Dog breed lists
Hound Dog Breeds
Hounds were bred to track or chase game by scent or sight. Scent hounds follow their noses, while sighthounds are built for speed. Both can be independent, and many are calm at home. Here are the hound breeds in our guides, most popular first.
-
1
Hound
Dachshund
A badger hunter in a very long frame.
- 16–32 lbs
- 12–16 yrs
- Active
- 2
-
3
Hound
Basset Hound
Low, slow, and never off the trail.
- 40–65 lbs
- 12–13 yrs
- Easygoing
-
4
Hound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
The dog that held lions at bay.
- 70–85 lbs
- 10–12 yrs
- Active
-
5
Hound
Whippet
Greyhound speed, apartment size.
- 25–40 lbs
- 12–15 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
6
Hound
Bloodhound
A detective wearing too much skin.
- 80–110 lbs
- 8–10 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
7
Hound
Greyhound
The world's fastest couch potato.
- 60–70 lbs
- 10–13 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
8
Hound
Basenji
The barkless dog that grooms like a cat.
- 22–24 lbs
- 13–14 yrs
- Athlete
-
9
Hound
Irish Wolfhound
The tallest breed, and a gentle one.
- 90–120+ lbs
- 6–8 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
10
Hound
Borzoi
Russian wolf hunter with royal manners.
- 60–105 lbs
- 9–14 yrs
- Moderate energy
-
11
Hound
Afghan Hound
The supermodel of the dog world.
- 50–60 lbs
- 12–15 yrs
- Active
- 12
-
13
Hound
Scottish Deerhound
A Greyhound wearing a wire-wool sweater.
- 75–110 lbs
- 8–11 yrs
- Moderate energy
How we picked
This list shows every breed in the Hound group in our guides, ranked by popularity.
Questions people ask
What are hound dog breeds?
Hounds were bred to track or chase game by scent or sight. Scent hounds follow their noses, while sighthounds are built for speed. Both can be independent, and many are calm at home.
Are hound breeds good family dogs?
It depends on the breed. Each guide covers temperament, energy, trainability and grooming so you can judge the fit for your home.