Hound Group Dogs Are Best All Around Hunters
Dogs included in the American Kennel Club(AKC) Hound Group are a diverse collection of sighthounds and scent hounds. They range from the very short Dachshund to the very tall Irish Wolfhound. Some are very ancient breeds, such as the Pharoah Hound and the Saluki, while others are more recent developments, such as most American coonhound breeds.
While they may vary significantly in size and appearance, they all have one thing in common: they were born to hunt.
Dogs Included in the Hound Group
Afghan Hound The Afghan Hound breed began in Afghanistan and is a sight hound. A few other dogs appear regal when it is all dressed up for a show.
The Afghan Hound is an ancient breed and has a reputation for not being the brightest dog in the doghouse. According to Sidney Coren, it ranks dead last in his book The Intelligence of Dogs. Afghan Hound Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed.
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American English Coonhound The American English Coonhound is your dog if you want to hunt raccoons. This breed descends in the United States from foxhounds imported from England, primarily in the South. These dogs loudly bark when pursuing the wily raccoon, and this tendency to bark may be a problem if you live in a big city.
American English Coonhound Association is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
American Foxhound The American Foxhound, the state dog of Virginia, is the American version of the English Foxhound. The early immigrants to Virginia and Maryland brought many customs and dogs from England. These dogs were fox hunters. The American Foxhound was the result. President George Washington helped develop this breed whose distinctive bark can carry for miles. American Foxhound Club, Inc. is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Azawakh The Azawakh (pronounced oz-a-wok) is tall and thin; you can see its bone structure under its skin. It has a short, smooth coat with fine hair that needs occasional brushing. Coat colors can be black, brindle, cream, white, shades of brown, and white. The Azawakh is a sight hound. American Azawakh Association is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Basenji From out of Arica comes the Basenji, an ancient hunting dog that is a sight hound. Another term this breed uses is pariah dog. The Basenji is a small, short-haired dog that is curious and grooms itself much like a cat (which they will chase). They don’t bark like other hound group dogs but make a yodel sound. Only the Afghan Hound is ranked lower in doggy intelligence. Basenji Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Basset Hound The sad face of the Bassett Hound is just one of its endearing qualities. The Basset is ascent hound that hunts hare. Their sense of smell is second only to the Bloodhound. They are built low to the ground and have more endurance than speed when chasing prey. Basset Hound Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Beagle According to Charles Shultz, Happiness is warm Beagle. Many people agree and have made the Beagle the most popular hound group breed. The Beagle is a small dog that closely resembles the much bigger Foxhound. Beagles were bred to be a scent hound, its primary prey being the hare instead of the fox. National Beagle Club of America, Inc. is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Black and Tan Coonhound This Coonhound scent hound was bred to hunt raccoon and was created by mixing a Bloodhound with the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound (a breed not recognized by any Kennel Club, including the AKC). When they get lonely, they will howl a mournful song that your neighbors may or may not enjoy. Probably not a dog for you if you live in a city. American Black and Tan Coonhound Club is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Bloodhound The Bloodhound has the best sense of smell of any dog breed and can track anyone from a lost hiker to an escaped prisoner. This peaceful hound group dog is laid back at home but relentless when on the hunt. Police and rescue organizations all around the world use the Bloodhound. American Bloodhound Club is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Bluetick Coonhound The Bluetick is another of several coonhound dogs developed in the United States, primarily in Lousiana. They also like to bay, especially when hunting, so they may be better suited for a country lifestyle unless you spend time training them not to be so vocal. They are intelligent dogs and are well-behaved if adequately trained. National Bluetick Coonhound Association is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Borzoi The Borzoi is a Russian sighthound and not a dancer for the Bolshoi Ballet company. They are tall, swift dogs bred to chase and catch a hare and sometimes wolves. Like the Afghan Hound, they are selectively intelligent (they learn what they want to know) and may be challenging to train. They are affectionate dogs but too sophisticated for rough play. Borzoi Club of America, Inc. is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Cirneco dell’Etna Cirneco dell’Etna (named after the Etna volcano) is an Italian sighthound from Sicily. This hound group dog hunts rabbits and other small game. The Cirneco is an ancient breed that may have arrived in Sicily over 3,000 years ago. Cirneco Dell’Etna Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Dachshund The Dachshund can scent and chase badgers. Dachshunds, nicknamed wiener or sausage dogs, also hunt small game such as rabbits. Flushing a badger from its burrow is not for the faint of heart, and the Dachshund’s bravery may sometimes border on foolhardy. Dachshund is German for “Badger Dog.” Owners of Dachshund tend to become very devoted to the breed. Dachshund Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
English Foxhound If you are a Foxhound, the first word you learn as a puppy is “Tally-Ho!” Those words are yelled to tell everyone that someone has spotted the fox. These scenthounds are sociable but not usually kept as family pets. They were born to hunt, and that hunting desire is ingrained in their DNA. English Foxhound Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a French hunting dog a couple of inches taller than the Basset Hound. They hunted boar, deer, and rabbits but now are mainly household pets. They are happy, confident, and sometimes stubborn hound group companion dogs. