Hound dogs usually have one trait in common – they were mostly used for hunting.
These dogs are ultimate champions when it comes to following a trail, showing great endurance, or superb spirit when it comes to chasing the prey.
Hound dogs were the first hunting dogs, and as such, they still have a strong sense of smell, speed, or both.
Hound dogs are separated into three different groups, which is why they come in so many different sizes and with so many different traits.
Sighthounds (or gazehounds) are bred for following their prey. They are fast and they follow prey by keeping it in sight. These dogs are also great for assisting hunters in catching game.
Scenthounds do two things mostly: they follow prey or have the ability to find missing people, by tracking their scent.
They have strong endurance, but they aren’t known for being fast runners. They prefer long strolls while performing their task.
The remaining breeds of hound dogs are used for following their prey using scent and sight. As such, they are challenging to classify. They aren’t sighthounds nor strictly scenthounds.
Some of the most famous representatives of this group include Afghan Hound, Basenji, Beagle, Bloodhound, Dachshund, Italian Greyhound, Saluki, Serbian Hound, Transylvanian Hound, Whippet, and many more.
This group is full of diversity, and every hound is unique.
Still, they share some traits, such as high intelligence, being calm, having great skills, and overall adapting to various situations and opportunities.
