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Hound Dogs

What’s great about hounds? Why would you want to have one? Why wouldn’t you?

Origins of Hounds

Hounds have very diverse origins, having been developed all over the world from the Arctic to the tropics. Although they share the common trait of having been originally bred for hunting, they make wonderful companion dogs as well. All have a high level of stamina, endurance, grace, and intelligence.

Many of these dogs were bred in Africa, and hounds are believed to be some of the first dogs domesticated to help mankind hunt to fulfill his food needs. Some hounds hunt alone, some prefer human companionship, and some like to hunt in large packs with other dogs of their breed.

The word “hound” comes from the German “hund”, which translates as dog. Hounds typically hunt game on land, as opposed to the Sporting Dogs who hunt birds.

Types of Hounds

Hound dogs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, making most generalizations difficult to apply. The best way to find commonalities between the dogs in the hound group is to recognize that hounds serve three basic hunting functions.

Scent hounds such as the Beagle, the Bloodhound, and the Basset Hound are generally low to the ground and have very large ears. The ears serve to pull scents from the air and focus them around the nose. These are dogs that are rarely seen without their noses on the ground, following some trail or another. As a group, these dogs have very large nasal passages and a sense of smell that is more acute than most other dogs and thousands of times more sensitive than the human nose.

By contrast, sighthounds hunt by running after fast game using their extremely good eyesight to track prey. Sighthounds have long legs, streamlined bodies, and can run extremely fast. Their large, deep chests house an efficient heart and lungs, allowing them to have great stamina for long runs. Probably the best known sighthound is the Greyhound, which can run at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.

The last of the three sub-groups is the big game hound, bred to hunt lions and other large animals. These dogs, exemplified by the Norwegian Elkhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback, use both their eyes and their noses, as well as their strength to bring down large prey.

Training Needs

Although these dogs are intelligent, they are sometimes difficult to train because they are so single-mindedly devoted to the hunt. There is nothing that is as fun to a hound as tracking something. Trying to teach a dog the basic obedience commands of sit, stay, down, heel, come, and off is difficult when the dog would much rather be chasing anything that moves or smells good. It is much easier to train a hound in a quiet, indoor environment where he or she cannot be distracted by squirrels, passing cars, small children, and the scent on every blade of grass or under every rock.

Hounds are notoriously independent. In fact, they have to be in order to perform their hunting tasks. A dog who cannot make decisions on his own is useless in the field, but this independence does make training a challenge. Consistent and continuous training is required for hounds, and the trainer must be prepared to have a great deal of patience with the dog while he learns to ignore some of his instincts in order to follow training commands.

Hounds as Pets

Most hound dogs make great family pets. They are loyal, generally great with children, calm, affectionate, non-aggressive, and can fit into just about any lifestyle. Most hounds are very active and will need abundant exercise, but some, like the Beagle, are just as happy to sit with you on the couch as to be outside working. If you live with one of the more active breeds, you will need to provide a large yard for exercise or get your pet involved in sporting events if you are not a hunter.

These dogs love to go for walks because there is so much to see and smell. Hounds should always be kept on a lead or they will be off on the hunt. Sighthounds will take off at the least provocation, meaning movement, while scenthounds will follow any trail, real or imagined. This again points out the need for good early training. Make sure your dog understands how to stay with you when you are out of the house, and make sure he or she will come when called. Dogs in general have no idea of the damage a passing car can do, and there is nothing sadder than a dog who gets loose and meets with serious injury or death due to running in the road.

Hounds are not generally considered hypo-allergenic, but the short-haired breeds tend to cause fewer sneezes than the long-haired hounds.

Which dogs are part of the Hound Group?

Not all dogs that hunt or include “hound’ in the name are necessarily part of the Hound Group. For example, the Keeshond sounds like it ought to be a hound, but is part of the Non-Sporting Group. The Vizsla and Weimeraner both look like hounds, but are actually in the Sporting Group with the retrievers.

The breeds classified as Hounds by the American Kennel Club are:

• Afghan Hound
• American Foxhound
• Basenji
• Basset Hound
• Beagle
• Black and Tan Coonhound
• Borzoi
• Dachshund
• English Foxhound
• Greyhound
• Harrier
• Ibizan Hound
• Irish Wolfhound
• Norwegian Elkhound
• Otterhound
• Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
• Pharaoh Hound
• Plott
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Saluki
• Scottish Deerhound
• Whippet

A good comparison chart for the various breeds can be found on the United Kingdom’s Kennel Club Web site, showing the sizes of the various hounds, as well as grooming requirements, exercise needs, and expected lifespan.

What are the downsides to Hounds?

Aside from their generally high exercise needs which may or may not fit into your lifestyle, the key thing to think about before getting a hound is the amount of noise they will make. Some dogs, such as the Basenji, are extremely quiet, while others like the Basset Hound take great delight in baying when they are excited. If you think you don’t mind a dog who barks every once in awhile, you need to make sure you can tolerate the doleful baying sounds some hounds produce. This sound, designed to carry back to the hunters to let them know where the dogs have cornered their game, can be quite loud in the city.

Do I want a hound?

If you are looking for an active, loyal dog who is highly intelligent, a hound dog may be just the one you desire. However, if you want a dog who is easy to train, will stay in an unfenced yard, and will stay quiet, you may want to look in another group.