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Hounds
Dog breeds in bold are not pictured.
Sight Hounds
Afghan Hound, Borzoi, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Saluki.
The
Afghan hound, similar to the greyhound, originated in
Afghanistan. A capable hunting dog, the Afghan hound is a swift
runner and a powerful jumper. Evidence exists that the breed was
known in Egypt as far back as 4000 and 3000BC. British soldiers
returning home from the India-Afghanistan border wars introduced the
breed into England in the late 1800s, and it was brought to the
United States about 1931. The Afghan hound weighs about 60 pounds and
stands about 27 inches high. It has a narrow head, like that of the
greyhound; a long neck; straight, strong forelegs; and thick, silky
hair. A hunter, the Afghan hound courses its game by sight. The dog
is especially valuable in hilly country because of its ability to
turn easily and execute powerful leaps.
The
Borzoi, or Russian wolfhound, was bred in Russia in the early
17th century to hunt wolves and rabbits. A swift runner, the dog is
characterized by a long, silky coat; a low-hanging tail; and long
body. The Borzoi was used by the Russian aristocracy for coursing
wolves, hare, and other game. The dog was first imported into the
United States from England in 1889 and was given the name Borzoi in
1936. The Borzoi has a long body; a heavy, silky, somewhat curly
coat, usually white in color with markings of black, gray, tan, or
lemon; a long, narrow head; dark eyes; small, fine ears; long legs;
and a long tail that is carried low. The male is about 28 to 31
inches in height at the shoulder and weighs 75 to 105 pounds; the
female, somewhat smaller, weighs about 20 pounds less. An animal of
great speed and courage, the Borzoi makes a gentle pet.
While
chasing an electrically propelled lure in racetracks built
specifically for dog racing, greyhounds may reach speeds of up
to 40 mph. The breed's physical attributes, such as its deep chest
and great lung capacity, narrow and aerodynamic head, and strong
muscles, give the greyhound its rapid acceleration and speed.
Egyptian tomb carvings indicate that the greyhound was known in the
3rd millennium BC; the dog was known in England as early as the 9th
century. Some authorities claim the term greyhound refers to the once
prevailing color of the breed. The dog has been used for hunting
goat, fox, deer, and other game, particularly the hare. In England
for the past 200 years the greyhound has been used in the popular
sport of coursing. In recent years it has been used as a racing dog
in England and the U.S.; on racetracks built for the purpose, the
greyhounds pursue an electrically propelled mechanical lure.
The dog is large, but slender and graceful; it weighs from 65 to 70
pounds. The breed is characterized by a long and narrow head; small,
pointed ears; bright, intelligent eyes; a broad, muscular, and
well-arched back; a deep, wide chest; thin, well-muscled loins; and a
long tapering tail with a slight upward curve. It has a coat of
smooth, short hair that is white, black, gray, or a combination of
these colors.
Ibizan Hound, breed of dog, whose history, on the evidence of excavated representations, goes back to ancient Egypt. From there the dog was introduced to the island of Ibiza, one of the Balearic Islands. It developed into a strong, hardy breed, able to hunt with great skill and withstand hardships. Ibizans were first bred in the United States in 1956 and rapidly became favored family pets, watchdogs, and hunters. Extremely speedy and agile, they course their quarry and are able to jump to great heights. Males weigh about 50 pounds and females weigh about 45 pounds; height at the shoulders is 23.5 to 27.5 inches in males and 22.5 to 26 inches in females. The color pattern is generally red-white or tawny-white; occasionally the coat is solid red or white. The head is long and narrow with prominent prick ears. Other distinguishing features are a long, sickle-shaped tail and a deep chest with prominent ribs.
The
Rhodesian ridgeback gets its name from its origins in South
Africa and from a ridge of hair along its spine that runs against the
other fur in direction. Due to its origins, the ridgeback is well
suited to extreme hot and cold temperatures. The ridgeback was bred
in South Africa by Afrikaner farmers as a big-game hunter and guard
dog. It represents a combination of several imported breeds,
including the Great Dane, mastiff, greyhound, and bloodhound, with
Rhodesian varieties capable of withstanding extremes of heat and
cold. Introduced into the United States in 1950, the Rhodesian
ridgeback was recognized as a standard breed in 1955. The dog has a
strong, muscular body and a broad head with high-set ears and a long
muzzle. The short, sleek coat varies in color from light to red
wheaten. The adult ridgeback weighs from 65 to 75 pounds and averages
about 26 inches high at the shoulder.
