Hound
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A hound is a type of hunting dog used by hunters to track or chase prey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> What makes hounds unique is the way they hunt; some, known as scent hounds, follow trails with their powerful noses, while others, called sighthounds, rely on their sharp vision and speed to spot and chase prey across open land. Breeds like the Beagle, Bloodhound, and Greyhound are well-known examples.
Historically, hounds played an important role in rural life, especially in Europe during the Middle Ages, when hunting was not only a source of food but also a social activity among nobles. Today, while many hounds are still used for hunting in some parts of the world, they are equally valued as companions, admired for their loyalty, energy, and strong bond with their owners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Description
Hounds can be contrasted with gun dogs that assist hunters by identifying prey and/or recovering shot quarry. The hound breeds were the first hunting dogs. They have either a powerful sense of smell, great speed, or both.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There are three types of hound, with several breeds within each type:
- Sighthounds (also called gazehounds) follow prey predominantly by speed, keeping it in sight. These dogs are fast and assist hunters in catching game: fox, hare, deer, and elk.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Scenthounds follow prey or others (like missing people) by tracking its scent. These dogs have endurance, but are not fast runners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The remaining breeds of hound follow their prey using both sight and scent. They are difficult to classify, as they are neither strictly sighthounds nor strictly scenthounds.
List of hound breeds
- Afghan Hound
- Africanis
- Alpine Dachsbracke
- American Foxhound
- American Leopard Hound
- Andalusian Hound
- Artois Hound
- Austrian Black and Tan Hound
- Azawakh
- Basenji
- Basset Artesien Normand
- Basset Bleu de Gascogne
- Basset Fauve de Bretagne
- Basset Hound
- Bavarian Mountain Hound
- Beagle
- Beagle-Harrier
- Billy
- Black and Tan Coonhound
- Blackmouth Cur
- Bloodhound
- Bluetick Coonhound
- Borzoi
- Bosnian Broken-haired Hound
- Briquet Griffon Vendéen
- Chippiparai
- Cirneco dell'Etna
- Combai
- Coonhound
- Cretan Hound
- Dachshund
- Drever
- Dumfriesshire Black and Tan Foxhound
- Estonian Hound
- English Coonhound
- English Foxhound
- Feist
- Finnish Hound
- Galgo Español
- Gascon Saintongeois
- German Hound
- Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
- Grand Bleu de Gascogne
- Grand Fauve de Bretagne
- Grand Griffon Vendéen
- Greek Harehound
- Greyhound
- Griffon Bleu de Gascogne
- Griffon Fauve de Bretagne
- Hamiltonstövare
- Hanover Hound
- Harrier
- Ibizan Hound
- Indian pariah dog
- Italian Greyhound
- Irish Wolfhound
- Istrian Coarse-haired Hound
- Istrian Shorthaired Hound
- Kai Ken
- Kanni
- Kishu Ken
- Lakeland Trailhound
- Lithuanian Hound
- Longdog
- Lurcher
- Magyar agár
- Mountain Cur
- Mudhol Hound
- Otterhound
- Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
- Petit Bleu de Gascogne
- Pharaoh Hound
- Plott Hound
- Podenco Canario
- Polish Greyhound
- Polish Hound
- Portuguese Podengo
- Posavac Hound
- Rajapalayam
- Rampur Greyhound
- Rastreador Brasileiro
- Redbone Coonhound
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Sabueso Español
- Saluki
- Schillerstövare
- Segugio dell'Appennino
- Segugio Italiano a pelo forte
- Segugio Italiano a pelo raso
- Segugio Maremmano
- Serbian Hound
- Serbian Tricolour Hound
- Schweizer Laufhund
- Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund
- Scottish Deerhound
- Shikoku
- Silken Windhound
- Sloughi
- Slovenský kopov or Slovak Hound
- Smalandstövare
- Styrian Coarse-haired Hound
- Taigan
- Tatranský durič or Tatra Hound
- Thai Ridgeback
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Trigg Hound
- Transylvanian Hound
- Tyrolean Hound
- Ukrainian Chortai
- Welsh Foxhound
- Westphalian Dachsbracke
- Whippet
See also
References
External links
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