Most hounds share one common ancestral trait, which is that they used to be used for hunting. They all have slightly different traits to make them so popular as hunting companions, including acute scenting powers to follow trails, exceptional tracking abilities, amazing stamina, and more. It’s difficult to make generalisations about hound dogs as they’re all so different, but there are a few unique similarities reserved for hound dogs. You’ll need to make sure you have plenty of time for exercise and mental stimulation if you’re thinking about introducing a hound dog into your family.
The hound dog breed group is made up of dogs that were developed to help humans hunt either on foot or horseback. Hounds can either have short or long legs, with the longer-legged dogs being reserved for horseback hunting. Hound dogs will often either be characterised by excellent sight or smell.
Scent hounds follow trails over long distances to search for things, and love playing hide and seek with their owners. Sighthounds are playful and high-speed sprinters who love a good chase! Unlike gundogs, hound dogs don’t find and retrieve fallen game. Instead, they help hunters track prey down and get them in the perfect position to be hunted.
The hound dog category is so broad that there are plenty of breeds that can fit into it. You can find smaller and bigger hound dogs, long and short-haired breeds, and those with varying energy levels. Here are ten of the most popular hound dog breeds in Australia.
Weight: 25 to 28 kg
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
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The Sloughi can be characterised by their quiet and reserved nature, which will often leave them seeking attention only when they want it instead of coming for a cuddle whenever they see you on the sofa. Don’t worry though, that’s not to say they’re not affectionate – they love spending time with their families when they’re feeling content. They seem specifically taken with children, so they can make fantastic family pets as long as they’re socialised and trained from an early age.
Weight: 4 to 5 kg
Lifespan: 12 to 14 years
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The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is quick and vigilant, which is to be expected coming from the hound group! They still have their hunting instincts, so make sure you keep them busy with lots of exercise and mental stimulation. While Podengos are generally calm and therefore are excellent around children, they also require plenty of exercise and can be better suited to someone who lives an athletic lifestyle with plenty of outdoor time. Podengos aren’t considered the best fit for new or novice owners.
Weight: 13 to 18 kg
Lifespan: 10 to 13 years
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The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is otherwise known as the ‘happy hound’ and has a reputation for being incredibly happy and loving the majority of the time. They’re excellent for families with children and are smaller so they don’t have a reason to be assertive. Many consider this one of the best hound dogs to keep with a young family. With that being said, Roughies can get frustrated when they haven’t had enough exercise or social interaction, so make sure you keep on top of their needs to prevent them from displaying any negative behaviours.
Weight: 8 to 13 kg
Lifespan: 12 to 14 years
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The Cirneco dell’Etna is incredibly independent and loves doing things on its own, so don’t be surprised if they find a comfy corner in the house and spend most of their time away from the rest of the family. They’ll come out when they want to play or be mentally stimulated, but they like choosing the time and place for this instead of being told what to do. Thanks to their strong hunting instincts, the Cirneco dell’Etna requires a lot of playtime and regular walks, and they can benefit from constant access to a big yard when they start getting a little restless.
Weight: 29 to 50 kg
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
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The Black and Tan Coonhound is a keen explorer who loves nothing more than getting out and about in the Great Outdoors. They’ll love a big yard where they can explore all day, so they won’t do well in apartments or smaller houses. Black and Tan Coonhounds love doing new things with their owners, so if you’re active and love exploring yourself, this might be the perfect breed to take on all your travels! This breed tends to have a good level of patience around children as well, so they’re good family dogs – as long as your children don’t slow them down. The Black and Tan Coonhound won’t want to wait for you to catch them up!
Weight: 11 to 16 kg
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
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Greyhounds are notorious for their love of sprinting, and they’ll need regular vigorous exercise to keep them stimulated and happy. That doesn’t mean one walk a day – or even one joy a day. Instead, taking them to a vast open space where they can sprint around for hours is best so they can tire themselves out. Greyhounds aren’t suitable for apartments or smaller houses without gardens, as they’ll get too bored and aggravated. As long as you give them plenty of exercise, Greyhounds will then spend the rest of their time cuddling and spending time with the family.
Weight: 7 to 14.5 kg
Lifespan: 12 to 15 kg
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Most hounds don’t have to worry about Big Dog Syndrome as they’re already bigger breeds, but unfortunately this doesn’t extend to the humble Dachshund. Doxies are notorious for BDS thanks to their playful and curious attitudes, so keep an eye on them when they’re socialising at the dog park. They won’t hesitate to take on dogs double their size, which can lead to injuries and a bruised ego if you’re not careful! Otherwise, Dachshunds are friendly dogs that get on great with older children as long as they’ve been socialised properly from an early age.
Weight: 22 to 29 kg
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
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Basset Hounds are known for their chilled, laid-back nature, which makes them unique to many other hound dogs. They’re super friendly and will get along with almost anyone, and they’re calm indoors despite still being alert to anything that’s going on around them. This makes them a wonderful watchdog if you want to be alerted of changes around your home, but don’t expect them to get up and guard you should something go awry. Bassets love homes with multiple dogs rather than being on their own, and they need lots of socialisation with their owners to stop them from feeling depressed.
Weight: 41 to 49 kg
Lifespan: 7 to 10 years
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The Bloodhound is a classic contradiction of itself – they’re stubborn but still affectionate when they want to be, keeping you on your toes as their owner! They love doing things on their own time, so we’d recommend leaving them to it unless you need a strict routine. Bloodhounds can be reserved with other dogs and strangers, so be careful when introducing them to new people. However, early socialisation and training can prevent them from learning too many adverse behaviours. Heredity genetics can also factor into their personality, so ask if you can meet the parents before adopting a Bloodhound puppy!
Weight: 9 to 10 kg
Lifespan: 13 to 15 years
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Beagles are another smaller hound dog, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less agile or energetic! Beagles have incredible noses and can pick up a scent within a second. Once they’ve caught onto something they’re interested in, they can chase the scent with an impressive level of focus and determination. Sometimes, they won’t stop until they’ve got to the source of it! Other than their ability to sniff out anything, Beagles are also super friendly with their owners and make excellent family dogs.
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