FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE
How to feed a Harrier
The Harrier is a tireless scenthound - a leaner, smaller cousin of the English Foxhound built to run hare across open country for hours. That deep stamina and athletic, long-boned frame are exactly why what goes in the bowl matters: this is a dog that burns clean fuel all day and needs every calorie to be working for it.
Here is how to feed a Harrier on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the lean animal protein, joint support, and steady energy a hard-running pack hound is built to thrive on.
- Adult weight45–65 lb
- SizeMedium
- EnergyHigh
- Lifespan12-14 years
- CoatShort, hard tricolor - moderate shedder
What a Harrier's body needs
Every Harrier trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.
Tireless pack-hunting stamina
Needs: Clean animal protein & fat
83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady, all-day energy - the slow-burn fuel a hare hound needs, without the carb fillers that spike and crash.
Athletic, long-boned working build
Needs: Joint support + lean weight
Real meat, organ and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, and omega-3s help calm the wear-and-tear inflammation that comes with miles on the trail.
Hip dysplasia risk
Needs: Joint nutrients + a lean frame
Keeping a Harrier lean takes load off the hips, while whole-food bone and cartilage deliver the joint-supporting nutrients an at-risk breed benefits from.
Big appetite, food-motivated nose
Needs: Precise, measured portions
Calorie-dense freeze-dried raw is easy to weigh to the gram, so a hound that always acts hungry still stays lean and trail-ready.
Short, hard working coat
Needs: Whole-food omega-3 fatty acids
Animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, keeping that close coat sleek and weatherproof through long days outdoors.
How much to feed a Harrier
Quick answer: a healthy adult Harrier (45–65 lb) needs about 6.8–9.8 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
| Ideal adult weight | Freeze-dried per day | Per meal (×2) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 lb | 6.8 oz | 3.4 oz |
| 50 lb | 7.5 oz | 3.8 oz |
| 55 lbtypical Harrier | 8.3 oz | 4.1 oz |
| 60 lb | 9 oz | 4.5 oz |
| 65 lb | 9.8 oz | 4.9 oz |
Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active pets need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.
What to feed a Harrier
For a Harrier we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base - real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler - or as a topper while you transition. It delivers the clean, dense animal protein an active scenthound runs on without the starchy bulk that slows a working dog down.
Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit easy keepers and sensitive stomachs; richer Beef suits hard-working or harder-to-keep hounds in peak season. Just add water and serve.
Recipes for Harriers
Shop all →
Feeding a Harrier by life stage
- Puppy: Harrier puppies are athletic and grow into a medium, long-boned frame - feed for steady, even growth rather than fast size. Offer roughly 5-8% of current body weight across 3-4 meals a day and resist overfeeding, which adds stress to developing hips and joints.
- Adult: Feed to a lean, visible waist, split across two meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust up in peak hunting or running season and down in the off-season - a working hound's needs swing with its mileage.
- Senior: Activity eases but appetite rarely does. Trim portions to hold a lean weight, keep protein high to preserve the lean muscle a hound depends on, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition for aging hips.
Common Harrier concerns — and the diet connection
- Hip dysplasiaThe breed's main orthopedic watch-out. It is largely genetic, but a lean body condition plus joint nutrients - natural glucosamine from bone and cartilage, and omega-3 - support day-to-day comfort and ease load on the joints.
- Weight gain in the off-seasonA working hound that suddenly gets less exercise can gain quietly. Measured raw feeding and feeding to body condition keep a Harrier lean year-round, which protects nearly everything else.
- EpilepsySeen in the breed and managed by a veterinarian, not by diet - but a consistent, whole-food diet free of unnecessary additives supports overall steadiness and general wellbeing.
- Energy & lean muscleA tireless scenthound runs on clean animal protein and fat for sustained stamina and muscle maintenance - not on carbohydrate fillers that fade between meals.
Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.
Feeding a Harrier: what to know
Harriers were bred to work, and an under-exercised one can quietly put on weight - especially the food-driven hounds that bay at the bowl. Feed to body condition, not to the appetite: you should feel the ribs easily and see a clear waist from above.
Because this breed's nose can turn any meal into a counter-surfing mission, keep portions measured and consistent. Weigh meals rather than eyeballing them, and re-check the amount every few weeks as exercise rises and falls with the seasons.
Harrier feeding questions
How much should I feed my Harrier?
What is the best food for an active Harrier?
How do I switch my Harrier to raw?
Does a Harrier need joint support?
Why does my Harrier always act hungry?
THE CLEAN BOWL GUARANTEE
If your dog won't eat it, it's on us
Try Harrier's first plan risk-free. If they turn up their nose, we'll make it right — money-back, and skip, pause or cancel anytime.
- Vet-formulated
- AAFCO complete & balanced
- Pathogen-tested every batch
“Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He’s leaner, with more energy on our walks.”
— Jenna & Cooper“My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was.”
— Priya & Luna
Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.