Hound Group is the name of a breed group of dog

Dog

The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...

s, used by kennel club

Kennel club

A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog...

s to classify a defined collection of dog breeds, and does not necessarily include all hound-type dogs. Most major English-language kennel club

Kennel club

A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog...

s include a Hound Group (including The Kennel Club

The Kennel Club

The Kennel Club is a kennel club based in London and Aylesbury, United Kingdom.The Kennel Club registration system divides dogs into seven breed groups. The Kennel Club Groups are: Hound, Working, Terrier, Gundog, Pastoral, Utility and Toy...

 (UK), the American Kennel Club

American Kennel Club

The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official...

, the Canadian Kennel Club

Canadian Kennel Club

The Canadian Kennel Club is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. Beyond maintaining the pedigree registry, the C.K.C...

, the Australian National Kennel Council

Australian National Kennel Council

The Australian National Kennel Council is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by individuals across Australia. It was formed in...

, the United Kennel Club, the Professional Kennel Club, the American Coon Hunters Association, and the New Zealand Kennel Club

New Zealand Kennel Club

The New Zealand Kennel Club is the primary kennel club responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. They also provide training services, judging for dog shows and many other services relating to dog showing. The organisation was introduced in 1886, it is also a full member of...

) although different kennel clubs may not include the same breeds in their Hound Group. The international kennel club association, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale

Fédération Cynologique Internationale

Fédération Cynologique Internationale is an international federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium. The English language translation, World Canine Organisation, is not often used.Its goals are described in Article 2 of their regulations:...

, does not have a Hound Group, and includes most hound-type dogs in Group 6, Scenthounds and related Breeds, and Group 10, Sighthounds.

Hounds

Most hound type dogs share the common ancestral trait of being used for hunting. Some use acute scenting powers to follow a trail. Others demonstrate a gift of stamina

Endurance

Endurance is the ability for a human or animal to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise...

 as they relentlessly run down quarry. Beyond this, however, generalizations about hounds are hard to come by, since the type

Dog type

Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....

 encompasses quite a diverse lot. There are Pharaoh Hound

Pharaoh Hound

The Pharaoh Hound is a breed of dog and the national hound of the Mediterranean nation of Malta. Its native name is Kelb tal-Fenek in Maltese, which means "rabbit hound". The dog is the traditional hunting companion of Maltese outdoorsmen. The breed has no conclusive links with Ancient Egypt and...

s, Norwegian Elkhound

Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the ancient Northern Spitz-type breed of dog and is the National Dog of Norway. The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender. In a land of subzero temperatures, deep snow, thick forests, and rugged mountains, only the hardiest of the breeds...

s, Afghans

Afghan Hound

The Afghan Hound is one of the oldest sighthound dog breeds. Distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end, the breed acquired its unique features in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, where it was originally used to hunt hares and gazelles by coursing them....

 and Beagle

Beagle

The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...

s, among others. Some hounds share the distinct ability to produce a unique sound known as baying.

Major registries

Abbreviations used in this section are:

• AKC: American Kennel Club
• ACHA: American Coon Hunters Association
• ANKC: Australian National Kennel Council
• CKC: Canadian Kennel Club
• KC: The Kennel Club (UK)
• NZKC: New Zealand Kennel Club
• PKC: Professional Kennel Club
• UKC: United Kennel Club

Dogs listed in the Hound Group of various kennel clubs. Differences between kennel clubs are noted in parentheses.

