As breed specialists, we are often asked for information about hounds by people who are not sure whether their hound is a foxhound or not.

Not surprising really, as to the untrained eye they all look the same.

This Page is to help aid those of you who need help to identify what breed of hound you have.

Types of Hound;

• The English Foxhound -These come in two types, Old English and Modern. With very few full Old English packs in the UK, many hounds have been out crossed. The full modern Foxhound has a short dense coat
• The Welsh Foxhound - a hound often seen with a longer "woolier" coat.
• The American Foxhound - truly rare in the UK, however some hunts are importing these hounds to out cross. Many huntsman are enjoying the lighter frame and the speed of this type.

As well as these Foxhound in the UK, we also have a number of other breeds. We have the Western Harrier, Beagle and the Trailhound. These all look foxhound like, however size and weight carry the big difference.

Photos to follow of each;

• The Old English Foxhound - well known for their toughness and their speed. Has always made it hard for the mounted field to keep up with them when scent allows it.
  
• The Welsh Hound - probably the most ancient breed, having come over from France with the Normans, if not before. It is known for its long, woolly or broken coat, superior nose and wonderful voice. The Welsh type tends to produce larger doghounds than bitches. This trait has been passed on through outcrosses, therefore stamina may become a concern. Welsh Hounds need a degree of independence to hunt the Welsh hills and so have acquired excellent brains. Longevity is another characteristic found in the Welsh Hound.
  
• The Modern Foxhound - not as heavy framed with bone, they tend to come in all colours. Not same as the Old English packs that tend to come in the tri colour with black saddle and tan and white on head and body. It is normally left up to the huntsman as to what colour hound he personally favours, as colour isn't as important as voice and scenting ability. A white hound  wouldn't be ideal for the chalkie land and the dark hounds would be no go for heavy woodland or dense shubland.
  
• The Fell Hound and Trail Hound - have hare like feet and longer toes to help them get footing on the hillside of the Lake District. They are lighter in frame than the foxhound enabling them to hunt independently a bit more then their cousins. Their huntsman hunts on foot, which means he can't travel as quickly as a mounted
  
• The Harrier Hound - There are two distinct breeds of Harrier: the Stud Book Harrier and the West Country Harrier. The Stud Book Harrier is smaller and lighter than the West Country Harrier.