The Hound Group

Your family lifestyle
Whether it is to be primarily indoors or outdoors - an apartment or private property, large or small
The amount of care required to maintain the coat
The necessity of an enclosure to keep your hound from running off, as they do like to chase

	Basset Hound Originally from France and Belgium, the Basset is used primarily to trail rabbits but can be trained for other animals and birds. He is second only to the Bloodhound for his accuracy in trailing. His short legs and long, close coat facilitate his work in thick cover. He is a gentle, easygoing, heavy-boned dog and an "easy keeper," as he requires minimal upkeep.
	Beagle The Beagle is one of the earlier hounds that became very popular as a pack dog in England long before coming to North America. Today many packs still exist, but a large number of Beagles are individual hunters. These gentle hounds love other dogs and people alike and come in two sizes: the 13-inch variety and the 15-inch variety.
	Black & Tan Coonhound The Black & Tan Coonhound is a large hound that came about after the Bloodhound and Foxhound and later, the Viginia Foxhound (known as the "Black & Tan") were bred together successively. He is an excellent hunter of raccoon and possum who works at a slow pace. He is a loving, readily adaptable dog.
	Bloodhound A large, heavy, easygoing dog weighing between 90 and 110 pounds with extraordinary scenting ability. His determination is such that he will not give up the track until the quarry is found. The breed is famous as a search dog, whether it be a criminal or a lost child. Being so gentle, his job ends when he finds the quarry. Bloodhounds have brought about more convictions of criminals than the best detectives, and are known to pick up a trail over 200 hours old.
	Dachshund The lovable Dachshund comes in three coat varieties and two sizes: smooth, wirehaired and longhaired; standard and miniature. Regardless of these differences, they all share the characteristics of being tenacious, "brave to the point of rashness," relatively independent, and even stubborn. But they are true people lovers, thriving on the company of children and adults alike. The are rarely used as hunters today but are still ready to go to ground.
	Harrier The origin of this breed remains a mystery, but he is undoubtedly a smaller version bred down from the Foxhounds. He is slower, so he can be followed on foot although horses are often used in the chase. In structure he is more like the English Foxhound. As is the case with other scent hounds, he has a gentle nature, is adaptable to family life and makes a good pet.
	Norwegian Elkhound This agile, square, gray, medium-sized Nordic dog dates back to the days of the early Vikings and was so honored that he was buried with them in ancient tombs. He is a very bright, intuitive dog that hunts large animals such as bear and moose, but does not attack them. Instead he holds them at bay by barking until the hunter arrives. Should the angered prey attack him, his swiftness and agility enable him to dodge and dart in and out without being injured. He hunts by scent and has keen hearing. He is a lovable companion and pet, ever ready to guard the household.
	Otterhound As its name implies, this large, 115-pound, rough-coated, web-footed hound was used to pursue the otter. Lovers of mud and water, they forced the otter to seek shelter in a crevice, at which point a Cairn Terrier would often be released to force him out. Since otter hunting is no longer allowed in Great Britain, his role is largely that of a loving, easygoing, devoted pet. They are not commonly seen in North America, but in some regions can be found at dog shows.
	Petit Basset Griffon The smaller of the two varieties of Basset Griffon Vendéen, and the only one recognized by the American Kennel Club at this time. They are vivacious, strong-willed, tough hunters of small game, though not the least afraid to take on a larger animal. They range from 13 to 15-1/2 inches in height and have a rough coat. They have gained considerable popularity because of their outgoing nature. While resembling the shorter-legged Basset, he is a harsh-coated, semi-longhaired dog with proud head carriage and an exuberant, extroverted outlook on life. A tough hunter, but also a people lover.
	Afghan Hound A medium-large, beautifully aristocratic, intelligent hound possessing great dignity. While not the fastest on the straightaway, he has remarkable turning ability, which makes him the surest of all hunters when his quarry changes direction. His heavy coat, saddle, top knot, and curved or ringed tail and agility bring him immediate attention and popularity. While these are great characteristics, he is not a dog for everyone. His upkeep requires a great amount of attention, especially to the coat, and care must be taken to keep doors closed at all times. Once loose, he is off and running and usually difficult to capture. If you don't mind the care, he makes a very loving, devoted pet. Among his many talents other than hunting and herding, he is an excellent guard dog.
	Basenji The Basenji is often referred to as the "Barkless Dog," an asset in his native central Africa, where he quietly stalks and drives prey into nets. Though only 17 pounds and about the size of a Fox Terrier, he is a fearless, energetic hunter that doesn't hesitate to attack reed rats, long-toothed mean creatures that can weigh as much as 20 pounds. This high-energy dog is swift and springy and requires little upkeep. He is a delightful fellow, playful and clean - he grooms himself like a cat. His wrinkled forehead, donut tail laying to one side, and keen eyesight are characteristics of the breed.
