Scent hound

The Beagle: long ears, large nasal passages, and a sturdy body for endurance
A baying hound
Franz Rudolf Frisching in the uniform of an officer of the Bernese Huntsmen Corps with his Berner Laufhund, painted by Jean Preudhomme in 1785

Scent hounds (or scenthounds) are a type of hound that primarily hunts by scent rather than sight. These breeds are hunting dogs and are generally regarded as having some of the most sensitive noses among canines.

Hounds are hunting dogs that either hunt by following the scent of a game animal (scenthounds) or by following the animal by sight (sighthounds). There are many breeds in the scenthound type, and scenthounds may do other work as well, so exactly which breeds should be called scenthound can be controversial. Kennel clubs assign breeds of dogs to Groups, which are loosely based on breed types. Each kennel club determines which breeds it will place in a given group.

Scent hounds specialize in following a smell or scent. Most of these breeds have long, drooping ears. One theory says that this trait helps to collect scent from the air and keep it near the dog's face and nose. They also have large nasal cavities, which also helps to help them smell better. Their typically loose, moist lips are said to assist in trapping scent particles.

Most of these breeds have deep, booming voices and use them actively when running, and especially when following a scent trail. Although this can be a nuisance in settled areas, it is a valuable trait that allows the dog's handler to follow the dog or pack of dogs during a hunt even when they are out of sight, such as when following a fox or raccoon through woodland.

Scent hounds do not need to be as fast as sight hounds, because they do not need to keep prey in sight, but they need endurance so that they can stick with a scent and follow it for long distances over rough terrain. The best scent hounds can follow a scent trail even across running water and even when it is several days old. Most scent hounds are used for hunting in packs of multiple dogs. Longer-legged hounds run more quickly and usually require that the hunters follow on horseback; shorter-legged hounds allow hunters to follow on foot. Hunting with some breeds, such as German Bracke, American Foxhounds, or coonhounds, involves allowing the pack of dogs to run freely while the hunters wait in a fixed spot until the dogs' baying announces that the game has been "treed". The hunters then go to the spot on foot, following the sound of the dogs' baying.[1]

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) places scent hounds into their classification "Group 6". This includes a subdivision, "Section 2, Leash Hounds", some examples of which are the Bavarian Mountain Scenthound (Bayrischer Gebirgsschweisshund, no. 217), the Hanoverian Scenthound (Hannover'scher Schweisshund, no. 213), and the Alpine Dachsbracke (Alpenländische Dachsbracke, no. 254). In addition, the Dalmatian and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are placed in Group 6 as "Related breeds".

The United Kennel Club divides its Scenthound Group into two categories. The first, Tree Hounds, includes the American hunting dogs known as coonhounds and the European hounds from which they were developed. The second category is named Trailing Scenthounds, and includes dogs used for the tracking of game animals, and of humans (as in search-and-rescue, and fugitive capture). They are also used for explosives detection. The Trailing group are reputedly descended from a type of bloodhound kept by monks in Belgium.[2]

Genetic history

Genetic studies confirm the long-standing belief that all scent hounds share a more recent common ancestor with each other than they do with other branches on the dog family tree. Furthermore, the common ancestor of the scent hounds and spaniels is more recent than the ancestor both these share with the next most closely related groups of dogs: the schnauzers, poodles, and other water dogs.[3]

Breeds

The scent hound type includes the following breeds:

United Kennel Club Scenthound Group

The Scenthound Group is the group category used by the United Kennel Club (US), which it divides into two categories. The first includes the American hunting dogs known as coonhounds and the European hounds from which they were developed. These are referred to as Tree Hounds. The category also includes curs, American dogs bred for hunting bears, feral pigs, and similar large game. The second category is referred to as trailing scenthounds, and includes dogs used for tracking of humans, reputedly descended from the St. Hubert Hounds (ancestor of today's Bloodhound breed) kept by monks in Belgium.[4]