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Greyhound The Greyhound was initially bred for hunting as a sighthound and is now more commonly used for the sport of dog racing. Adopting retired racing dogs has become popular and has made the Greyhound a well-loved family pet. The Greyhound is a swift dog, the fastest in the world, and can reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour (still well short of the Cheetah ‘s top speed of almost 80 miles per hour, however), Greyhound Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Harrier The Harrier is a medium-size scenthound bred in the United Kingdom to hunt rabbits. Harriers are larger than Beagles but smaller than Foxhounds, both of which it resembles in appearance. The Harrier is an old dog breed and made its way to Colonial America. It is possible that George Washington used the Harrier to create the American Foxhound. Harrier Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Ibizan Hound The Ibizan Hound is from Ibiza, an island in the Mediterranean Sea about 90 miles off the mid-eastern coast of Spain. It is ancient, perhaps from Egypt, and used for hunting rabbits and other small games. The Ibizan Hound is a versatile hunter and hunts by scent, sight, and sound. Ibizan Hound Club of the United States is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Irish Wolfhound The Irish Wolfhound is a large sighthound from Ireland. It is a swift dog with speeds that compare to the Greyhound. The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest of all dog breeds. It is also a guard dog, especially against wolves. It is too friendly to be a top guard dog against humans, but its great size is probably enough to scare away most intruders. Irish Wolfhound Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Norwegian Elkhound The Norwegian Elkhound, the national dog of Norway, is a prized hunter of large game animals such as bears, elk, and moose. Fearless, this breed is also a great companion dog and displays affection and loyalty to its human companions. The Norwegian Elkhound only barks when the quarry stands still, unlike coonhounds who bark almost continuously during the chase. Norwegian Elkhound Association of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Otterhound The Otterhound is a large scenthound from England, used for hunting otters before hunting was outlawed. The Otterhound is a rare breed in the United Kingdom listed as a vulnerable native breed . The Otterhound has a thick, shaggy coat, webbed feet, and loves to swim. Otterhound Club of America, Inc. is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (pronounced “Puh-TEE Bah-SAY Gree-FOHN VON-day-uhn) is a small to medium scenthound. It can hunt rabbits in the brambles that cover fields in the Vendée area of France. The PBGV is known to be a happy, friendly dog with a constantly wagging tail and a loud bark befitting any hound. Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Pharaoh Hound The Pharaoh Hound hails from the Maltese Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the national dog of Malta. The Pharaoh is an ancient breed, and it may have been imported to Malta by the Phoenicians over 2,500 years ago. This hound is good at hunting rabbits. When the Pharaoh hound is happy or excited, it is known to “blush,” and its ears and nose become bright pink. Pharaoh Hound Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Plott Hound The Plott Hound is the state dog of North Carolina. It is named after the Plott family, responsible for starting the breed. The Plott Hound was developed in North Carolina. The Plott Hound is a scenthound bred to hunt bears in the mountains of North Carolina. The Plott family emigrated to the United States from Germany and brought several dogs with them. Plott Association of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a small hound from Portugal that hunts by sight and scent. In its native country, there are three sizes of the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, but the AKC only recognized the smaller one. The different size dogs in Portugal are not interbred. The Phoenicians likely brought this breed to Iberia long ago. This dog loves to run, play, and chase things. Portuguese Podengo Pequenos of America, Inc. is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Redbone Coonhound The Redbone Coonhound hunts raccoons and larger game such as deer, bear, boar, and cougars. It descended from dogs brought from Scotland to the southern state of Georgia. The Redbone Coonhound is mellow and laid-back around the homestead but is a tireless hunter when on the chase. National Redbone Coonhound Club is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Rhodesian Ridgeback The Rhodesian Ridgeback came from southern Africa and hunts large game animals. This hound group dog tries to keep prey animals at bay until the hunter can shoot. It can pursue but does not try to kill lions. Their name comes from the way hair grows on their backs. They are excellent guard dogs if adequately trained. They may be wary and aloof to strangers but are not aggressive. Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Saluki The Saluki is an old (possibly over 7,000 years) dog breed in the hound group from the Fertile Crescent. It is a sighthound that was a favorite of Egyptian pharaohs. Alexander the Great had a Saluki. The Saluki may not be as fast as the Greyhound over shorter distances, but it can run at speed longer than the Greyhound. It often competes in the dog competition events such as coursing. Saluki Club of America is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Scottish Deerhound The Scottish Deerhound is a large sighthound bred to hunt the red deer of Scotland. It is one of the oldest breeds in the hound group. The Deerhound’s origins cannot be separated from myth and mythology due to the breed’s age. Before the Scottish peoples’ arrival in the ninth century, evidence suggests that huge deerstalking hounds were already in Scotland. “My heart’s in the Highlands. My heart is not here; My heart’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer.” Robert Burns The Scottish Deerhound of America Club is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Sloughi The Sloughi, a North African (Morocco) sighthound very similar in appearance to the Saluki but is a separate breed. The Saluki hunts game in the deserts of North Africa. The Sloughi, a hound group dog, is usually aloof with strangers but is very friendly to the people it knows. When you first meet a Sloughi, the dog will expect you not to try to be too familiar as you might with another breed, such as the Golden Shepherd. America Sloughi Association is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Treeing Walker Coonhound The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a scenthound that hunts raccoons primarily but also hunts other game animals. Most hound group dogs hunt in packs, so they usually get along well with other dogs and humans. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is no exception and is a loyal and affectionate companion dog. National Treeing Walker Coonhound Association is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
Whippet The Whippet, a sighthound, comes from England. The Whippet looks much like a smaller version of the Greyhound from which it was developed. Whippets are commonly used in dog racing events and dog competitions such as coursing. American Whippet Club is the AKC parent club for this breed. |
