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Scent
Hounds
Dachshund
Scent hounds are gentle if not terribly obedient dogs that
are driven by their noses. Their long earflaps and pendulous
lips work to gather in scent, making these dogs very effective
trackers.
With its nose to the ground a scent hound catches and then
follows the odor of its prey, howling out an alert to its
handler. Unlike terriers, scent hounds rarely kill prey, but
rather hold the prey at bay for the handler.
Exceptional tracking ability can get these dogs into trouble,
as it leads them into garbage or off to chase wildlife if
they are not on a leash or confined to a well-secured area.
Scent hounds were developed to hunt in braces (twos) or packs,
so they are generally friendly with other dogs. Long-bodied,
slow-moving, dwarf scent hound breeds (basset hound, petit
basset griffon Vendeen) were developed for tracking rabbits
and hares.
Unlike other scent hounds, the long, low dachshund boasts
a feisty, terrier-like personality and can dive down a hole
to chase out prey or catch and kill it underground.
The small, well-proportioned beagle, one of the oldest scent
hounds (dating to the fourteenth century), can use its nose
and speed to circle a rabbit back toward a hunter.
Slightly predating the beagle, the swift, sturdy harrier is
used to hunt both hare and fox. The leggier English and American
foxhounds were developed to hunt fox in large packs.
The otter hound and the bloodhound are the largest of the
trailing hounds. They are similar in build, but the otter
hound has webbed feet and a rough, water-resistant coat ideal
for hunting otter in the water, while the bloodhound trails
animals and humans on land.
The black-and-tan coonhound, a distant relative of both, was
developed for its ability to hunt raccoon and opossum.
Basset
Hound
Scent Hounds
American Foxhound
Basset Hound
Beagle
Black-and-Tan Coonhound
Bloodhound
Dachshund
English Foxhound
Harrier
Otter Hound
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Scent Hound Mixes
 
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