Meet the Scenthounds

Introduction

There is not a dog group with as specific and long a history as scent led dog groups. Scenthounds are a breed of dog for which scent is the main way of finding game, rather than visual movement. These indefatigable trackers proved an essential aid to the hunters and for thousands of years they have been utilized to follow game trails in dense forests, along steep inclines and in open fields.

Many people are still engaged in field sports, search and rescue, or detection, but millions of people are a cherished family pet today. Having one in your home, however, will need to grasp the way they’re deeply embedded in their biology. It is good to get to know the scenthounds, their history, their personality and care so that a successful life sharing can be achieved.

The Key Physical and Behavioral Characteristics

The key physical and behavioral characteristics are:

A scenthound’s body shape is directly related to its sense of smell. Through evolution and selective breeding these dogs have been made to be tracking engines.

• Scent Receptors: The number of scent receptors in a human is about 5 million; breeds in this group may have up to 300 million. They have long muzzles which house large nasal cavity and sloping lips (flews) that draw in scent particles from the air.

• Build & Endurance: They have good bones, deep chest and great physical endurance. They are designed to gallop for hours with a steady tempo, rather than running over short distances.

• Long Floppy Ears (Functional Purpose): The deeper the dog bends its head to the ground the further the floppy ears spread, and the scent particles are brought directly to the nose.

• Vocalizations: The family is known for “baying”—a musical, deep howl that is used to announce itself to human handlers over long distances, instead of the traditional barking.

Notable Scenthound Breeds

This group of dogs is diverse in size, shape and specialty from around the world:

• Short-Legged Trackers: The breeds, like the Basset Hound, the Beagle and the Dachshund, were short-legged dogs, who could follow a scent trail down low on the ground, while handlers walked on their heels.

• Large / Long-Distance Trackers: Bloodhounds, American English Coonhounds, English Foxhounds and Harriers have high-set frames and prefer to track long distances and are well suited for horseback hunters.

• Master Tracking Dogs: European working dogs, like the Bavarian Mountain Hound and Hanoverian Scenthound, are trained to track cold blood trails over tough terrain.

It’s when you’re in the same room with the scenthounds that you realize they can be quite a large or a small size but all of them have one thing in common – a nose that can’t be contained.

Instincts & Daily Management

A dog that is totally scent driven is significantly different to a non-scent driven dog.

• Sensory Lock: If a scent track is found, an automatic “sensory lock” occurs. In the absence of line work the sense of smell is far more powerful than the sense of hearing on the brain and recalling on an off leash is very difficult.

• Yard Security: A fence should be secure at the base—if a scent can slip under the fence, these dogs will dig or work through the fence to follow the scent.

• Mental Enrichment: The level of physical exertion is equally important as is the level of mental fatigue, and therefore, so-called scent enrichment is needed. Walking the dog by scent, ‘sniffaris’ and formal nose work classes are important ways to make their mind happy.

Care, Grooming & Health

They are relatively easy to take care of, but if you have a certain body type you’ll have to be attentive to your needs.

Category	Maintenance Detail	Importance
Coat Care	Most have short, low maintenance coats but will need weekly brushing to remove loose fur and distribute natural skin oils, either with rubber curry brush or bristle brush.	Keeps coat healthy and clean.
Ear Hygiene	Dry and clean ears regularly after swimming/baths as they form dark, moist environments for bacteria and yeast cells to develop.	Prevents severe ear infections.
Weight & Joint Health	Made adjustments to daily meal sizes, limited treats for weight control; deep chested long backed breeds can be prone to joint and spinal problems due to excessive weight.	Protects spine and mobility.
Health Risks	Monitor for bloat (GDV), ear/skin fold irritation.	Deep chested breeds will require monitoring for gastric torsion, facial wrinkles will require regular cleaning.

Living Environment & Lifestyle Compatibility

Before you get one as part of your family, ask yourself, in all seriousness, how your natural drives will fit into the way you live.

• Apartment Living: They are adaptable, but will bay if in apartments, training to avoid nuisance calls to the police will be necessary.

• Family Dynamics: Naturally a pack animal, they are more of a household animal. As a result they make excellent pets for dogs and are gentle with children, tolerating them.

• Ideal Owner Profile: The ideal owner will appreciate organized outside activities, like long walks and be ready to walk when his nose tells him to.

Pros & Cons Summary

• Pros:

• Gentle, friendly and amazingly even tempered personalities.

• Loudly vocal with other dogs and family, and has a high prey drive.

• All but a few short-coated breeds have few grooming requirements.

• Cons:

• May be headstrong and dominate individuals when formally training.

• Overly excited baying/whimpering from excitement, boredom and/or tracking.

• Tends to wander off the leash with minimal supervision while outside.

Conclusion

This is the only way to really comprehend this group: to respect the power of the canine nose. You can learn more about the scenthounds and learn how they act, so that you can find a pack of dogs as loving and loyal as they are work-motivated. Don’t have secure yards, daily sniffing outlets or patient training, and there’s no better way to experience the world of dogs than to let one into your life.

If you’re interested in learning more about these breeds, you can find the scenthounds through your local breed rescues or working clubs that specialize in them.