Popularity of Harrier

    Year Entlebucher Mountain Dog Popularity Rank Harrier Popularity Rank
    2013 155 173
    2014 153 181
    2015 159 183
    2016 161 186
    2017 152 183
    2018 157 189
    2019 167 186
    2020 152 190

    Health Problems of Entlebucher Mountain Dog 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 Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Harrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Entlebucher Mountain Dog than for the Harrier.

    4 health tests are recommended for Entlebucher Mountain Dog while 2 tests are recommended for the Harrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Entlebucher Mountain Dogs and in Harriers.

    Entlebucher Mountain Dog Health Problems

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dogs for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog Breed is Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

    This is because the Entlebucher Mountain Dog ranks 4 out of 32 dog breeds for Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 77 Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, 2 of them had Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

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

  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 4 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 7 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 43 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 66 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 120 out of 144 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and in Harrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier:

    Disease Entlebucher Mountain Dog Rank Harrier Rank
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 4 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 7 out of 182 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 43 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 66 out of 198 dog breeds 76 out of 198 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 120 out of 144 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.

    Is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Harrier?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Harrier

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Harrier?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Harriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Can Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Harriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Harrier

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Harrier?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Harriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs shed more than Harriers?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs shed moderately.

    Harriers shed moderately.

    Is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Harrier?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are fairly easy to train.

    Harriers are not easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs. Harrier

    Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Does the Entlebucher Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs 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.

    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.

    Are Entlebucher Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Harriers?

    Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dogs and Harriers?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog or the Harrier?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Harriers are very easy to groom.

    Do Entlebucher Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?

    Entlebucher Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Entlebucher Mountain Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog:

  • Black Mouth Cur (81 percent match with Entlebucher Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bluetick Coonhound (80 percent match with Entlebucher Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Bluetick Coonhound.
  • 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs American Foxhound.
  • Black and Tan Coonhound (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Black and Tan Coonhound.
  • Black Mouth Cur (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bluetick Coonhound (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Entlebucher Mountain Dog vs Bluetick Coonhound.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Entlebucher Mountain Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Brittany     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Irish Setter     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Goldador     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Boxerdoodle     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Dachshund     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Brussels Griffon     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Australian Shepherd     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Kishu Ken     Entlebucher Mountain Dog versus Belgian Tervuren     

    Harrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Harrier versus Standard Poodle     Harrier versus Xoloitzcuintli     Harrier versus American Hairless Terrier     Harrier versus Dogo Argentino     Harrier versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Harrier versus German Shepherd Dog     Harrier versus Doberman Pinscher     Harrier versus Norwegian Buhund     Harrier versus Finnish Spitz     Harrier versus English Springer Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Entlebucher Mountain 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 Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Harrier better suits you and your family.