	Afghan Hound Afghan Hound The Afghan Hound is one of the oldest sighthound dog breeds. Distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end, the breed acquired its unique features in the cold mountains of Afghanistan, where it was originally used to hunt hares and gazelles by coursing them....		American Foxhound American Foxhound The American Foxhound is a breed of dog that is cousin to the English Foxhound. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt foxes by scent.-History:...  (recognised only by the AKC, CKC and UKC)		Australian Dingo Dingo The Australian Dingo or Warrigal is a free-roaming wild dog unique to the continent of Australia, mainly found in the outback. Its original ancestors are thought to have arrived with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago, when dogs were still relatively undomesticated and closer to...  (recognised only by the ANKC)
	Azawakh Azawakh The Azawakh is a sighthound dog breed from Africa.-Appearance:Morphology is very similar to that of the Middle Eastern and South Indian sight hounds, all swift, high-bred coursing hounds, although there are several obvious differences. For example, a short, flat back combined with long legs place...  (recognised only by the KC)		Basenji Basenji The Basenji is a breed of hunting dog that was bred from stock originating in central Africa. Most of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world place the breed in the Hound Group; more specifically, it may be classified as belonging to the sighthound type...		Basset Bleu de Gascogne Basset Bleu de Gascogne The Basset Bleu de Gascogne , also known as the Blue Gascony Basset, is a long-backed, short legged breed of dog of the hound type. A breed with origins in the Middle Ages which descends from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne however it nearly went extinct around the early 19th century and its saviour was...  (recognised only by the KC)
	Basset Fauve de Bretagne Basset Fauve de Bretagne The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a short legged hunting breed of dog of the scent hound type, originally from Brittany, a historical kingdom of France.-Appearance:...  (recognised only by the ANKC, KC and NZKC)		Basset Hound Basset Hound The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt rabbits and hare by scent. Their sense of smell for tracking is second only to that of the Bloodhound....		Bavarian Mountain Hound Bavarian Mountain Hound The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a breed of dog from Germany. It is a scent hound and has been used in Germany since the Middle Ages to trail wounded game. It is a cross between the Bavarian Hound and the Hanover Hound.-Appearance:The Bavarian Mountain Hound's head is strong and elongated. The...  (recognised only by the KC)
	Beagle Beagle The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...		Black and Tan Coonhound Black and Tan Coonhound The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog used principally for trailing and treeing raccoon. It's a cross between the Bloodhound, and the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound. The Black and Tan Coonhound runs its game entirely by scent...  (recognised only by the AKC, ACHA, CKC, PKC and UKC)		Bloodhound Bloodhound The Bloodhound is a large breed of dog which, while originally bred to hunt deer and wild boar, was later bred specifically to track human beings. It is a scenthound, tracking by smell, as opposed to a sighthound, which tracks using vision. It is famed for its ability to discern human odors even...
	Bluetick Coonhound Bluetick Coonhound The Bluetick Coonhound is a breed of dog. It is a type of coonhound and typically bred in the southern United States.- Appearance :The overall body style of the Bluetick Coonhound is muscular and speedy, not chunky or clumsily built. The head is carried well up and the tail carried over the back,...  (recognised only by the AKC, ACHA, ANKC, NZKC, PKC, and UKC)		Borzoi Borzoi The borzoi is a breed of domestic dog also called the Russian wolfhound and descended from dogs brought to Russia from central Asian countries. It is similar in shape to a greyhound, and is also a member of the sighthound family.The system by which Russians over the ages named their sighthounds...		Cirneco dell'Etna Cirneco dell'Etna The Cirneco dell'Etna is a small breed of dog originally from Sicily. This hound was historically used to hunt rabbits and can work for hours without food or water. The breed also has a keen sense of smell and is primarily built for endurance over harsh terrain such as that of Mount Etna...  (recognised only by the KC)
	Dachshund Dachshund The dachshund is a short-legged, long-bodied dog breed belonging to the hound family. The standard size dachshund was bred to scent, chase, and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature dachshund was developed to hunt smaller prey such as rabbits...		Drever Drever The Drever is a breed of dog, a short-legged scenthound from Sweden used for hunting deer and other game. The Drever is descended from the Westphalian Dachsbracke, a type of German hound called Bracke...  (recognised only by the CKC)		English foxhound English Foxhound The English Foxhound is one of the four foxhound breeds of dog. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt foxes by scent.-Appearance:The English Foxhound is about 21-25 inches tall to the withers, and weighs anywhere between 65-75 pounds, although some English Foxhounds bred for the show ring can be...
	Finnish Spitz Finnish Spitz A Finnish Spitz is a breed of dog originating in Finland. The breed was originally bred to hunt all types of game from squirrels and other rodents to bears. It is a "bark pointer", indicating the position of game by barking to attract the hunter's attention...  (AKC Non-sporting Group)		Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen The Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen is a long-backed, short legged hunting breed of dog of the hound type, originating in the Vendée region of France. They are still used today to hunt boar, deer, and to track rabbit and hare, but are more commonly kept as a domestic pet.They are pack dogs, so owners...  (recognised only by the KC)		Grand Bleu de Gascogne Grand Bleu de Gascogne The Grand Bleu de Gascogne Is a breed of dog of the scenthound type, originating in France and used for hunting in packs. Today's breed is the descendant of a very old type of large hunting dog, and is an important breed in the ancestry of many other hounds.- Appearance :The Grand Bleu de Gascogne...  (recognised only by the KC)
