Hound Dog Breeds Can Sniff Out Anything!Hound dog breeds are really great dogs. All over the world these canines use sight or smell for hunting and tracking.
The giant hound dog breeds in this group are: Irish Wolfhound 
Jadzia and Artemis, photo by Sighthound
This breed originated in Ireland, but is believed to have its roots in Rome. Farmers used Wolfhounds as guard dogs and hunters. A large dog, it is very tall and has a coarse coat. Minimal brushing is required. The size can be intimidating. This canine stands 30-32 inches at the shoulder and weighs 100-125 pounds. The Wolfhound is an intelligent dog, very calm and proud. Easily trained and loving of his family, this dog would make an excellent pet, if you have the room.
photo by Sighthound
The Afghan originated in Afghanistan as a hunting dog. Eventually, he made his way to England in the early 20th century. A large, powerful dog with long flowing coat, he is lovely to look at. The head is very lean and long, with intelligent eyes. The Afghan can be stubborn and very independent, therefore, not easy to train. This is also a large breed dog, weighing from 60-70 pounds and standing 25-27 inches at the shoulder.
Zephyr, photo by Jenya Campbell
Scotland is the home country for this dog. Because of size and looks, it is thought that he maybe related to the Irish Wolfhound. The Deerhound was bred to be a hunter in Scotland. A very large dog, he is strong and muscular. The coat is heavy and of medium length. The head is long and fine with long hair and a beard. His size ranges from 27-33 inches with a weight of between 70-115 pounds. The Deerhound can be very stubborn but he is highly intelligent. He gets very attached to his family and is fearless, making him a great watchdog.
A few popular medium to large hound dog breeds in this group are: Bloodhound 
Gracie, photo by SARhounds
The Bloodhound originated in England but migrated to the U.S. in the early 19th century. As a hunting dog, his primary duty today is in tracking down escaped prisoners, lost children and hikers. You can't mistake a bloodhound for any other breed. A large, powerful dog with loose skin and a long narrow head and long ears, he is very distinctive. This is a dog with wonderful temperament and gets along well with everyone and everything. However, he can be strong willed and not easy to train. Oh, by the way, he does tend to slobber. Size of this canine is 22-25 inches at the shoulder and weighs inat around 80-115 pounds.
This hound dog breed originated in the U.S. and used for raccoon and other ground animal hunting. He is leggy and well muscled. The ears are long and low and he has bright, intelligent eyes. The coat is easy to care for. The body is black with tan markings on the face, legs and chest. He is a very friendly, easy going dog and gets along well with everyone. He does tend to vocalize quite a bit, baying instead of barking. They require moderate exercise and do well in a rural or suburban setting. A fenced yard is a must. The Coonhound ranges between 23-27 inches in height and 40-70 pounds in weight. This handsome fellow above is our friend Derrick's dog, HoaLoa, I think. He really is mostly all leg and is always in search of whatever strikes his fancy, or nose.
Popular small to medium hound dog breeds are: Beagle 
Another breed from England that migrated to the U.S. in the last century. These dogs are great scent dogs, meaning like the Bloodhound, they track. This little guy is small with long ears and erect tail. He has large, intelligent eyes and a distinctive "bark" or "bay". The Beagle is intelligent and easy to train and gets along great with people and other pets. Grooming is an easy job with this dog. Height of this canine is 10-15 inches and weighs 20-30 pounds. This great looking Beagle is our niece Juliet's dog, Wheezer. He is a wonderful animal, very friendly and lots of fun. Low maintenance and a sweetheart.
Sassafrass, photo by judecat
The Basset is a medium sized dog that originated in France in the 16th century and hunted small animals. It isn't known when he came to the U.S. You can't miss a Basset Hound. Those big, soulful eyes, long droopy ears, long, squat body and short legs. Don't let him fool you, he is ready for action. This guy is very friendly and laid back. He doesn't need a lot of activity and makes a great watchdog. He is very vocal with his "baying". Height for the Basset is from 14-16 inches and 50-60 pounds in weight.
This small dog breed was bred in Germany to hunt badgers and other game that goes underground. The Dachshund is a long, small, muscular dog with short legs. The head is angular with long muzzle and ears. There are three coat varieties, long, short and wire haired. A great lap dog, Dachshunds are friendly, happy little guys that adapt well anywhere. Grooming is easy with this dog. Size is small, around 6 inches and weight 10-20 pounds. The cutie pie pictured is another of our niece, Juliet's kids. His name is Hendrix and a real honey of a Dachshund. You can't go wrong with this little guy.
This long haired Dachshund belongs to our sister-in-law, Patty. His name is Dylan and a real lover. You can see the difference in coat between Hendrix and Dylan. These are great little lap dogs. 
Whippet These dogs, which look like Greyhounds, originated in England as racing and rat dogs. It is a long and muscular dog with a long narrow head and large dark eyes. Size is small to medium, 18-22 inches in height and weighs 20-27 pounds. The Whippet gets along well with everyone, even small children and other pets. Highly intelligent, this dog is easily trained. Lola, the lovely Whippet in the photo is courtesy of
www.thewhippet.net
All of these hound dog breeds are great family dogs. But they need something to do to keep them busy. Some of our family own hound dog breeds and they developed a search or tracking game. They take a rag or towel, rub it on themselves or other pets, hide it or drag it along the ground a put it in a hole or tree trunk and have the dogs find it. This game keeps the hound dog breeds on their toes and their noses in gear.
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