Hounds

Hounds – General Information

Hound dogs as a group are bred for hunting and tracking. There are three distinct families of hounds that include sighthounds, scenthounds, and primitives & pariahs. Some breeds use both senses equally well.

Sighthounds find and track prey by sight. Examples of sighthounds include Afghans, Greyhounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Whippets. They can be identified by their athletic body and keen vision. Generally, they have long legs, a deep chest, narrow waist and head. These features enable sighthounds to overpower their prey with speed and agility.

Scenthounds find and track prey by scent. Examples of scenthounds include Bloodhounds, Coonhounds, Beagles and Basset Hounds. They can be identified by their large ears and nose, and a rugged, sturdy body. These features enable them to track and find prey over great distances and long periods of time.

The United Kennel Club (UKC – United States) and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI – Thuin, Belgium) recognize some purebred dogs bred for chasing large game as hounds.  The UKC classifies them as pariah dogs and includes them in the Sighthound and Pariah group.  The FCI classifies them as primitive type hunting dogs and puts them in Group 5, sections 6,7 & 8.

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Registries & Kennel Clubs

• AKC – American Kennel Club – Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
• ANKC – Australian National Kennel Council – Sydney, New South Wales
• CKC – Canadian Kennel Club – Etobicoke, Ontario
• FCI – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Organization) – Thuin, Belgium
• KC (UK) – The Kennel Club – London & Aylesbury
• NZKC – New Zealand Kennel Club – Porirua
• UKC – United Kennel Club – Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

This article uses some material that is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia articles Hound and Pariah Dog

Hound Families

Click an Image to Learn More About each Hound Family

SCENTHOUNDS

SIGHTHOUNDS

PARIAHS & PRIMITIVES

Breed List

P & P = Pariahs & Primitives

Videos

Animal Planet – Breed All About It: AKC Hound Group