Hound Dogs

Hound dogs are actually sporting dogs whose main purpose is to assist hunters. Basically, they help track or chase the hunter's prey. Hound dogs are different from gun dogs or retrievers, which are two other types of sporting dogs. As opposed to gun dogs, hound dogs do not help by pointing out the location of the animal being hunted. Neither do they retrieve the kill, as retrievers are known to do.

Hound dogs are divided into three types and each type is further divided into several subgroups with several breeds belonging to each.

Hound dogs are typically distinguished according to their skills, which are primarily tracking prey by either scent or sight. There is another type that is skilled in both sight and scent tracking but most breeds of hound dogs can be trained to make use of both these senses in order to assist in hunting.

Below are the different classifications of hound dogs. Read for a brief description of each as well as some examples of breeds belonging to that particular hound type.

Sight Hounds

Sight hounds, sometimes known as gaze hounds, are a type of a group of hound dogs that hunt primarily by speed and sight. In contrast to scent hounds, sight hounds do not usually use their senses of smell in order to track prey. Neither are they particularly known for their endurance.

Agility being key to a great hunt by a sight hound, most dogs of this subgroup have very flexible backs, long legs, deep chest, large heart, and efficient lungs. They also tend to have lean, wiry bodies that allow them to keep their weight at a minimum.

Sight hounds are able to detect the slightest movement. They overpower prey with their sheer speed and agility. Besides hunting, sight hounds are used in coursing, racing, lure coursing, other miscellaneous events that capitalize on a dog's speed and agility. The Greyhound is one good example of a sight hound.

Scent Hounds

Compared to sight hounds, scent hounds are not fast runners. Neither are they known to be especially agile. However, what this type of hound dogs lack in speed and agility, they make up for endurance.

Scent hounds are sturdy hunting dogs that track prey by scent. Scent hounds are so skilled that they can follow a scent trail for miles. As such, this particular type of hound dogs is often regarded as having one of the most sensitive noses among dogs and other canine breeds.

A typical scent hound usually has long, drooping ears, large nasal cavities, and loose, moist lips. All these physical characteristics assist the scent hound trap scent particles from the air, enabling it to more effectively follow a scent.