Breed Comparison: Harrier Versus Pekingese

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Harrier Versus Pekingese: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Harrier and the Pekingese 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 Harrier and for the Pekingese. 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 Harrier and the Pekingese.

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

Harrier versus Pekingese

Harrier versus Pekingese: Overview

A very important difference between the Harrier and the Pekingese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Harrier is a medium-sized dog while the Pekingese is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Pekingese 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.

Harrier versus Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Harrier to the Pekingese 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 Harrier and the Pekingese

Factor Harrier Pekingese
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Height 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Easygoing 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 5/5
Weight 45 to 60 pounds 7 to 14 pounds
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 1/5
General Health 5/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $1288 – $2500
Average Price No Data $1930
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 183 86

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Harrier 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 Pekingese. 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 Harrier is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Pekingese is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Harrier is a better pet than the Pekingese. 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 Harrier and the Pekingese so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Harrier and the Pekingese

    Below is a list of where the Harrier and the Pekingese are most different:

  • Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Pekingeses adapt well to apartment living.
  • Harriers can tolerate hot weather. However, Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Harriers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Pekingeses do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Harriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Harriers get along well with other dogs. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Harriers are very friendly towards strangers. However, Pekingeses are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Harriers are very easy to groom. However, Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Harriers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds However, Pekingeses have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Harriers have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Pekingeses have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • Harriers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Pekingeses have low exercise needs.
  • The Similarities Between the Harrier and the Pekingese

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

  • Both the Harrier and the Pekingese do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Harrier and the Pekingese are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
  • Both the Harrier and the Pekingese are not easy to train.
  • Both the Harrier and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Harrier and the Pekingese are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Harrier and the Pekingese have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Harrier and the Pekingese are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Harrier versus Pekingese

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Harrier and the Pekingese.

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

    On the other hand, Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Harrier versus Pekingese

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

    The lifespan of Pekingeses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pekingeses is 13.5 years.

    Pekingeses live longer than Harriers.

    Adopting the Harrier versus Adopting the Pekingese

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Harriers and many Pekingeses 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 Harrier named Pilot that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Harriers like Pilot on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Harriers, Pekingeses are also available for adoption. For example, A501168 is a Male Pekingese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pekingeses like A501168 that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Harrier and the Pekingese can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Bailey is the name of another Harrier (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Bobo is an adorable Male Pekingese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Harriers and Pekingeses are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Harriers and Pekingeses that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of Harrier versus Popularity of Pekingese

    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 Harrier and the Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pekingese is more popular with dog owners than the Harrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Harrier is 183 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Harrier

    Popularity of Harrier

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year Harrier Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 173 77
    2014 181 82
    2015 183 80
    2016 186 93
    2017 183 88
    2018 189 92
    2019 186 83
    2020 190 95

    Tolerates Being Alone: Harrier versus Pekingese

    Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Harriers shed more than Pekingeses?

    Harriers shed moderately.

    Pekingeses shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Harrier or the Pekingese

    Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Harrier or the Pekingese?

    Harriers are very easy to groom.

    Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Harrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pekingese?

    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.

    Pekingeses 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 Harriers Bark and Howl? What about Pekingeses?

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

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

    Can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Harrier vs. Pekingese

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

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

    Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Harriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Harriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Harriers good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Harriers and Pekingeses?

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

    Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Is the Harrier Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    Harriers are not easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Harrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Pekingese?

    Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Harriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    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 Pekingese vs American Foxhound.
  • Black and Tan Coonhound (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Black and Tan Coonhound.
  • Black Mouth Cur (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bluetick Coonhound (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Bluetick Coonhound.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pekingese

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Pekingese 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 Pekingese:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Harrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Harrier versus Lancashire Heeler     Harrier versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Harrier versus Pomapoo     Harrier versus Cairn Terrier     Harrier versus Bloodhound     Harrier versus Patterdale Terrier     Harrier versus Bedlington Terrier     Harrier versus Finnish Spitz     Harrier versus Sheepadoodle     Harrier versus Swedish Vallhund     Harrier versus Belgian Malinois     Harrier versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Harrier versus Cockalier     Harrier versus Gordon Setter     Harrier versus Puggle     Harrier versus Manchester Terrier     Harrier versus Puli     Harrier versus Airedale Terrier     Harrier versus Saluki     Harrier versus Carolina Dog     Harrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Harrier versus Beagle     Harrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Harrier versus American Hairless Terrier     Harrier versus Standard Schnauzer     

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Pekingese versus Clumber Spaniel     Pekingese versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Pekingese versus Vizsla     Pekingese versus French Bulldog     Pekingese versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Pekingese versus Hovawart     Pekingese versus Pyredoodle     Pekingese versus Bich Poo     Pekingese versus Biewer Terrier     Pekingese versus Harrier     Pekingese versus Skye Terrier     Pekingese versus Norwegian Buhund     Pekingese versus Bichon Frise     Pekingese versus Miniature Schnauzer     Pekingese versus Kai Ken     Pekingese versus Portuguese Pointer     Pekingese versus Norwegian Lundehund     Pekingese versus Basenji     Pekingese versus Lakeland Terrier     Pekingese versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Pekingese versus Norwegian Lundehund     Pekingese versus Papipoo     Pekingese versus Afador     Pekingese versus Belgian Malinois     

    Conclusion: Harrier versus Pekingese. 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 Harrier and the Pekingese better suits you and your family.