Dogs 101: 10 Popular Hound Breeds

Author:
Samantha Beckett
Updated date:
Apr 15, 2022

Samantha has been an online writer for three years. Her articles focus on everything from true crime to pet care.

Hound Dog Breeds

This article provides information about 10 types of hounds. Read on to find out which breed matches your personality, family, and lifestyle.

10 Popular Hound Dog Breeds to Consider

American Foxhound/English Foxhound
Greyhound
Harrier
Irish Wolfhound
Norwegian Elkhound
Otterhound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Saluki
Scottish Deerhound
Whippet

1. American Foxhound/ English Foxhound

Foxhounds were bred for four different functions, and there are, therefore, four different varieties: trail field hounds, lone fox hunters, drag hounds, and pack hunting dogs. The pack hunter makes the best pet.

The English Foxhound is a little stouter than its American cousin, but its appearance and temperament are almost identical. The pack hunting Foxhound is a large dog, developed to hunt in packs of 15-20 dogs. This essentially social activity has resulted in a very vigorous but submissive dog.

Behavior problems may include roaming, baying when a member of the breed hears other dogs barking, and house soiling. "Kennel dog syndrome" has been the most common complaint with this breed.

American Foxhound/English Foxhound Traits and Behavior


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Very high
Outdoor activity	Very high
Vigor	High
Behavioral constancy	Medium to low
Dominance to strange dogs	Low
Dominance to familiar people	Low
Territoriality	Very low
Emotional stability	High
Sociability within family	High
Sociability with children	High
Sociability with strangers	Very high
Learning rate	Low
Learning obedience	Medium
Learning problem solving	Medium
Watchdog ability	High
Guard dog ability	Low

2. Greyhound

The Greyhound is another dog whose function is clearly observable from its build. Greyhounds are built to run fast, chase after deer, and, more recently, race. Descriptions include: lovable and tractable, high-strung, easily upset by sudden movements, starting readily, stubborn, and trainable only when calm. There is a divided opinion on the temperament of the Greyhound, some sources praising its friendliness and gentleness, others focusing on its potential for being high-strung and nervous.

Because of its willowy build, it is prone to tremble in cold weather. Behavior problems may include fear biting, phobias and timidity, touch shyness, irritable snapping and house soiling.

Greyhound Traits and Behavior


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Low
Outdoor activity	Very high
Vigor	Low
Behavioral constancy	Low
Dominance to strange dogs	Medium
Dominance to familiar people	Medium
Territoriality	Medium–Low
Emotional stability	Low–very low
Sociability within family	Medium
Sociability with children	Low–very low
Sociability with strangers	Low
Learning rate	High
Learing obedience	Low–very low
Learning problem solving	Low
Watchdog ability	High
Guard dog ability	Low

3. Harrier

The Harrier looks like a smaller version of the English Foxhound and is used for a similar purpose, hunting by scent in a pack. The Harrier's quarry was, appropriately enough, the hare. Descriptions include: easy-going, solidly built, handy in size, well constructed and muscular, and both hardy and active, gentle with people, stubborn and bold, too restless for the city.

Behavior problems may include indoor restlessness, excessive barking, roaming and house soiling.

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Harrier Traits and Behavior


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Very high
Outdoor activity	Very high
Vigor	High
Behavioral constancy	Low
Dominance to strange dogs	Medium–low
Dominance to familair people	Low
Territoriality	Low–very low
Emotional stability	High
Sociability within family	Medium
Sociability with children	Very high
Sociability with strangers	Medium–low
Learning rate	High
Learning obedience	Low
Learning problem solving	High
Watchdog ability	Very high
Guard dog ability	Low

4. Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound is an enormous animal, probably the tallest breed of dog in existence. Standing at 36 inches at the shoulders and reaching up to 7 feet when standing on its hind legs. In the past, it was used for hunting wolves in Ireland and for bringing down the six-foot-tall Irish elk. Today, given the conspicuous scarcity of Irish wolves and elk, the breed is perpetuated primarily as a pet. Descriptions include: quiet mannered and dignified, beneath the fierce-looking exterior there beats a gentle heart, it treats most other dogs as insignificant, commands are slowly executed, sluggish.

Behavior problems may include clumsiness, an occasional dominant animal challenging its owner's authority and other dominance-related problems.

Irish Wolfhound Traits and Behavior


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Low
Outdoor activity	Medium
Vigor	Low
Behavioral constancy	High
Dominance to strange dogs	High–medium
Dominance to familiar people	Medium
Territoriality	Medium
Emotional stability	High
Sociability within family	High–medium
Sociability with children	Very high–medium
Sociability with strangers	Medium–low
Learning rate	High
Learning obedience	High–medium
Learning problem solving	Medium
Watchdog ability	High–low
Guard dog ability	High–low

5. Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound is a medium-sized, thick-coated, powerfully built dog adapted to the severe Scandinavian winters. Originally used to hunt the huge Scandinavian elk, this breed is strong, compact and extremely hardy. Descriptions include willingness to hunt day after day and all day long in rugged country, where stamina rather than extreme speed is called for, being able to bounce like a rubber ball when struck by elk hooves, absolutely dependable and trustworthy, may start bullying in an attempt to have its own way, easy-going, reliability and quickness to learn, stubborn and bold, intelligence and eagerness for praise, staunchness, dignity and independence. The contradictions stem from the dog's potential for dominance. It may be obedient to dominant owners but disobey submissive ones. Its tendency to hold its quarry at bay makes it a potentially effective guard dog.

