We're the Hound Group, some of the most interesting dogs recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club). Most of us dogs within the Hound Group were bred to rely on our senses as we worked with man. Some of us were bred as sighthounds, some of us as scenthounds. A couple of us were bred to be big game hounds.
So, what's our common breed characteristic?
What we all have in common is that we were used in hunting. Some of our roots of origin can be traced back several thousand years. We come from diverse regions or countries of the world such as Japan, Afghanistan, and England.
We're dog breeds that are pretty well known. Most people can recognize the Beagle, Dachshund, Basset Hound, or Greyhound. And we've been part of popular culture for quite some time. Oh sure, we endure nicknames..."the hotdog". And some of us are involved in organized dog racing. And we've had a movie made about us..."The Hound of the Baskervilles", a scary mystery film.
But we take this all in stride (so to speak), because we're loaded with stamina, endurance, grace, and intelligence, and have some of the keenest senses of sight and smell within the canine kingdom.
As sighthounds, we were bred to follow fast game, be it rabbits, foxes, and other small animals. We're lean, streamlined, with long legs for an efficient stride, and have great eyesight to track and follow our prey. One of the fastest dogs in our group is the Greyhound, capable of running at speeds up to 40 mph.
As scenthounds, we were bred to follow a scent trail to track our game. We have larger nasal passages, longer ears, and lower, sturdier bodies than our sighthound counterparts. We have deeper voices which can be well heard on the hunting trail, and are capable of traveling long distances to follow the scent in the hunt. The Beagle and Basset Hound are two of our group's excellent scent dogs. The Bloodhound is often used to follow the scent of missing persons in an effort to assist in locating them.
As big game hounds, we were bred to hunt lions, and other large animals. The Norwegian Elkhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are our group's duo that make a great match to follow this game.
Since we do rely on our senses by instinct, our training needs are important. Why? Well, for example, if you're trying to teach sighthounds to "sit", and we see a small squirrel run by.....we're off to chase that rascal! Or, if you're trying to teach scenthounds to walk beside you, when all we want to do is sniff every single blade of grass along the way...well, you can see what we mean. We can be independent and strong-minded, so we need firm, consistent training, along with patience and good skills. We will need to be socialized at an early age, to learn what behavior is permissible in your family. Since most of us are good-natured and mellow, we make great family pets. We're active, intelligent, non-aggressive and love being part of a family. If you're an active person, we'll fit in your walking and jogging regimen. Sometimes our hunting instincts will kick in, and we'll become distracted when being trained. We always need to be on a leash when outdoors to prevent us from running off after an animal, or following a scent that interests us. And if you haven't heard a hound bark, or "bay", it might be something that would bother you. As dogs in the Hound Group, we're generally good with children. Most of us, especially the scenthounds, tend to be calm, even-tempered, and loyal. We're good with kids, and tend to be active and affectionate. The Basset Hound is one dog that will tolerate plenty of play time with children. Some of our breeds in the Hound Group are prone to shedding, which might cause allergy sufferers to experience symptoms. Some of our breeds include dogs which have short hair and will not shed as much, but the AKC has not listed any dogs from our group that allergy sufferers might want to consider. Here's a listing of dog breeds in the Hound Group:Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (Scent)Black and Tan Coonhound (Scent)
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