Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Field Spaniel Versus Harrier: Introduction
- Field Spaniel versus Harrier: Overview
- Field Spaniel versus Harrier: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Field Spaniel and the Harrier
- The Similarities Between the Field Spaniel and the Harrier
- Size (Weight and Height) of Field Spaniel versus Harrier
- The Popularity of Field Spaniel versus Popularity of Harrier
- Health Problems of Field Spaniel versus Health Problems of Harrier
- Tolerates Being Alone: Field Spaniel versus Harrier
- Which one drools more, the Field Spaniel or the Harrier
- Do Field Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?
- Can Field Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Do Field Spaniels shed more than Harriers?
- Can Field Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Field Spaniel or the Harrier?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Field Spaniel or the Harrier?
- Does the Field Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?
- Are Field Spaniels good family dogs? What about Harriers?
- How Kid-friendly are Field Spaniels and Harriers?
- Is the Field Spaniel Easier to Train than the Harrier?
- Wanderlust Potential: Field Spaniel vs. Harrier
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Field Spaniel
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Harrier
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Field Spaniel versus Harrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
Field Spaniel Versus Harrier: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel and the Harrier.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel or the Harrier
Field Spaniel versus Harrier: Overview
A very important difference between the Field Spaniel and the Harrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Field Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the Harrier is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Field Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.
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.
Field Spaniel versus Harrier: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Field Spaniel 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 | Field Spaniel | Harrier |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Height | 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s | 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 37 to 45 pounds | 45 to 60 pounds |
| Easygoing | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $4640 | No Data |
| Price Range | $2900 – $5000 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 147 | 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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel is 79 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 Field Spaniel. 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 Field Spaniel and the Harrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Field Spaniel and the Harrier
Below is a list of where the Field Spaniel and the Harrier are most different:
The Similarities Between the Field Spaniel and the Harrier
The Field Spaniel and the Harrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Field Spaniel and the Harrier are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Field Spaniel versus Harrier
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Field Spaniel and the Harrier.
Field Spaniels weigh 37 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Field Spaniels are 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s 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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel and the Harrier over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Field Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Harrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Field Spaniel is 147 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Harrier is 183 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Field Spaniel
Popularity of Harrier
| Year | Field Spaniel Popularity Rank | Harrier Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 140 | 173 |
| 2014 | 137 | 181 |
| 2015 | 145 | 183 |
| 2016 | 147 | 186 |
| 2017 | 145 | 183 |
| 2018 | 149 | 189 |
| 2019 | 153 | 186 |
| 2020 | 160 | 190 |
Health Problems of Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel is prone to more genetic health problems than the Harrier.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Field Spaniel than for the Harrier.
6 health tests are recommended for Field Spaniel while 2 tests are recommended for the Harrier.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Field Spaniels and in Harriers.
Field Spaniel Health Problems
Field Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniels for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Field Spaniels 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 Field Spaniels 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 Field Spaniel Breed is Eyes problems.
This is because the Field Spaniel ranks 52 out of 182 dog breeds for Eyes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 479 Field Spaniels, 10 of them had Eyes problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Field Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in Field Spaniels 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 Field Spaniel and in Harrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Field Spaniel and the Harrier:
| Disease | Field Spaniel Rank | Harrier Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Eyes problems | 52 out of 182 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | 57 out of 159 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Hips problems | 58 out of 198 dog breeds | 76 out of 198 dog breeds |
| Thyroid problems | 74 out of 115 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Patella problems | 113 out of 145 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Elbow problems | 138 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 Field Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Harrier?
Field Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.
Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Tolerates Being Alone: Field Spaniel versus Harrier
Field Spaniels do not like to be left alone.
Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.
Which one drools more, the Field Spaniel or the Harrier
Field Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Do Field Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?
Field Spaniels 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 Field Spaniel or the Harrier?
Field Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.
Harriers are OK for new dog owners.
Can Field Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Field Spaniels can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Do Field Spaniels shed more than Harriers?
Field Spaniels shed moderately.
Harriers shed moderately.
Can Field Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Field Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
Harriers can tolerate hot weather.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Field Spaniel or the Harrier?
Field Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Harriers get along very well with other dogs.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Field Spaniel or the Harrier?
Field Spaniels are very easy to groom.
Harriers are very easy to groom.
Does the Field Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?
Field Spaniels 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 Field Spaniels good family dogs? What about Harriers?
Field Spaniels 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 Field Spaniels and Harriers?
Field Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Harriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Is the Field Spaniel Easier to Train than the Harrier?
Field Spaniels are very easy to train.
Harriers are not easy to train.
Wanderlust Potential: Field Spaniel vs. Harrier
Field Spaniels 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.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Field Spaniel
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel:
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 Field Spaniel and how the Harrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Field Spaniel and of the Harrier to other breeds:
Field Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds
Field Spaniel versus Akbash Field Spaniel versus Border Terrier Field Spaniel versus Goldador Field Spaniel versus Pomapoo Field Spaniel versus Dalmatian Field Spaniel versus Shiloh Shepherd Field Spaniel versus Lowchen Field Spaniel versus Mudi Field Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Field Spaniel versus Lagotto Romagnolo
Harrier Versus Other Dog Breeds
Harrier versus West Highland White Terrier Harrier versus Boerboel Harrier versus Alaskan Klee Kai Harrier versus Spinone Italiano Harrier versus Glen of Imaal Terrier Harrier versus Bedlington Terrier Harrier versus Chihuahua Harrier versus Treeing Walker Coonhound Harrier versus Australian Shepherd Harrier versus Puli
Conclusion: Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel and the Harrier better suits you and your family.