	Greyhound Greyhound The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...		Hamiltonstövare Hamiltonstövare The Hamiltonstövare is a breed of dog, bred as a hunting hound. The breed was developed in Sweden by the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, Count Adolf Hamilton. Its ancestry includes several German hounds as well as English Foxhounds and Harriers....  (not recognised by the AKC and CKC)		Harrier Harrier (dog) The Harrier is a small to medium sized dog breed of the hound class,used for hunting hares by trailing them. It resembles an English Foxhound but is smaller, though not as small as a Beagle.-Appearance:...  (not recognised by the KC)
	Ibizan Hound Ibizan Hound The Ibizan Hound , pronounced "I-bee-zan" or "I-beeth-an", is a lean, agile dog of the hound family. There are two hair types of the breed: smooth and wire. The more commonly seen type is the smooth...		Irish Wolfhound Irish Wolfhound The Irish wolfhound is a breed of domestic dog , specifically a sighthound. The name originates from its purpose rather than from its appearance...		Norrbottenspets Norrbottenspets The Norbottenspets is a breed of dog of the spitz type. It is an ancient breed whose original purpose was a farm and hunting dog but has recently became more popular as a companion dog. The Norrbottenspets is used to hunt wood grouse, black grouse, capercaillie and hazel grouse, but also fox,...  (recognised only by the CKC)
	Norwegian Elkhound Norwegian Elkhound The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the ancient Northern Spitz-type breed of dog and is the National Dog of Norway. The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender. In a land of subzero temperatures, deep snow, thick forests, and rugged mountains, only the hardiest of the breeds...		Norwegian Lundehund Norwegian Lundehund The Norwegian Lundehund is a small dog breed of the Spitz type that originates from Norway. Its name is composed of the prefix Lunde, from the Norwegian lundefugl , and the suffix hund, meaning dog...  (recognised only by the KC and the CKC)		Otterhound Otterhound The Otterhound is an old British dog breed, with Bloodhound ancestors, and one of the ancestors of the Airedale Terrier.-Appearance:The Otterhound is a large, rough-coated hound with an imposing head. Originally bred for hunting, it has great strength and a strong body with long striding steps....
	Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen The Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen , or PBGV, is a breed of dog of the scent hound type, bred to trail hares in bramble filled terrain of the Vendée district of France.-Appearance:...		Pharaoh Hound Pharaoh Hound The Pharaoh Hound is a breed of dog and the national hound of the Mediterranean nation of Malta. Its native name is Kelb tal-Fenek in Maltese, which means "rabbit hound". The dog is the traditional hunting companion of Maltese outdoorsmen. The breed has no conclusive links with Ancient Egypt and...		Plott Hound Plott Hound The Plott Hound is a large scent hound, specifically a coonhound, originally bred for hunting boar.- Description :The Plott Hound is one of the least known breeds of dog in the United States, even though they are the state dog of North Carolina....   (recognised only by the AKC, ACHA, PKC, and UKC)
	Portuguese Podengo (small) Portuguese Podengo The Portuguese Podengo is an ancient multi-sensory hound breed of dog from Portugal. The Podengo comes in three sizes that are not interbred - small , medium and large , each size with two hair coats and its own unique temperament.All three sizes love to hunt, its tradition in their native...  (recognised only by the KC)		Redbone Coonhound Redbone Coonhound The Redbone Coonhound is a breed of dog, which is widely used for hunting bear, raccoon, and cougar. Their agility allows them to be used for hunting from swamplands to mountains and some can be used as water dogs...  (recognized by the AKC, ACHA, PKC, and UKC)		Rhodesian Ridgeback Rhodesian Ridgeback The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed developed in Southern Africa, where it was used to hunt Lions. This is most likely why this dog is known for its bravery...
	Saluki Saluki The Saluki, also known as the Royal Dog of Egypt and Persian Greyhound is one of the oldest known breeds of domesticated dog. From the period of the Middle Kingdom onwards, Saluki-like animals appear on the ancient Egyptian tombs of 2134 BC. They have connections both to the Bible and Imperial...		Scottish Deerhound Scottish Deerhound The Scottish Deerhound, or simply the Deerhound, is a breed of hound , once bred to hunt the Red Deer by coursing.- Appearance :The Scottish Deerhound resembles a rough-coated Greyhound. It is however, larger in size and bone...		Segugio Italiano Segugio Italiano The Segugio Italiano is an Italian breed of dog of the scenthound family. It comes in both short-haired and wire-haired varieties. It is thought to be an ancient breed, descended in pre-Roman eras from progenitor scenthounds in ancient Egypt....  (recognised only by the KC)
	Sloughi Sloughi The Sloughi is a North African breed of dog, specifically a member of the sighthound family. It is found in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Sloughis are likely closely related to the Azawakh, but not to the Saluki .-Appearance:...  (recognised by the KC, NZKC and ANKC; not recognised by the AKC or CKC)		Treeing Walker Coonhound Treeing Walker Coonhound The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a breed of dog descended from the English Foxhound, first recognized as a separate breed in 1945. The breed began when a stolen dog of unknown origin, known as "Tennessee Lead", was crossed into the Walker Hound in the 19th century...  (recognised only by the AKC, ACHA, PKC, and UKC)		Whippet Whippet The Whippet is a breed of dog in the sighthound family. They are active and playful and are physically similar to a small Greyhound.- Description :...

Other organizations

"Hound Group" may also be a term used by minor kennel clubs, breed clubs, sporting clubs, and internet-based dog businesses. Each may or may not define the term separately. In addition, there are many new or rare breeds

Rare breed (dog)

Rare breed is any breed of dog that is small in number. Since dogs have greater genetic variability than other domesticated animals the number of possible breeds is vast...

that are not yet recognized by any major registry that may eventually be listed in the "Hound Group" of a major kennel club.