Page 50 - Dog

Hounds

Hounds are one of the most easily recognizable
group of dogs, as they all have similar
features – floppy ears, long muzzles, and
powerful jaws. They are strong and hardy –
even the more delicate-looking breeds – and
are relentless hunters. Hounds hunt either
by smell, like the bloodhound, or by sight, WELSH LEGEND
ELEGANT BORZOI The town of Beddgelert in Wales is
The borzoi (pp. 14–15) is the most like the greyhound and Afghan hound. Sight named after the famous deerhound
aristocratic of all hounds, and it looks hounds (pp. 14–15) have lightly built bodies, Gelert, killed by Prince Llewellyn after
as though it would hardly deign to he thought the dog had killed his
behave like an ordinary dog. are fast runners, and are used in the hunt to child. The prince found blood all
chase prey. Scent hounds (pp. 16–17) are slower and more heavily built, around the baby’s cradle so he killed
the dog with his sword But then he
and are used to sniff out prey; their long, droopy ears help guide the found the baby safe, and nearby a
smells from the ground to the nose. Hounds vary in size more than any dead wolf, killed by his faithful dog.
This Welsh legend is one of several
other dog group. The Irish wolfhound, a sight hound originally used for similar stories known in many
hunting wolves, is the heaviest of all dogs; the miniature dachshund, a countries around the world.
scent hound used for hunting badgers, is one of the smallest. Many
breeds of hound are still used today
for hunting, but others, such as the Wrinkled brow
wolfhound, are house dogs and and face
companions. The lifespan of small Short hair on face
hounds is around 15 years, but very and along the back
large hounds live on average for only Long, silky ears
about half this time.

“Dewlap,” or
LONG-HAIRED BEAUTY loose folds of
The Afghan hound is an skin hanging
ancient breed of long-haired beneath its
greyhound that originated throat
in Afghanistan, where it
was used by the royal
family for hunting
gazelle (small antelope).
After its arrival in
Britain in the early
1900s, this dog was
bred to be even
longer-haired and
more silky. The
Afghan hound is
a popular show
dog but retains
its hunting
and racing Very long,
instincts. silky hair

TALLYHO
The foxhound has changed little since A DIGNIFIED DOG
medieval times; it is still used today for In modern times the role of the bloodhound has been that
fox hunting. Foxhounds do not make of a guard dog rather than a hunting hound, but its fearsome
good house dogs because for centuries reputation as a relentless tracker has survived in legend if
they have been bred specifically for not in fact. Breeding for show standards has led to the folds
hunting and for living close together in of skin around its head becoming overdeveloped, and this
large numbers as a pack. can lead to health problems.

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