Behavior problems may include excessive barking, roaming, dominance problems and stealing and guarding food.

Norwegian Elkhound Traits and Behavior


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	High
Outdoor activity	Medium
Vigor	Very high
Behavioral constancy	High
Dominance to strange dogs	High–medium
Dominance to familiar people	High–medium
Territorality	High
Emotional stability	High
Sociability within family	High–low
Sociability with children	Medium–low
Sociability with strangers	High–low
Learning rate	Very high
Learning obedient	Low
Learning problem solving	High
Watchdog ability	Very high
Guard dog ability	High

6. Otterhound

The Otterhound is an unusual-looking hound with its rough, shaggy coat. The coat is waterproof, and this breed can track its quarry by scent through rough, wet terrain, running and swimming tenaciously to the end of the hunt. Descriptions include sagacity and unfailing devotion, amiable and boisterous, extremely sensitive nose, inquisitive and persevering in the investigating scents, easygoing, and occasionally stubborn.

Behavior problems may include house soiling, roaming, food stealing, clumsiness and tenacious sniffing.

Otter Hound Traits and Behavior


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Low
Outdoor activity	High
Vigor	Low
Behavioral constancy	Medium–low
Dominance to strange dogs	Medium
Dominance to familiar people	Medium–low
Territoriality	Low
Emotional stability	High
Sociability within family	Very high
Sociability with children	Very high
Sociability with strangers	Very high
Learning rate	Low
Learning obedience	Medium–low
Learning problem solving	Low
Watchdog ability	High
Guard dog ability	Low

7. Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large dog bred in Africa as a guard, scent hunter and big-game hunter. It is characterized by a ridge of hair growing in the opposite direction of the rest of its coat along the length of its spine. It is a powerful, agile dog that can pull down a wounded buck or worry a cornered lion until the hunter arrives. Descriptions include strong, muscular and active dog, capable of great endurance and a fair amount of speed, stubborn and bold, disobedient to submissive people.

Behavior problems may include dominance-related problems, challenging family members, aggression and house soiling.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Traits and Behavior


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Low
Outdoor activity	Very high
Vigor	Very high
Behavioral constancy	High
Dominance to strange dogs	Very high–high
Dominance to familiar people	High–medium
Territoriality	High
Emotional stability	High
Sociability within family	Medium–low
Sociability with children	Low–very low
Sociability with strangers	Low–very low
Learning rate	High
Learning obedience	Low
Learning problem solving	High
Watchdog ability	Very high
Guard dog ability	Very high

8. Saluki

The Saluki, the royal dog of Egypt, is considered by some authorities to be the oldest known breed.

Salki Traits


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Low
Outdoor activity	Very high
Vigor	Low
Behavioral constancy	Low
Dominance to strange dogs	Medium
Dominance to familiar people	Medium - low
Territoriality	Low
Emotional stability	Low - very low
Sociability within family	Low - very low
Sociability with children	Low - very low
Sociability with strangers	Low - very low
Learning rate	Low
Learning obedience	Medium
Learning problem solving	Low
Watchdog ability	High
Guard dog ability	Low

9. Scottish Deerhound

The Scottish Deerhound is a large dog reminiscent of, but smaller and slimmer than, the Irish Wolfhound. Its long legs and Greyhound build, slightly obscured by its shaggy coat, are designed for high speed and endurance. Descriptions include tremendous courage, gentle dignity, quiet, keen scent, not aggressive, great persistence, not a sparkler, somewhat timid, not very quick to obey, devoted and loyal to its masters.

No potential behavior problems were mentioned in the literature or by breeders.

Scottish Deerhound Traits


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Low
Outdoor activity	High
Vigor	Low
Behavioral constancy	High
Dominance to strange dogs	Medium
Dominance to familiar people	Medium - low
Territoriality	Low
Emotional stability	Very high
Sociability within family	High - medium
Sociability with children	Very high
Sociability with strangers	High
Learning rate	Low
Learning obedience	Medium - low
Learning problem solving	Low
Watchdog ability	Low
Guard dog ability	Low

10. Whippet

The Whippet is a small dog that looks like a miniature Greyhound. It is a small sight hound used for racing, coursing rabbits and killing rats. Descriptions include: high strung and timid, not very demonstrative or playful and poorly padded for roughhousing and the cold, should be trained gently, never bullied or harshly punished.

Behavior problems may include: phobias, house soiling, timidity and irritable snapping.

Whippet Traits


Dimension of Temperament	Level of Dimension
Indoor activity	Low
Outdoor activity	Very high
Vigor	Low - very low
Behavioral constancy	Low
Dominance to strange dogs	Low
Dominance to familiar people	Low
Territoriality	Low
Emotional stability	Unknown
Sociability within family	Medium - low
Sociability with children	Low - very low
Sociability with strangers	Low
Learning rate	High
Learning obedience	Medium
Learning problem solving	Medium
Watchdog ability	High
Guard dog ability	Low