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Hound

Type of hunting dog From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hound
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For other uses, see Hound (disambiguation).

A hound is a type of hunting dog used by hunters to track or chase prey.[1][2] 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.

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A beagle is a small breed of hound.

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.[3][4]

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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.[5] 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.[6]
  • Scenthounds follow prey or others (like missing people) by tracking its scent. These dogs have endurance, but are not fast runners.[7]
  • 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.
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List of hound breeds

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See also

References

External links

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