Coonhounds

United Kennel Club Scenthound Group Tree Hound breeds compared to Group placement by other major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world [5]
Breed Fédération Cynologique Internationale The Kennel Club (UK) Canadian Kennel Club American Kennel Club Australian National Kennel Council New Zealand Kennel Club
American Black & Tan Coonhound Group6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds not recognised Coonhound (Black and Tan) Group 2 Hounds Hound Group not recognised not recognised
American Leopard Hound (formerly Leopard Cur)[6] not recognised not recognised not recognised Foundation Stock Service for Catahoula Leopard Dog not recognised not recognised
Bluetick Coonhound not recognised not recognised not recognised Miscellaneous Class Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
English Coonhound not recognised not recognised not recognised Foundation Stock Service not recognised not recognised
Plott Hound not recognised not recognised not recognised Hound Group not recognised not recognised
Redbone Coonhound not recognised not recognised not recognised Foundation Stock Service not recognised not recognised
Treeing Walker Coonhound not recognised not recognised not recognised Miscellaneous Class not recognised not recognised

Curs

United Kennel Club Scenthound Group Cur breeds compared to Group placement by other major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world
Breed Fédération Cynologique Internationale The Kennel Club (UK) Canadian Kennel Club American Kennel Club Australian National Kennel Council New Zealand Kennel Club
Blackmouth Cur not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Mountain Cur not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Stephens' Cur not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Treeing Cur not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised

Breeds other than coonhounds and curs

United Kennel Club Scenthound Group breeds compared to Group placement by other major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world
Breed Fédération Cynologique Internationale The Kennel Club (UK) Canadian Kennel Club American Kennel Club Australian National Kennel Council New Zealand Kennel Club
Alpine Dachsbracke (Alpenländische Dachsbracke) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 2 : Leash (scent) Hounds (Austria) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
American Foxhound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds not recognised Group 2 Hounds Hound Group not recognised not recognised
English Foxhound Group6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (Foxhound) Hound Group Group 2 Hounds Hound Group (Foxhound) Group 4 (Hounds) (Foxhound) Hound Group
Anglo-Francais de Moyen Venerie same as the Anglo-Francais de Petit Venerie not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Anglo-Francais de Petit Venerie Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France)- a LARGE hound for hunting SMALL game, not a small dog not recognised not recognised not recognised
Ariegeois Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Austrian Black and Tan Hound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Barak Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Bosnia) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Basset Artesien Normand Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised
Basset Bleu De Gascogne Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (France) Hound Group not recognised not recognised not recognised
Basset Fauve De Bretagne (Fawn Brittany Basset) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (France) Hound Group not recognised Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Basset Hound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (Great Britain) Hound Group Group 2 Hounds Hound Group Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Bavarian Mountain Hound (Bayrischer Gebirgsschweisshund) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 2 : Leash (scent) Hounds (Germany) Hound Group not recognised not recognised not recognised
Beagle Harrier Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Beagle Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (Great Britain) Hound Group Group 2 Hounds Hound Group Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Billy Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Black Forest Hound Slovensky Kopov, Slovakian Hound) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Bloodhound (Chien de Saint-Hubert) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (Belgium) Hound Group Group 2 Hounds Hound Group Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Briquette Griffon Vendeen Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Chien D'Artois Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Chien Francais Blanc et Noir Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Chien Francais Blanc et Orange Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised
Chien Francais Tricolore Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Dachshund Group 4 Dachshunds Hound Group Group 2 Hounds Hound Group Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Deutsche Bracke (German Hound) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Drever Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (Sweden) not recognised Group 2 Hounds not recognised not recognised
Dunker Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Norway) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Estonian Hound in process of recognition not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Finnish Hound (Suomenajokoira) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolor Hound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Grand Anglo-Francais White and Black Hound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Grand Anglo-Francais White and Orange Hound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (France) Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand) Hound Group not recognised Foundation Stock Service Group 4 (Hounds) not recognised
Grand Bleu de Gascogne Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) Hound Group not recognised not recognised not recognised
Grand Gascon-Saintongeois Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Grand Griffon Vendeen (Grand griffon vendéen, 282) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised
Griffon Bleu de Gascogne Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Griffon Fauve de Bretagne Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised Group 4 (Hounds) not recognised
Griffon Nivernais Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Hamiltonstovare (Hamilton Hound) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Sweden) Hound Group not recognised Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Hanoverian Hound (Hannover'scher Schweisshund) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 2 : Leash (scent) Hounds (Germany) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Harrier Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Great Britain) not recognised Group 2 Hounds Hound Group Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Hellenic Hound (Hellinikos Ichnilatis) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Greece) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Hygen Hound (Hygenhund) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Norway) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound (Istarski Ostrodlaki Gonic) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Croatia) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Istrian Shorthaired Hound (Istarski Kratkodlaki Gonic) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Croatia) not recognised not recognised not recognised
Italian Hound (Segugio Italiano) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Italy) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Large Spanish Hound (Sabueso Espanol de Monte) (only one size is recognized, in the medium-size section) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Otterhound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds Hound Group Group 2 Hounds Hound Group Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (France) Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit) Hound Group Group 2 Hounds Hound Group Group 4 (Hounds) Hound Group
Petit Bleu de Gascogne (Small Blue Gascony Hound) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3. Small-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Petit Gascon-Saintongeois Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised
Petit Griffon Bleu de Gascogne Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Poitevin Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.1 Large-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Polish Hound (Ogar Polski) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Porcelaine Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (France) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Posavaz Hound (Posavski Gonic) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Croatia) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Schiller Hound (Schillerstövare) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Serbian Hound (Srpski Gonic) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Serbian Tricolor Hound (Srpski Trobojni Gonic) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Slovakian Hound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Slovakian Wire-haired Pointing Dog Slovenský Hrubosrsty Stavac (Ohar) Group 7 Pointing Dogs 1.3 'Griffon' type not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Smaland Hound (Smålandsstövare) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hound (Sweden) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Small Spanish Hound (Sabueso Espanol Lebero) (only one size is recognized, in the medium-size section) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Small Swiss Hound Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (Switzerland) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Spanish Hound (Sabueso Español) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Styrian Coarse-Haired Hound (Steirische Rauhhaarbracke) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Austria) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Transylvanian Hound (Erdélyi Kopó) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Tyrolean Hound (Tiroler Bracke) Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds (Austria) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Welsh Hound not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised
Westphalian Dachsbracke Group 6 Scenthounds and Related Breeds/Section 1 : Scenthounds 1.3 Small-sized Hounds (Germany) not recognised not recognised not recognised not recognised

