The Hounds
The hound encompasses the oldest and most diverse group of dogs, all of which share the common characteristic of hunting. Quite a mix of sizes, coats, and attitudes, these hounds were originally introduced to work independent of their owners, tracking, flushing out, and hunting animals.
This group may be broken down into two distinct categories. The long-legged, fast running sight hounds have been bred to use their stamina and exceptional eye sight to run down their quarry. Breeds in this category include the Greyhound, Afghan, and Salukis. The scent hounds, although varying in size and often slower, are great athletes and use their acute sense of smell and strong legs to follow the trail of prey. This category includes Bloodhounds, Beagles, and Bassets.
Friendly companions, hound dogs can be loyal, loving and relatively obedient. Some hounds, like the Beagle, are excellent with children, as well as other dogs. Typically, hounds do not guard property or people very well. These active dogs need a significant amount of exercise, but are probably best suited in an enclosed area. If unleashed, they may bolt, and will likely completely ignore your call to return. Some hounds share the unique ability to produce a loud baying voice, a behavior not likely to change, even with training.