Hounds were the original hunting dogs and are some of the oldest breeds known to humans. The Hound Group of the American Kennel Club includes two types of dogs:
- Sight hounds who use excellent vision to identify their prey from a distance and then superb speed to run them down.
- Scent hounds who use an acute sense of smell to find their quarry and then exhibit great staying power to wear the prey down in a relentless pursuit.
Sight hounds modern descendent's are breeds the likes of Afghan Hounds, Salukis and Greyhounds. They were largely bred by the traditional civilizations in the Middle East and drawings of hounds have been discovered on excavated vases all the way back to 8,000 years before Christ..
Coursing is a sport that uses dogs to chase game such as wolves or jack rabbits and is a hunting practice that was frequently used by the nobility. So sight hounds are often linked with the gentry and their appearance and bearing is typically considered regal and exotic. Coats on sight hounds range from the smooth coats of Greyhounds and Whippets to the thick glamorous manes of Afghan Hounds and Borzoi. However, beneath the coats, all sight hounds have a similar graceful, long legged conformation that is all about speed.
Scent hounds were developed many years later largely in Medieval Europe. While sight hounds are smooth and fast,, scent hounds usually have robust sturdy legs, long heads, pendulous ears and noses with a sense of smell up to a million times better than human beings. Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds are good examples of this conformation. In the Middle Ages it was the landed nobility that were accountable for the planned evolution of the hound breeds. Some scent hounds were schooled to kill their prey and others were used to keep game cornered while baying to signal the huntsmen. The bigger scent hounds, like Irish Wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds, hunted wolves, elk and deer while smaller ones like Beagles and Harriers chased rabbits and fox.
Over a period of time many types of hounds were developed to specialize in hunting specific kinds of game. As a consequence, scent hounds come in many different body sizes and styles. There are slow moving Basset Hounds, lively Beagles, wolf-like Norwegian Elkhounds and short legged Dachshunds. The common characteristic among these varied looking breeds is they are all hunters that use an acute sense of smell to find their target.
Both sight and scent hounds have been bred for many years to act without intervention, so they have minds of their own. They're not the type of dogs which respond happily to commands without thinking about it first. Sight hounds will chase after animals or even any motion that they may see, completely ignoring surrounding traffic. Scent hounds will trot off to follow any smell that they find interesting. Because of these tendencies hounds must be taken outside on a leash or in a secure yard. Hounds can often be stubborn and independent, but with a little patience and love, they can be trained and become superb, loyal companions.
- Sight hounds who use excellent vision to identify their prey from a distance and then superb speed to run them down.
- Scent hounds who use an acute sense of smell to find their quarry and then exhibit great staying power to wear the prey down in a relentless pursuit.
Sight hounds modern descendent's are breeds the likes of Afghan Hounds, Salukis and Greyhounds. They were largely bred by the traditional civilizations in the Middle East and drawings of hounds have been discovered on excavated vases all the way back to 8,000 years before Christ..
Coursing is a sport that uses dogs to chase game such as wolves or jack rabbits and is a hunting practice that was frequently used by the nobility. So sight hounds are often linked with the gentry and their appearance and bearing is typically considered regal and exotic. Coats on sight hounds range from the smooth coats of Greyhounds and Whippets to the thick glamorous manes of Afghan Hounds and Borzoi. However, beneath the coats, all sight hounds have a similar graceful, long legged conformation that is all about speed.
Scent hounds were developed many years later largely in Medieval Europe. While sight hounds are smooth and fast,, scent hounds usually have robust sturdy legs, long heads, pendulous ears and noses with a sense of smell up to a million times better than human beings. Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds are good examples of this conformation. In the Middle Ages it was the landed nobility that were accountable for the planned evolution of the hound breeds. Some scent hounds were schooled to kill their prey and others were used to keep game cornered while baying to signal the huntsmen. The bigger scent hounds, like Irish Wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds, hunted wolves, elk and deer while smaller ones like Beagles and Harriers chased rabbits and fox.
Over a period of time many types of hounds were developed to specialize in hunting specific kinds of game. As a consequence, scent hounds come in many different body sizes and styles. There are slow moving Basset Hounds, lively Beagles, wolf-like Norwegian Elkhounds and short legged Dachshunds. The common characteristic among these varied looking breeds is they are all hunters that use an acute sense of smell to find their target.
Both sight and scent hounds have been bred for many years to act without intervention, so they have minds of their own. They're not the type of dogs which respond happily to commands without thinking about it first. Sight hounds will chase after animals or even any motion that they may see, completely ignoring surrounding traffic. Scent hounds will trot off to follow any smell that they find interesting. Because of these tendencies hounds must be taken outside on a leash or in a secure yard. Hounds can often be stubborn and independent, but with a little patience and love, they can be trained and become superb, loyal companions.
About the Author:
Bob Long is an engineer and author who has shared his life with many canine companions. he currently lives in Texas with his wife, two children and 5 dogs. He has multiple websites on different topics including the Best Dogs For Apartments and the Behavioral Charateristics of Apartment Dogs.
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