Is the Harrier Better than the Siberian Husky as a Pet? Answer…

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Harrier Versus Siberian Husky: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Harrier and the Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky. 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 Siberian Husky.

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 Siberian Husky.

Harrier versus Siberian Husky

Harrier versus Siberian Husky: Overview

Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky are similar in size. The Harrier and the Siberian Husky are both medium-sized dogs.

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 Siberian Husky belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Harrier versus Siberian Husky: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Harrier to the Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky

Factor Harrier Siberian Husky
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Height 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder
Easygoing 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 2/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Weight 45 to 60 pounds 35 to 60 pounds
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
General Health 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 13.5 years
Price Range No Data $700 – $1250
Average Price No Data $1080
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- min age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 183 13

    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 Siberian Husky. 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 Siberian Husky is 71 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Harrier and the Siberian Husky

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

  • Harriers are very easy to groom. However, Siberian Huskys require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Harrier and the Siberian Husky

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

  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky are not easy to train.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Harrier and the Siberian Husky are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Harrier versus Siberian Husky

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

    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, Siberian Huskys weigh 35 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Siberian Huskys are 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Harrier versus Siberian Husky

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

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

    Siberian Huskys live longer than Harriers.

    Adopting the Harrier versus Adopting the Siberian Husky

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

    Also, like Harriers, Siberian Huskys are also available for adoption. For example, Reece is a Male Siberian Husky that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Siberian Huskys like Reece that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

    Also, Panchito is an adorable Male Siberian Husky on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

    The Popularity of Harrier versus Popularity of Siberian Husky

    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 Siberian Husky over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Siberian Husky is more popular with dog owners than the Harrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Siberian Husky is 13 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 Siberian Husky

    Popularity of Siberian Husky

    Year Harrier Popularity Rank Siberian Husky Popularity Rank
    2013 173 14
    2014 181 13
    2015 183 12
    2016 186 12
    2017 183 12
    2018 189 14
    2019 186 15
    2020 190 16

    Health Problems of Harrier versus Health Problems of Siberian Husky

    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 Harrier and the Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Harrier.

    2 health tests are recommended for Harrier while 2 tests are recommended for the Siberian Husky.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Harriers and in Siberian Huskys.

    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.

    Siberian Husky Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination- min age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Siberian Huskys here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Harriers and Siberian Huskys

    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
  • 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 Siberian Husky Breed is Dentition Database problems.

    This is because the Siberian Husky ranks 46 out of 49 dog breeds for Dentition Database problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 131 Siberian Huskys, 1 of them had Dentition Database problems.

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

  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 46 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 62 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 98 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 120 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 135 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 188 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Harrier and in Siberian Husky and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Harrier and the Siberian Husky:

    Disease Harrier Rank Siberian Husky Rank
    Hips problems 76 out of 198 dog breeds 188 out of 198 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 46 out of 49 dog breeds
    Eyes problems Not Common 62 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 98 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 120 out of 145 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 135 out of 144 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Harrier versus Siberian Husky

    Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Siberian Huskys do not like to be left alone.

    Do Harriers shed more than Siberian Huskys?

    Harriers shed moderately.

    Siberian Huskys shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Harrier or the Siberian Husky

    Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Siberian Huskys drool moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Harrier or the Siberian Husky?

    Harriers are very easy to groom.

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

    Does the Harrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Siberian Husky?

    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.

    Siberian Huskys have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Harriers Bark and Howl? What about Siberian Huskys?

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

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

    Can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Siberian Huskys can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Harrier vs. Siberian Husky

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

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

    Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Harriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Siberian Huskys can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Harriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Siberian Huskys get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Harriers good family dogs? What about Siberian Huskys?

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

    Siberian Huskys are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Harriers and Siberian Huskys?

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

    Siberian Huskys get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Harrier Easier to Train than the Siberian Husky?

    Harriers are not easy to train.

    Siberian Huskys are not easy to train.

    Is the Harrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Siberian Husky?

    Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Siberian Huskys do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Harriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Siberian Huskys are not the best dogs 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 Siberian Husky vs American Foxhound.
  • Black and Tan Coonhound (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Siberian Husky vs Black and Tan Coonhound.
  • Black Mouth Cur (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Siberian Husky vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bluetick Coonhound (75 percent match with Harrier). Here is our comparison of the Siberian Husky vs Bluetick Coonhound.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Siberian Husky

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

  • Samoyed (75 percent match with Siberian Husky). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Samoyed.
  • Bloodhound (75 percent match with Siberian Husky). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Bloodhound.
  • Finnish Spitz (78 percent match with Siberian Husky). Here is our comparison of the Harrier vs Finnish Spitz.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Harrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Harrier versus English Toy Spaniel     Harrier versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Harrier versus Norfolk Terrier     Harrier versus Havanese     Harrier versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Harrier versus Weimaraner     Harrier versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Harrier versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Harrier versus American Water Spaniel     Harrier versus Dachshund     Harrier versus Patterdale Terrier     Harrier versus Xoloitzcuintli     Harrier versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Harrier versus Bouvier des Flandres     Harrier versus Affenhuahua     Harrier versus Cane Corso     Harrier versus Pyredoodle     Harrier versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Harrier versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Harrier versus Cockalier     Harrier versus Labrador Retriever     Harrier versus Mountain Cur     Harrier versus Sloughi     Harrier versus Bluetick Coonhound     Harrier versus Chinese Crested     

    Siberian Husky Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Siberian Husky versus Basset Hound     Siberian Husky versus American Eskimo Dog     Siberian Husky versus German Pinscher     Siberian Husky versus Brussels Griffon     Siberian Husky versus American Hairless Terrier     Siberian Husky versus Lhasapoo     Siberian Husky versus Bloodhound     Siberian Husky versus French Spaniel     Siberian Husky versus Ibizan Hound     Siberian Husky versus Redbone Coonhound     Siberian Husky versus German Longhaired Pointer     Siberian Husky versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Siberian Husky versus Barbet     Siberian Husky versus German Longhaired Pointer     Siberian Husky versus Giant Schnauzer     Siberian Husky versus Biewer Terrier     Siberian Husky versus Keeshond     Siberian Husky versus Australian Shepherd     Siberian Husky versus Bullmastiff     Siberian Husky versus Miniature Pinscher     Siberian Husky versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Siberian Husky versus Brussels Griffon     Siberian Husky versus Skye Terrier     Siberian Husky versus Pomeranian     Siberian Husky versus Flat-Coated Retriever     

    Conclusion: Harrier versus Siberian Husky. 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 Siberian Husky better suits you and your family.