Hound dogs, also known as scenthounds or sighthounds, have a misleading appearance that gives many people the wrong impression. At first sight, they look like somber, lethargic little things when in reality, they're quite active. The scenthounds for example, are the hound dogs that seemingly live and breath with their noses wedged into the ground. It’s a position that they’ve been bred to crave as hunting companions, and if they’re not secured by a leash or with a fence, they’ll follow a scent for days.

Sighthounds on the other hand use their vision to assist with hunting instead of their sense of smell. The following introduces you to both scenthounds and sighthounds.

Types of Hound Dogs

Alpine Dachsbracke
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, courage, hard working

American Foxhound
Welcomed Behaviors: energetic, friendliness with children
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness, independence

Ariegeois
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs

Basset Artesien Normand
Welcomed Behaviors: adaptability
Behavioral Warnings: roaming

Basset Bleu de Gascogne
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs

Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Welcomed Behaviors: hardworking, friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: stubborness

Basset Hound
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: hunt-driven, roaming

Bavarian Mountain Hound
Welcomed Behaviors: trainability, affection, calmness
Behavioral Warnings: cautious with strangers

Beagle
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: independence, scent driven

Black and Tan Coonhound
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: barking, food bandit, silly

Bleu de Gascogne
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: barking, stubbornness, scent driven

Bloodhound
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: shyness, sensitivity, barking, stubbornness, slobbering

Bluetick Coonhound
Welcomed Behaviors: enthusiasm
Behavioral Warnings: prey-driven, barking, roaming

Briquet Griffon Vendeen
Welcomed Behaviors: enthusiasm
Behavioral Warnings: scent driven

Dachshund
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs, intelligence, playfulness, affection

Dunker
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness
Behavioral Warnings: hunt-driven, barking

English Foxhound
Welcomed Behaviors: enthusiasm friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: prey-driven

Finnish Hound
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs, hard working

Grand Anglo-Fancais
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness, energetic

Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen
Welcomed Behaviors: hardworking, energetic, friendliness with children
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness, barking

Grand Gascon-Saintongeois/Petit Gascon-Saintogngeois
Welcomed Behaviors: hardworking, enthusiasm, friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: cautious with strangers

Griffon Fauve de Bretagne
Welcomed Behaviors: versatility, affection friendliness

Griffon Nivernais
Welcomed Behaviors: courageousness, hard working, enthusiasm
Behavioral Warnings: barking, independence

Hamiltonstovare
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs, reliability, playful
Behavioral Warnings: scent driven, roaming

Harrier
Welcomed Behaviors: enthusiasm, friendliness with people and other dogs, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: independence, curiosity

Otterhound
Welcomed Behaviors: enthusiasm, friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: barking, roaming

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Welcomed Behaviors: enthusiasm, intelligence, eagerness, friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: energetic

Plott hound
Welcomed Behaviors: enthusiasm, trainability, gentleness, friendliness with people and other dogs

Porcelaine
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: hunt driven, barking, independence

Redbone Coonhound
Welcomed Behaviors: hardworking, gentleness, intelligence, eagerness, trainability friendliness

Spanish Hound
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness, hunt driven

Treeing Tennessee Brindle
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs, intelligence, alertness
Behavioral Warnings: barking

Treeing Walker Coonhound
Welcomed Behaviors: confidence, gentleness, friendliness

Afghan Hound
Welcomed Behaviors: playfulness, affection
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness, independence, prey driven

Azawakh
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, affection, playfulness, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: aggression towards strangers, protectiveness

Basenji
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, alertness, affection, alertness
Behavioral Warnings: independence, protectiveness, yodeling, curiosity

Borzoi
Welcomed Behaviors: affection
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness, independence, prey driven, running

Canaan Dog
Welcomed Behaviors: devotion, affection
Behavioral Warnings: cautious with strangers, protectiveness

Carolina Dog
Welcomed Behaviors: loyalty, devotion, affection
Behavioral Warnings: pack oriented, cautious with strangers, protective, shyness

Chart Polski
Welcomed Behaviors: confidence, courageous
Behavioral Warnings: reservation, cautious with strangers

Greyhound
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs, affection, gentleness, intelligence, playfulness
Behavioral Warnings: prey driven, inclined to run outdoors

Ibizan Hound
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, loyalty, versatility, trainability, playfulness, friendliness with people and other dogs
Behavioral Warnings: cautious with strangers

Irish Wolfhound
Welcomed Behaviors: calmness, intelligence

Italian Greyhound
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, playfulness, devotion, intelligence,ce, friendliness with people and other dog
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness

New Guinea Singing dog
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: independence, prey driven, aggression with other dogs, curiosity, roaming, sensitivity, howling

Pharaoh Hound
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, trainability, eagerness, affection, playfulness, smiling, bllushing
Behavioral Warnings: cautious with strangers, picky

Rhodesian Ridgeback
Welcomed Behaviors: devotion, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: independence, prey driven

Saluki
Welcomed Behaviors: Intelligence, alertness, affection
Behavioral Warnings: sensitivity

Scottish Deerhound
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, courageous, gentleness

Sloughi
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, devotion
Behavioral Warnings: cautious with strangers, sensitivity

Spanish Greyhound
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, devotion, playfulness
Behavioral Warnings: sensitivity, cautious with strangers

Thai Ridgeback
Behavioral Warnings: protectiveness, aggression

Whippet
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness with people and other dogs, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: prey driven, chasing, roaming

Xoloitzcuintli
Welcomed Behaviors: faithfulness, affection, intelligence, activeness
Behavioral Warnings: cautious with strangers

What to Expect

If you’re interested in adopting a hound dog, you’re really going to have to monitor its hunting instincts. Every aspect of a hound is geared toward hunting -- starting from the tip of its nose all the way down to the deep grooves of its wrinkled skin. And while the hunting trait is an important one, it can cause trouble for people who aren’t prepared to deal with the hound’s natural strength, speed, determination, and health needs.
The long ears and loose, wrinkled skin on scenthounds for example can cause health problems. Both of these body parts require regular grooming since they’re prone to infection. And the deep chests on sighthounds make this breed’s pariahs especially susceptible to bloat.
These minor qualities don’t make the hound a disparaging choice however. Hounds make terrific companions for active people or homeowners who can offer plenty of secured, running room.