Saluki, breed of hound, for which records date from 329BC. It is found living with desert tribes in the Middle East. The saluki is known to have been used to hunt the gazelle and is therefore sometimes called a gazelle hound. The breed was introduced into England in 1840 and became popular there and on the Continent toward the end of the century. The saluki, which hunts chiefly by sight, is used in England to course hares. In recent years the dog has become popular in the United States as a show dog and a pet. The animal has a long, narrow head; bright black or hazel eyes; long ears covered with long, silky hair and lying close to the head; straight forelegs; hind legs set widely apart; and a long curving tail. The coat is smooth and silky and is sometimes feathered on the legs, the back of the thighs, and elsewhere on the body. The dog may be any of a number of colors including white, cream, fawn, golden, or red; or may be white, black, and tan, or black and tan. The average height of the male at the shoulder is from 23 to 28 inches; the female is usually smaller. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1927.
Scent Hounds
Basenji, Basset Hound, Beagle, Black and Tan Coonhound, Bloodhound, Dachshund, Foxhound, Harrier, Irish Wolfhound, Norwegian Elkhound, Otter Hound, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, Pharaoh Hound, Scottish Deerhound, Whippet.
The
basenji is also known as the African barkless dog. A hound
breed, the basenji is not entirely mute and is characterized by its
wrinkled forehead and tightly curled tail. Long known, the breed is
clearly shown in ancient Egyptian works of art. Although it is
barkless, it is not completely mute. Characteristics of the breed are
upright ears; wrinkled forehead; moderately long legs; short, fine,
lustrous hair; a tightly curled tail; and small size. The basenji
weighs about about 24 pounds and is 17 inches high at the shoulder.
The color varies from black to reddish and is often mixed with white.
The
basset hound is a breed of sporting dog originally bred in
France from the French bloodhound and the Saint Hubert hound. The dog
is characterized by short, stocky legs, long ears, and drooping eyes.
It has a very keen sense of smell. The basset was popular in France,
Belgium, and other European countries for hundreds of years before
being exhibited for the first time at an English dog show in 1875.
After 1880 it gained rapidly in popularity in Britain. Standing 11 to
15 inches high at the shoulder, the basset has a long body and heavy
bones and weighs 25 to 40 pounds. The English basset has deep-set
eyes; long, soft, hanging ears; a long head; and a well-developed
black nose. Smaller than the English type, the French basset is more
agile. The type of basset common in America has crooked or
half-crooked front legs, well-muscled hind legs, heavy shoulders, and
a deep chest. Used for tracking and hunting small game and game
birds, the basset has a keen sense of smell, second only to that of
the bloodhound.
This beagle, standing in a pose typical of dog shows, displays the white, tan, and black coloring common to the breed. Popular as house pets and hunters, Of unknown origin beagles are thought to have originated in 16th-century England. As a hunter the beagle tends to work in packs, following its quarry by scent. Extremely tenacious while pursuing rabbits and other game, the beagle is quite friendly and companionable as a pet. Beagle, breed of small dog . It can be traced back to 16th-century England, where it is first known to have appeared as a distinct breed. Almost all modern English beagles are descended from a noted pack kept by an English clergyman in the middle of the 19th century. In the same century a type of beagle with some of the characteristics of the basset hound or the dachshund was known in the southern United States. Since about 1870, beagle packs imported from Great Britain have greatly improved the American strain. The typical American beagle is short-legged, stands 12 to 16 inches high at the shoulder, and has a smooth coat that is usually white with black and tan. It has a long, slightly domed head; brown or hazel eyes that have a gentle expression; drooping ears; a straight and square-cut muzzle; sloping shoulders; muscular hips and thighs; and a short, slightly curved tail with a brush. In general, the beagle looks like a miniature foxhound. The beagle, which hunts by scent, is used for tracking down small game such as rabbits and is one of the most popular hunting dogs as well as house pets in the U.S.
The
black and tan coonhound emerged from a mixture of hound varieties
first bred in medieval times. Well-suited for hunting, it has an
excellent sense of smell and trails small game such as raccoons
entirely by scent. Development began in medieval England by crossing
bloodhounds, foxhounds, and other varieties. Britain's United Kennel
Club recognizes several types of coonhound, but the American Kennel
Club has recognized (1945) only the black and tan. A short, dense
coat enables it to withstand heat and cold through difficult terrain.
The coloring is coal black with tan markings on the face, chest, and
legs. The low-set ears hang in graceful folds. The neck is muscular,
the chest deep, the tail erect. The dog stands between 23 and 27
inches high and weighs 70 to 85 pounds.
The
bloodhound, the oldest known of the hounds that hunt solely
by scent, is one of the best trackers around and is used today by
many police forces in hunting criminals. Folds of skin on its cheeks
and neck give it a sad, droopy look, but the bloodhound is very
affectionate. Its name refers to the care taken with its original
breeding; properly, it is a blooded, that is, aristocratic, hound.
