Hound Dog Breeds ***

Hound Dog Breeds

Hound Dog Breeds: The word hound is derived from the Old English word 'hund' meaning dog. As time passed the meaning narrowed to a "dog used for hunting". Hound Dogs are any of several breeds of dog used for hunting, by either by sight or scent, and characterised by having long, drooping ears, a short coat, and a deep resounding, baying, bark. Sighthounds include breeds such as the greyhound, the Afghan Hound and the whippet.

Scent Hounds include dog breeds such as the Basset Hound, the Beagle and the famous Bloodhound. Some of the Hound Dog breeds date back to antiquity. The primary duties of the Hound Dog Breeds were to assist the human hunter chasing quarry or tracking prey.

Hunting Dogs - Scenthounds: Scenthound Breeds (Scent hounds) were used to hunt their quarry guided by the odor, or smell, of their prey. Scent hounds are not as fast as sighthounds. Scenthounds are strong and built for endurance, with loose, moist lips and large noses with deep, open nostrils that enable them pick up scent particles and track their prey.

Many British scenthounds, such as the Foxhound, Harrier, Otterhound and the American Coonhounds share their ancestry from the now extinct, British 'Southern Hound'. The ancient, British 'Southern Hound' was a slow, deliberate, unswerving, scenthound with excellent scenting abilities.

Hunting Dogs - Sighthounds: Sighthound Breeds (Sight Hounds), or gazehounds, were used to hunt their quarry using their excellent eyesight, agility, and their powerful legs and padded paws that enabled them to travel across all types of terrain.

Hound Dog Breeds - Working with Bay Dogs and Catch Dogs: Sight Hounds and Scenthounds were the favored types of hunting dogs but sometimes they were used in conjunction with Bay Dogs, aka as Hog Dogs or Cur Breeds, such as the Bulldog and American Staffordshire Terrier, who were trained to harass, harry and corner its prey (hence the expression "Holding a stag at bay". Hound Dog Breeds also worked with human hunters in conjunction with Catch Dogs, such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Canary Dog (Presa Canario), who alerted by the baying of the hounds, were specifically trained to catch and hold the quarry until the hunter arrived. For additional facts and information refer to Hunting Dogs.

Types of Hound Dog Breeds: The many different Hound Dog Breeds, both Sight Hounds and Scenthounds, are detailed as follows.

Hound Dog Breeds - Afghan Hound: The large sized, regal, independent, cool Afghan Hound is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1926) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt hare, fox, wolf and gazelle.

Hound Dog Breeds - American Foxhound: The medium sized, sweet-tempered, independent, faithful American Foxhound is one of the Scent Hounds and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt for small game especially foxes.

Hound Dog Breeds - Basenji: The medium sized, energetic, loving, curious Basenji is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1943) and used as a Hunting Dog in Africa to hunt monkeys, small cats and antelopes.

Hound Dog Breeds - Basset Hound: The medium sized, devoted, steadfast, sweet-tempered Basset Hound is one of the Scent Hound breeds (AKC:1935) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt bears, badgers and rabbits.

Hound Dog Breeds - Beagle: The small sized, lively, loving, independent Beagle is one of the Scent Hounds (AKC:1885) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt rabbit and hare.

Hound Dog Breeds - Black and Tan Coonhound: The large sized, sweet-tempered, easygoing, adaptable Black and Tan Coonhound is one of the Scent Hound breeds and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt bears and opussums.

Hound Dog Breeds - Bloodhound: The large sized, headstrong, even tempered, independent Bloodhound is one of the Scent Hounds (AKC:1885) and used as a Hunting Dog that used its sense of smell to originally hunt wild boar and deer.

Hound Dog Breeds - Bluetick Coonhound: The large sized, active, clever, loving Bluetick Coonhound is one of the Scent Hound breeds and used as a Hunting Dog, using its power, stamina and sense of smell to track cougars.

Hound Dog Breeds - Borzoi: The large to giant sized, respectful, independent, sweet-tempered Borzoi is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1891) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt wolves and foxes.

Hound Dog Breeds - Dachshund: The small sized, courageous, lively, headstrong Dachshund is one of the Scent Hounds (AKC:1885) and used as a Hunting Dog for animals that lived in burrows and were also known to help in hunts in the US for prairie dogs.

Hound Dog Breeds - English Foxhound: The large sized, sociable, tolerant, sweet-tempered English Foxhound is one of the Scent Hounds (AKC:1909) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt foxes.

Hound Dog Breeds - Greyhound: The large sized, loving, even tempered, clever Greyhound Dog is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1885) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt deer, wolves and antelopes.

Hound Dog Breeds - Harrier: The medium sized, outgoing, loving, active Harrier is one of the Scent Hounds (AKC:1885) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt rabbits, foxes and hares.

Hound Dog Breeds - Ibizan Hound: The large sized, active, engaging, headstrong Ibizan Hound is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1978) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt small game such as rabbits.

Hound Dog Breeds - Irish Wolfhound: The giant sized, faithful, regal, patient Irish Wolfhound is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1897) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt wolves, stag and elk.

Hound Dog Breeds - Norwegian Elkhound: The medium sized, hardy, alert, playful Norwegian Elkhound is one of the Scent Hounds (AKC:1913) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt elk, mountain lions and bears.

Hound Dog Breeds - Otterhound: The large sized, even tempered, boisterous, amiable Otterhound is one of the Scent Hound breeds (AKC:1909) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt otters.

Hound Dog Breeds - Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen: The medium sized, lively, out-going, loving Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is one of the Scent Hound breeds (AKC:1990) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt rabbits and hares.

Hound Dog - Pharaoh Hound: The medium sized, sociable, active, loving Pharaoh Hound is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1983) and used as a Hunting dog to hunt gazelle and small game in Ancient Egypt.

Hound Dog - Plott Hound: The medium sized, bold, sharp, courageous Plott Hound is one of the Scent Hounds (AKC:2006) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt bears.

Hound Dog - Portuguese Podengo: The small sized, hardy, lively, companionable Portuguese Podengo is a multi-sensory hound (Sight Hound and Scenthound) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt rabbits.

Hound Dog - Redbone Coonhound: The medium sized, energetic, loving, unflappable Redbone Coonhound is one of the Scent Hound breeds (AKC:2003) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt small animal and raccoons.

Hound Dogs - Rhodesian Ridgeback: The large sized, faithful, regal, sensitive Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of the Scenthound breeds (AKC:1955) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt large game, including lions, in Africa.

Hound Dogs - Saluki: The large sized, faithful, cool, clever Saluki is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1929) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt hawks, foxes, wolves, hare and gazelle.

Hound Dogs - Scottish Deerhound: The giant sized, sweet-tempered, regal, docile Scottish Deerhound is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1886 and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt deer and stags.

Hound Dogs - Treeing Walker Coonhound: The large sized, loving, self-assured, clever Treeing Walker Coonhound is one of the Scenthounds and used as a Hunting dog to hunt small and large game including bears.

Hound Dogs - Whippet: The medium sized, loving, lively, sweet-tempered Whippet is one of the Sight Hounds (AKC:1888) and used as a Hunting Dog to hunt rabbits.