Last Updated: Mar 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Chihuahua Versus Harrier: Introduction
- Chihuahua versus Harrier: Overview
- Chihuahua versus Harrier: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Harrier
- The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Harrier
- Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Harrier
- Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Harrier
- The Popularity of Chihuahua versus Popularity of Harrier
- Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Harrier
- Do Chihuahuas shed more than Harriers?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Harrier?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Harrier?
- Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Harriers?
- Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Harrier?
- Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Harrier
- How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Harriers?
- Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?
- Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?
- Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Harrier
- Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Harrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
Chihuahua Versus Harrier: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chihuahua and the Harrier? 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 Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua and the Harrier.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua or the Harrier.
Read on.
Chihuahua versus Harrier: Overview
A very important difference between the Chihuahua and the Harrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a tiny-sized dog while the Harrier is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Chihuahua 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.
Chihuahua versus Harrier: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Chihuahua 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.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Chihuahua and the Harrier
| Factor | Chihuahua | Harrier |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 18 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 3 to 6 pounds | 45 to 60 pounds |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Height | 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder | 19 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Average Lifespan | 14.0 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $1820 | No Data |
| Price Range | $850 – $2500 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | ||
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 30 | 184 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chihuahua 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 the Chihuahua is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Harrier is 81 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chihuahua is a better pet than the Harrier. So, you should get a Chihuahua!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Harrier
Below is a list of where the Chihuahua and the Harrier are most different:
The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Harrier
The Chihuahua and the Harrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chihuahua and the Harrier are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Harrier
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chihuahua and the Harrier.
Chihuahuas weigh 3 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Chihuahuas are 6 inches to 9 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.
Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Harrier
The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.
The lifespan of Harriers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Harriers is 11.0 years.
Chihuahuas live longer than Harriers.
Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.
The Popularity of Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua and the Harrier over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chihuahua is more popular with dog owners than the Harrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chihuahua is 30 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Harrier is 184 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Chihuahua
Popularity of Harrier
| Year | Chihuahua Popularity Rank | Harrier Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 22 | 173 |
| 2014 | 24 | 181 |
| 2015 | 28 | 183 |
| 2016 | 30 | 186 |
| 2017 | 32 | 183 |
| 2018 | 33 | 189 |
| 2019 | 35 | 186 |
| 2020 | 34 | 190 |
| 2021 | 37 | 188 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Harrier
Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.
Harriers can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Chihuahuas shed more than Harriers?
Chihuahuas do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Chihuahuas, and on how to groom a Chihuahua
Harriers shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Harrier?
Chihuahuas are very easy to groom.
To learn more about how to properly groom a Chihuahua, check out our article on how to groom a Chihuahua.
Learn more on how to take care of a Chihuahua here.
Harriers are very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Harrier?
Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.
Harriers get along very well with other dogs.
Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Harriers?
Chihuahuas are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Chihuahua make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.
Learn about Chihuahua temperament here.
Harriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Harrier?
Chihuahuas are very easy to train.
Harriers are not easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Harrier
Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.
Harriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Harriers?
Chihuahuas get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Harriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Harrier?
Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Harriers?
Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.
Harriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Harriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Harriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Harrier
Chihuahuas do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Harriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Harriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Chihuahuas cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Harriers can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the Harrier?
Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.
Harriers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chihuahua or the Harrier?
Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.
Harriers are OK for new dog owners.
Conclusion: Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua and the Harrier better suits you and your family.