	Borzoi Until 1936 this breed was known as a Russian Wolfhound. They are extremely fast, agile and fearless when pursuing, overtaking and containing their quarry, regardless of size. This large, 28-inch hound is a delightful pet that enjoys the comforts of home, but does require regular brushing. Care must be taken around small children, for even as playful puppies their large size can inflict a bruising blow.
	Greyhound From historical writings in the Sands of Egypt he is described as "Swift as a ray of light, graceful as a swallow and wise as Solomon." His speed and gracefulness have made him popular throughout the world. Known for his fame as a racing dog, he is a fearless hunter and, in some countries, is still used to hunt deer and other swift animals and is equally happy to chase rabbits. They make delightful pets, attested to by those adopting retired racetrack dogs, and are able to curl up in a remarkably small space.
	Ibizan This dog of antiquity can be traced back to the tombs of the Pharaohs, as far back as 3100 B.C. The discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb revealed a life-sized statue of Anubis, "the watch dog of the dead," remarkably similar to the Ibizan Hound. They share the characteristics of many sight hounds, being strong and resilient hunters, companions, pets, watchdogs and friends. The smooth type is more common than the wirehaired variety.
	Irish Wolfhound The giant of the sight hounds, measuring 32-34 inches or more at the shoulder, is the largest of all breeds of dog. Historically a fearless hunter in Ireland, his speed and great power were more than a match for the wolf and the huge Irish Elk that measured six feet at the shoulder. This shaggy rough-coated hound is gentle, loving and definitely not a guard dog, although his mere presence can deter an intruder. This breed requires space and must have a large fenced-in area adequate for his great, galloping speed. He can weigh up to 100 pounds at six months and may become destructive if confined. He must be watched around children, as he can be unintentionally rough.
	Pharaoh Hound A medium-sized, short-coated dog of ancient Egyptian origin whose modern descendants come from Malta. He is an avid rabbit hunter, using both sight and scent. He is intelligent, friendly, affectionate and playful. He has keen hunting instincts, like all sight hounds, and requires a fenced enclosure for safety.
	Rhodesian Ridgeback A fearless dog whose original purpose was to hunt lions in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). The breed originated from crossings between European dogs brought to Africa by the Dutch, Germans, and Huguenots. The Boer farmers needed a hunting dog that could survive the harshness of the African bush. To accomplish this, the interbred European dogs were bred to the half-wild hunting dogs of the Hottentots that had ridges on their backs formed by the hair growing forward along the spine, thus creating the Ridgeback, the unique feature of the dog. He is a keen hunter and guard dog, but a loving, caring, easy keeper, easily trained.
	Saluki The royal dog of Egypt is believed by many to be the oldest domesticated dog. The Moslems declared him to be a noble sacred dog sent to them by Allah. This permitted them to eat their catch, whereas other dogs were considered to be unclean. Being the dogs of nomadic desert tribes, they roamed widely from Egypt to Persia, and this created a difference in type but mainly in size and coat. They all have Greyhound-like bodies, but the Arab-bred type is smaller with less feathering on the legs and ears than the Persian type. He is a sturdy, strong dog, an avid hunter with keen eyesight, and beautiful to behold on the chase. He can be an escape artist, so must be kept in a secured environment. He is a gentle, aristocratic, aloof dog that requires a large area for exercise, as he was used to bring down gazelles.
	Scottish Deerhound The Deerhound is undoubtedly related to the ancient Irish Wolfdog and hounds of the Picts, but early on became distinguished as the Scottish Deerhound because he proved best suited to the pursuit and bringing down of deer. In North America they cannot hunt deer, so they are used on coyotes, wolves and rabbits. Deerhounds make excellent companions, easily trained and devoted to their masters. Though happy on the living room rug, he requires a large, secure exercise area.
	Whippet Likened to a small Greyhound, this charming, affectionate, curled-up ball on the couch is a great hunter, considered by many to be pound-for-pound exceptionally well constructed. He can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour, has great agility, and is a great hunter of rabbits and fearless when it comes to rats. He is the smallest of the sight hounds at 18-22 inches at the shoulder. He is an easy keeper, as he tends to be quiet, but at the same time is a fine watch dog. His character is derived from his background, consisting of smaller Greyhounds and a variety of terriers. The modern Whippet differs considerably from its early forefathers. He needs a secure exercise area to keep fit.