Hounds were the first hunting dogs and are some of the most venerable breeds known to man. The Hound Group of the American Kennel Club includes two kinds 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 a keen sense of smell to find their quarry and then exhibit great endurance to wear the prey down in a relentless chase.
Sight hounds modern day descendent's are breeds like Afghan Hounds, Salukis and Greyhounds. They were mostly developed by the ancient civilizations in the Middle East and pictures of hounds have been found on excavated vases dating back to 8,000 BC.
Coursing is a sport that uses dogs to follow game such as gazelle or rabbits and is a hunting practice that was commonly used by the nobility. So sight hounds are sometimes associated with the aristocracy and their appearance and bearing is frequently considered regal and exotic. Coats on sight hounds go from the short, smooth hair of Greyhounds and Whippets to the thick long and glamorous coats of Afghan Hounds and Borzoi. However, underneath the hair, all sight hounds have a corresponding sleek, long legged conformation that screams 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 time many breeds of hounds were developed to specialize in hunting specific kinds of game. As a consequence, scent hounds come in several different body shapes and sizes. There are lethargic Basset Hounds, energetic Beagles, wolf-like Norwegian Elkhounds and short legged Dachshunds. The common element among these different looking breeds is they are all hunters that use a sharp sense of smell to find their quarry.
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.
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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