Other registries

This article only covers the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world, but there are national clubs in many countries where many of these breeds may also be listed in similar or other Breed Groups.

Many of the regional breeds recognised by the United Kennel Club are very few in number in the United States. As a US-based club they have specialised in the registry of North American breeds, especially hunting and working/utility dogs. The United Kennel Club also lists internationally recognised (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) breeds that are few in number outside their native areas. Many of these are called rare breeds in the United States, and breeders and dog owners may register their dogs with any of the very large number of small breed clubs, dog sport clubs, minor kennel clubs and internet-based dog businesses, in order to participate in the club's or business' activities. For breeds not yet recognised by one of the major kennel clubs, there are usually numerous competing breed clubs for each individual breed.

Not recognised

A breed that is not recognised by a kennel club means that it has not been sufficiently vetted according to that particular kennel club's rules. It does not mean that the breed is not a breed. A kennel club usually requires a breed to have a large enough breed club to warrant the training of judges for the breed, as well as a specific amount of documentation, to accept a breed.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Coon hunting on ESPN
  2. ↑ United Kennel Club (US) breed information
  3. ↑ vonHoldt, Bridgett M.; John P. Pollinger, Kirk E. Lohmueller, Eunjung Han, Heidi G. Parker, Pascale Quignon, Jeremiah D. Degenhardt, Adam R. Boyko, Dent A. Earl, Adam Auton, Andy Reynolds, Kasia Bryc, Abra Brisbin, James C. Knowles, Dana S. Mosher, Tyrone C. Spady, Abdel Elkahloun, Eli Geffen, Malgorzata Pilot, Wlodzimierz Jedrzejewski, Claudia Greco, Ettore Randi, Danika Bannasch, Alan Wilton, Jeremy Shearman, Marco Musiani, Michelle Cargill, Paul G. Jones, Zuwei Qian, Wei Huang, Zhao-Li Ding, Ya-ping Zhang, Carlos D. Bustamante, Elaine A. Ostrander, John Novembre & Robert K. Wayne (8 April 2010). "Genome-wide SNP and haplotype analyses reveal a rich history underlying dog domestication". Nature 464 (7290): 898–902. doi:10.1038/nature08837. ISSN 0028-0836. PMC 3494089. PMID 20237475. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v464/n7290/fig_tab/nature08837_F1.html Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
  4. ↑ United Kennel Club (US) breed information
  5. ↑ Fédération Cynologique Internationale breed nomenclature
  6. ↑ American Leopard Hound Becomes UKC's 7th Coonhound Breed
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