The bloodhound is believed to have existed in Mediterranean countries
before Christian times; it was introduced into other parts of Europe
in the Middle Ages. Tireless in pursuit of quarry, it can follow a
scent over dry land where no tracks are visible and, after swimming
across a river, pick up the scent on the far bank. It has been known
to follow a human trail for more than 50 miles. The bloodhound, which
does not attack human quarry, is used by police to track criminals;
if a dog recognizes a criminal, the identification is accepted in
U.S. courts of law.
The bloodhound has thin, loose skin, hanging in folds about the head
and neck, forming a dewlap; diamond-shaped, deep-set eyes, which give
it a mournful appearance; long, soft ears falling in folds; a long
neck; muscular sloping shoulders; and well-sprung ribs. It is red and
tan, black and tan, or tawny, and stands about about 26 inches high
or taller. The weight of the male is about 90 to 110 pounds; that of
the female, about 80 to 100 pounds. The bloodhound is extremely
affectionate, but somewhat shy and sensitive.
The
dachshund, which is German for "badger dog," was
trained for driving out badgers from their holes. With its short
legs, long body, and long ears, the dachshund could fit into holes
easily. Originally developed in Germany, dachshunds were used to
drive badgers from their holes, which the dogs could enter because of
their short legs. Seldom used for hunting today, dachshunds are
valued as pets for their bravery and good disposition. They have
short hair, are tan or tan and black, and have houndlike heads.
Standard sizes range in weight from 15 to 22 pounds; the miniature
variety weighs much less. Dachshunds range in height from 5 to 9
inches. Long-haired and wirehaired varieties have been bred by
crossing the short-haired variety with spaniels and terriers.
Foxhound, breed of dog used chiefly in the sport of fox
hunting. Two principal breeds exist, the English and the American.
The modern English foxhound has been bred in England since the end of
the 17th century. It traces its ancestry, however, to the bloodhound
and other breeds of hound known for about 2000 years. The English
foxhound has been bred in America since about 1890, although it is
possible that the dog was imported and bred even earlier. More than
200 packs of English foxhounds exist in Great Britain.
The English foxhound has three principal characteristics: keen scent,
speed, and endurance. It has a large head with a long nose and
low-set ears. A strong dog, the foxhound has long and muscular
shoulders and a deep chest, about 26 to 31 inches in girth. The back
and loins are muscular and the legs are straight and strong. The dog
has a short, dense, glossy coat that is usually tan, black, white, or
a combination of the three colors. The English foxhound measures
about 24 inches in height at the shoulders and weighs about about 70
to 80 pounds. The female usually weighs about about 10 pounds less.
Several strains of American foxhound reputedly can trace their
ancestry back to a pack of hounds imported from England in 1650;
other strains, to hounds imported later from England, France, and
Ireland. In general, the American foxhound resembles the English
foxhound; the two breeds differ chiefly in size and weight. The male
American foxhound ranges from about 22 to 25 inches in height at the
shoulders, and the female from about 21 to 24 inches at the back; the
male weighs about 60 pounds. The chest of the American type is
narrower in proportion to depth than that of the English foxhound,
being about 28 inches in girth for a dog 23 inches high.
The harrier is a breed of hunting dog closely resembling the English foxhound, but proportionately having a larger head. About 20 inches high and weighing about 45 pounds, the harrier is used for hunting hares and other small game.
The
Irish wolfhound, the tallest domestic dog, is a breed of
hunting dog. It was bred in ancient Ireland and is characterized by a
wiry coat, a long tail, a deep chest, and a long muzzle. The Irish
wolfhound originated in Ireland in remote antiquity. It was known in
Rome in the 4th century AD, and early Celtic literature contains many
stories concerning Celtic heroes and their wolfhounds, which were
used principally to hunt wolf and elk. The breed became almost
extinct in Ireland and Europe in the middle of the 19th century, but
was then rehabilitated by the Scottish dog breeder Captain George A.
Graham. Today the Irish wolfhound is prized as a pet because of its
loyalty and intelligence. The Irish wolfhound is about 28 to 37
inches high at the shoulder and weighs up to about 135 pounds. The
dog has a long head and a long muzzle; small ears; dark eyes; a very
deep chest; muscular shoulders; a rough, hard coat that is especially
wiry over the eyes and the underjaw; and a long, slightly curved
tail. The color may be gray, brindle, fawn, pure white, black, or red.
The Norwegian elkhound is a breed of sporting dog bred in ancient Norway, more than 6000 years ago. The dog is characterized by a short, strong body, a broad chest, a thick coat, and a curled tail. The breed is noted for its ability to hunt big game such as bear and elk (especially in Norway), lynx, and raccoon. It is also used as a draft animal and is valued as a pet of unusual intelligence, friendliness, and loyalty. The breed is of medium size, with a short, strongly-built body. The male is about 20.5 inches high at the shoulder, the female about 19.5 inches; the male weighs about 55 pounds, the female weighs about 48 pounds. It has a short head; pointed ears; brown eyes; a powerful neck; a broad and deep chest; straight legs; a thick, fairly smooth coat, gray in color; and a short, curled tail that is carried high.
