The most numerous and diverse group of hunting dog breeds are hounds. They differ from each other not only in appearance, but also in character. Although they have a lot in common: they are smart, obedient and very loyal dogs that are devoid of aggression and always achieve their goals.
The first mentions of hounds date back to the third millennium BC. Hunting scenes with their participation can be found on the frescoes of the ancient Egyptians. The ancient Greek poet Homer also describes dogs whose behavior is similar to hounds in his works. These animals served the ancient Romans, Germans, and Gauls.

However, hounds gained particular popularity in the Middle Ages. That was when the deliberate selection of these dogs began. The French and English were especially successful in their breeding. Aristocrats kept huge packs of dogs and hunted with them both small game and bears and wolves.

The main task of hounds is to exhaust the animal, catch it or drive it to the hunter. Their important feature is their voice, loud and pleasant – this is their main tool in work.
According to the FCI classification , hounds are included in the sixth group, which is called “Hounds and related breeds”.

Hounds

The English Foxhound is the most famous English hound, bred in the 16th century. Its specialization, as you might guess, is fox hunting. The name of the breed is translated from English: fox – “fox”, hound – “hound”.

Another English dog from this group is the Basset Hound , but today representatives of the breed are increasingly used exclusively as companions. Passive and phlegmatic at first glance, they are excellent hunters, whose main advantage is an amazing sense of smell. Breeders say that these dogs can smell something older than three days.

The group of English hounds is closed by a dog that enjoys the reputation of a restless companion – the beagle. And this is not surprising: it needs to be closely monitored, because it is a natural hunter of small animals – in particular, rabbits and hares. Therefore, the beagle has a very hard time living next to rodents.

One of the many French hounds is the porcelain hound. Incidentally, it is also the oldest. These noble snow-white dogs, unfortunately, are rarely seen outside of France.

Another rather rare breed of French hounds is the Large Blue Gascon. It is also considered the tallest of its kind. Attentive, graceful and powerful dogs are used to hunt small and large game.

When talking about European hounds, we cannot help but mention the Italian hound, the Segugio Italiano, which became the ancestor of many breeds. They say that these were the dogs that the ancient Romans depicted next to Diana, the goddess of hunting.

Another European hound from the north of Spain is the Great Spanish Hound or Sabueso Español. Despite its excellent sense of smell and amazing endurance, representatives of this breed are unfortunately not very common today even among Spanish hunters.

Russian hounds

In Russia, hunting with hounds was less popular than hunting with greyhounds, but dogs of this breed group still exist. Thus, the Russian hound is a wonderful representative of Russian cynology. Hardy and calm dogs were bred in the 19th century. However, alas, the FCI has not yet recognized them. A relative of the Russian hound is the Russian piebald hound. Its ancestors were English dogs brought to Russia in the 18th century and crossed with Russian hounds.

American hounds

The American Kennel Club also boasts its own representatives of this breed group. There are six breeds of coonhounds, which specialize in hunting raccoons, badgers, lynxes, and even bears. The FCI has recognized only one breed from this section, the black and tan coonhound.

In the USA there is also a younger brother of the English Foxhound – the American Foxhound . It was obtained by crossing the English Foxhound and a number of other European hounds. Externally, the dogs are quite similar, and only a breeder or dog handler will notice the difference. The owners themselves admit that the American dog is more aggressive and harsh.