Oh, aren’t they spectacular! These hound dog breeds are definitely a good catch.
With their sharp nose and excellent hunting skills, these hound dogs will truly blow your mind.
Hunting dogs are spectacular in every way. They will hunt down your heart and keep it as their trophy.
Wanna see which hound dogs are so eye-catching and worthy of your attention?
Let’s sniff this out, shall we?
1. Basset Hound
Many people confuse Bassets with Beagles. But, when you compare the two breeds, they’re definitely not the same. Bassets are more reserved and serious. They can be friendly, but these dogs prefer their space.
Be this as it is, Bassets are still excellent hunting dogs. With their long, droopy ears, and those sad-looking eyes, Bassets will melt the coldest heart.
2. Beagle
Beagles are absolute sweethearts and true companion dogs. However, do you know what Beagles were bred for? That’s right: hunting! Their sharp sense of smell is the one to blame for all those successful hunting trips.
The reason why people favor Beagles so much is because they’re playful and always ready to have some fun. If it wasn’t for their snoopy nose, you’d never guess they’re hound dogs.
3. Afghan Hound
Oh, their graceful walk, and incredible good looks are simply mesmerizing. Yes, Afghan Hounds are impressive dogs in every possible term. Not many people get the chance to spend time with them. For starters, they’re a bit difficult to find in the States. Also, Afghan Hounds cost a lot of money.
Although they look very elegant and fancy, Afghan Hounds are still hound dogs. In fact, this is an ancient breed that was once used to hunt down all kinds of prey, even leopards!
4. American Foxhound
Just as the name suggests, the American Foxhound is a dog that is a master of the art of catching foxes. This dog breed was polished throughout the years to achieve one of the best hunting dogs in American history.
The American Foxhound is not only a good hunting dog, but he can be quite a great family dog, too! These pups are super friendly and cheerful. On top of everything, they have a specific bark, and it appears as if they sing to you.
5. Basenji
Here’s another ancient dog breed. Basenjis go way back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Their hunting skills were known in ancient kingdoms, and the publicity has still remained.
While they don’t serve as hunting dogs these days, Basenjis are still quite popular. They’re gorgeous dogs that come in several coat colors – red being the most notable one.
What will blow your mind about Basenjis is actually their bark. Basenjis don’t bark like other dogs. They produce this yodeling sound that’s simply too pawdorable to handle.
6. Black And Tan Coonhound
Yes, these dogs do exactly what their name says they do: hunt racoons!
The black and tan Coonhound is an old, 100% American dog breed with origins that go way back to Talboat Hounds and King Willam I.
Dogs can hunt down small prey like rabbits and birds without much trouble. But, when it comes to animals like racoons, they’re a bit of a handful. Racoons can be feisty and tricky to get. That’s why people needed a brave dog – someone crazy enough to go after the coons.
Enter the scene: black and tan Coonhounds. These big and strong dogs will hunt more than just racoons; your heart will go down, too!
7. Bluetick Coonhound
While some of you might think that black and tan Coonhounds are the same as Bluetick Coonhounds, that’s definitely not the case. These are two separate dog breeds, both approved by the AKC. The only thing these dogs have in common is that they both hunt racoons.
The Bluetick Coonhound is pretty easy to spot with their spotted appearance. They have a grayish-blue coat, with ticks that can sometimes be in combination with tan.
These dogs are excellent hunters, blessed with impressive intelligence and sharp skills.
8. Borzoi
Once the most popular dog of the Romanov era in Russia, the Borzoi is now a rare hound you can’t really find or see everywhere. Thanks to the huge gap between the States and Russia during the Cold War, dogs from Russia weren’t imported to the USA.
Only recently, a few decades ago, did the popularity of Russian dog breeds increase.
.Believe it or not, Borzoi dogs weren’t just noble canines – they were used to hunt wolves. In fact, they were known as Russian Wolfdogs, but soon were renamed to Borzoi, meaning swift.
Borzoi dogs are calm and graceful. They come in lots of lovely coat colors, so there’s surely a Borzoi up to your liking.
