Scenthounds tend to be lumbering dogs with pendulous ears who keep their nose to the ground. Nothing makes these dogs happier than sniffing out a varmint, be it human or animal. Among the scenthounds are dogs large and small, including the black and tan coonhound, beagle, basset hound and bloodhound. Bloodhounds and other large hounds tend to be exuberant youngsters, they can cause a bit of a ruckus in a small or cluttered house.
Besides their love of sniffing, all scenthounds tend to have one characteristic, single-mindedness. This is indicative of their ancestry, they were bred to sniff out one thing despite cut backs, distractions, and diminished trails. Once a hound has something on his mind, or in his nose, you can bet little can distract him.
Sighthounds were bred for hunting but by using their eyes instead of their nose. Most sighthounds are large for example, greyhounds, Afghan hounds, and Irish wolfhounds. Like scenthounds, sighthounds are incredibly single-minded. That combined with their amazing speed can be dangerous. It is smart to keep sighthounds on a leash when in unfenced areas. Despite this, sighthounds make great pets. They are very lovable and can switch between work and relaxation mode easily. If you have a good sized yard, patience, and a sense of humor, you might want to consider having a hound as your next pet.
