Hound Dogs: Three Categories That People Should Know About

Hound dogs are very popular back in the age where hunting was considered a sport. Hunting is still being practiced nowadays, but not as much as it was before. The reason behind the hound dog's popularity among hunters is that they have an innate ability to track their prey. They have keen sense of smell and very sharp eyes. These two qualities make them great hunters, proving to be very useful for us mere humans whose senses are not as keen as theirs.
Not a lot of people know this, but there are actually three types of hound dogs:

• Scent Hounds
As the name suggests, they track their prey with the use of their sense of smell. If you could have observed in movies and cartoons, these dogs would be the ones with the long ears and their noses to the ground. They are depicted as slow and sleepy, which is not entirely accurate. They make look slow and sleepy, but they are actually very active dogs. They are hunters, and they would always remain that way. They would need constant stimulation and exercise. Dogs under this category would be the Beagle, Bloodhound and the Dachshund. These dogs are very affectionate and sensitive, so mind your voice when trying to discipline them.

• Sight Hounds
These dogs look very elegant and have been depicted as a companion in many, old illustrations of noble Englishmen. I'm sure you are familiar with the Greyhound, the Afghan Hound and the Whippet. They have very sleek bodies with very little body fat. They have low tolerance for cold weather. Bear that in mind when thinking of getting your own Sight hound. Other than being used in hunting, these sight hounds also make for excellent house pets. Give them a comfy beanbag to lounge in, and they'd be very happy.

• Spitz Hounds
This would be the combination-type that I have been talking about earlier. They are usually characterized by their alert eyes and ears. Their senses are very acute. As the sight hounds are intolerant of the cold, these Spitz hounds thrive in that kind of climate. Popular dogs under this category would be the Finnish Spitz, the Basenji and the Norwegian Elkhound. These dogs are great with families, but since they prove to be independent thinkers, proper training is needed. Exercise is very important when caring for these dogs. They have been bred for work, so staying at home the whole day will not suit them because they would need to expend all their energy. A good walk - 2 to 3 hours' worth - would be the perfect solution.

Hound dogs make great house pets because of their mild temperaments. There are a lot of people I know that have Beagles and Bloodhounds as companions, and they only have praises for their dogs.If you want to know more about hound dogs, you may want to visit this site: If you want to know more about hound dogs, you may want to visit this site: Hound
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