The Otter Hound is a breed of web-footed hound, known in England since the 12th century. Hunting with packs of Otter Hounds was especially popular there in the 19th century, but the breed has never been widely favored in the U.S. A large animal, the Otter Hound weighs from 65 to 115 pounds and stands 22 to 27 inches. The coarse, crisp, oily coat-blue and white to black and tan in color-enables the dog to withstand water; also endowed with webbed feet, the animal is adept at swimming.
The
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is a type of thick-coated basset
hound developed in France. This dog has an excellent sense of smell
and is a proven tracker and hunter of birds and small game animals.
The irresistible face of the dwarflike petit basset griffon Vendeen
disguises its natural skill as a hunting dog well-suited for rugged
terrain. The smallest of the French griffon breeds, the petit basset
griffon Vendeen is a lively, outgoing dog that is gaining popularity
in the United States. Also known as the Petit, Griff, or Roughie,
breed of hound descended from the larger, more powerful Griffon
Vendeen of 16th-century France. Its name translates to
"small,""low to the ground,""rough or wire-coated,"
and "from the Vendeen region of France." Breeders
developed this dog to hunt hare, fox, and deer by scent across the
rocky, thorny terrain of the Vendeen region.
The petit basset griffon Vendeen is short, with a compact, robust
body. It stands about 13 to 15 inches high at the shoulders, and
weighs about 24 to 35 pounds. The legs are short, straight, and firm.
The chest is deep, the neck long and strong, and the shoulders laid
back. The back arches slightly. Thin narrow ears sit below the eye
line and fold inward. The medium-length tail tapers to a tip.
The coarse fur coat of the petit basset griffon Vendeen grows up to 2
inches long. Coloring is white with orange and cream, or black and
tan. Long eyebrows fall forward, but do not block the line of vision
of its large, dark eyes. Long hair covers the lips, forming a
distinctive beard and mustache.
The petit basset griffon Vendeen looks tousled and rough, but what it
lacks in grace is made up in ability. In the field, it is a
fast-paced, curious hunter with great stamina. It requires a great
deal of exercise, and regular grooming with a hard brush.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed in 1991. The
national breed club is the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Club of America.
Pharaoh Hound, dog breed of uncertain origin, but related to the greyhound and the Ibizan Hound. The name derives from the pharaoh hound's resemblance to the lean hounds with large, erect ears that are seen in ancient Egyptian sculpture and painting. The male stands up to 25 inches high at the shoulder. The skull is lean and the whiplike tail is curved. The fine, glossy coat is tan to chestnut with white markings on the face, chest, toes, and tail tip.
Scottish Deerhound, breed of dog that originated in Scotland about the 16th century and was once widely used in the hunting of deer. In the United States hunting antlered animals with dogs is prohibited, but the deerhound was used to hunt other animals, including wolves and coyotes. The deerhound is large and usually of a dark blue-gray color. It has a wiry coat; a head broad at the ears and narrowing toward the eyes; brown or hazel eyes; a deep chest; broad flat legs; and a long tapering tail. The male is about 30 to 32 inches high at the shoulder and weighs 85 to 110 pounds. The female is about 28 to 32 inchess high and weighs 75 to 95 pounds. The dog is graceful and dignified and resembles an oversized greyhound.
The whippet is a breed of hound known for its speed, which can
reach up to 35 mph. Originally bred in England, the dog is
characterized by long, powerful legs, deep chest, and delicate bone
structure. Whippets are breed of hound or sporting dog that hunts by
sight, not by scent. The breed originated in England in the early
19th century from a cross between the English greyhound and various
breeds of terriers, the product of which was later crossed with the
Italian greyhound. The whippet was first recognized as a show breed
in 1891. The dog was formerly used as a rat killer and for rabbit
coursing, but currently is valued as a pet and for racing.
Although delicate and almost fragile in appearance, the whippet is a
strong and vigorous animal. The dog has a long, lean head, fairly
wide between the ears; small, finely textured ears, thrown back and
folded; alert eyes, dark hazel in color; a long, muscular neck; a
deep and wide chest; long, tapering legs; powerful hindquarters; and
a long, tapering tail. It has a smooth, firm coat, which may be of
any number of colors. The whippet weighs about 20 pounds; the male is
between 19 and 22 inches in height and the female between 18 and 21 inches.
"American Kennel Club (AKC) Recognized Dog Breeds," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 99. © 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