9. Bloodhound
If you thought Bassets and Coonhounds were excellent trackers with a sharp sense of smell… think again. There’s actually a dog breed that’s even better at catching a scent than these canines.
The Bloodhound is an expert in detecting a scent. Their tracking is so doubtless that it can even be used as evidence in court.
Bloodhounds aren’t super common like some other dogs on this list. However, there are lots of Bloodhound mixes that are equally as great as their Bloodhound parents.
10. Dachshund
Name a better-designed hunting dog than a Dachshund. I’ll wait…
Dachshunds are true little wonders of the canine world. With their elongated body and long muzzle, Dachshunds can dig fast, move underground, and catch their prey with impressive efficiency.
Don’t worry – a Doxie’s loud bark will let you know you’ve scored a badger, a rabbit, or some other wild animal.
Dachshunds are popular pets not only because of their attractive looks, but also for their fun temperament. There’s never a dull moment around Doxies.
11. Greyhound
If we had to pick the most sporty dog of them all, that would definitely be the Greyhound. These dogs run fast, and never miss their prey. People adore them for their unusual looks, but their character doesn’t fall too far behind either.
Greyhounds are sweet and cuddly when they’re home with their owner. But, when they’re out and working, there’s no dog faster than them. They’re sleek and thin, so they can move through the air without any resistance. That’s why feeding a Greyhound too much to get a fat pup is never a good idea.
12. Irish Wolfhound
Come and meet the world’s tallest dog – the Irish Wolfhound. His appearance might shock you. I confirm… they do look a bit intimidating. However, Irish Wolfhounds are true sweethearts. They’re not dangerous at all.
If you ever get the chance to spend some time with an Irish Wolfhound, you’ll see how easy-going and friendly it is.
Unfortunately, these dogs don’t have a long lifespan, and can only live for 6 to 10 short years. But, that’s the thing with all huge dogs.
13. Whippet
You’re going to love Whippets! They’re sighthounds, very similar to their buddies, Greyhounds, but they’re so much easier to take care of.
Whippets are small and cuddly. They always seem like they’re either afraid of something or just cold. Even long-haired Whippets tremble! That’s just a breed trait.
Be this as it is, Whippets are caring friends, always sticking with their owner. If you want a hound that doesn’t appear as a classic hound, this is the pup for you.
15. Scottish Deerhound
Meet the royal dog of Scotland!
As the official dog breed of the old Caledonia, the Scottish Deerhound was of great help for catching large prey… mostly deer. Hence, the name, Deerhound.
These gentle giants are terrific sighthounds as they come from the ancient Greyhounds. While the Scottish Deerhound makes an excellent hunting buddy, he’s still capable of being a loyal friend. These are calm, kind, and loving dogs full of understanding.
16. Rhodesian Ridgeback
Do you know where the Rhodesian Ridgeback comes from? Their reign of origin is South Africa, where these dogs were used as hunting dogs. But, they didn’t hunt down possums and small game. These dogs went in, all or nothing. And, they chased lions… believe it or not!
The Rhodesian Ridgeback must be one incredibly brave dog to go after a lion. They’re intelligent, agile, strong, and they even blend in with Africa’s nature, thanks to their coat colors. If this doesn’t make them the perfect hunting dogs for this continent, nothing will!
17. Norwegian Elkhound
One of the members of the spitz dog breed group is the Norwegian Elkhound – a herding dog from the north, that is specialized in many other things. One of those things is being a hunting companion.
The Elkhound has roots that go way back to the Vikings. They were loyal sidekicks on their missions around the world. There’s no surprise that the Elkhound mastered so many areas, from hunting to herding, and guarding.
As one of the oldest dogs in Europe, the Elkhound is the last pup on our list of best hound dog breeds.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are lots of hound dog breeds. We’ve listed only 17 of them, but there are many others.
However, the differences between them and these ones we listed aren’t that notable.
All in all – all hound dogs are excellent hunting buddies. Their strong sense of smell makes them good trackers no matter what the prey is.
If you enjoy hunting, or you simply prefer a dog with a sharp nose, these are the pups to consider!