Top 5 Hound Dog Breeds Popular In America

Hounding in a most adorable way, these top 5 hound dog breeds popularly hunting the Americans dog parent’s heart these days. Hound Dogs are typically known as hunting dogs from ancient times, used for tracking, chasing and hunting of prey by their masters. Some hounds have a very strong sense of smell, others have lightening speed, some of them have both the abilities. Today most of these skilful species are preferred more as a family pet over their typical ancient use of hunting or chasing of a prey.

Hound dogs are predominantly classified into 2 types

The breeders back in history bred these hound dogs for the purpose of hunting purpose. Sighting as well as scenting of a prey is the predominant trait which was needed in the breed. Based on those two basic traits, characteristics and purpose of breeding, hound dogs are classified in to two main types, Sighthounds and Scenthounds.

Sighthounds

Speed is their special ability, with which many of these popular hound dog breeds are able to keep sight of the prey and help their owners to catch it, that is why these hound dogs are also known as named as Gazehounds.

Scenthounds

With the help of their strong sense of smell these hound dogs can chase a prey or even find a missing person or object by trailing its scent. So if next time your kid hides from you while playing hide-n-sick, you may ask your adorable Beagle or your Redbone Coonhound to sniff your kid’s cloths and rest assure of the job to be done by your doggo.

List of most popular top 5 hound dog breeds Americans love to adopt

Here is the list of top 5 most popular hound dog breeds in America considering various factors which make them the best pet for American dog lovers. We are considering and discussing some of the most important aspects related these hound dogs such as their Traits & Characteristics, Health, Grooming, Exercise, Training, Nutrition and try to help you analyse how you can select a breed for you based on these aspects.

This short video story can give you a quick look of the most suitable and popular hound dog breeds for families and also help you understand what makes these dogs so popular.

1. Beagle (Scent Hound)

As per the American Kennel Club’s 2022 list, Beagle holding the crown for number 1 position and are the most loved and popular hound dog breeds in America under the Hound breeds category. Beagles are very kind, gentle, loving and friendly dogs with an independent streak and an intelligent nature. These little hounds are very playful and energetic and have a long history of serving as hunting companion and adorable pets from ancient Greek times.

Traits and Characteristics

Historically bred and used for hunting in packs, so they love the company and are easy-going by nature. These cute little hounds are very active, energetic playful and one of the most vocal dogs out there. They are very vocal through their barking, howling and baying sound that sometimes it’s annoying, and that’s one reason that these hound dogs may not be the perfect city or apartment dog for you.

Health

Beagles are prone to certain health conditions like epilepsy, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, dwarfism, MLS (Musladin-Lueke Syndrome), ear infections due to long ears not letting enough air-flow into inner ear. Eye conditions like glaucoma and corneal degeneration are common to Beagles, so regular ear cleaning and check-up is recommended. Inactive beagles can easily gain weight, so regular exercise is must for them, diet schedule and discipline should be highly maintained by beagle parents.

Following health tests are highly recommended for Beagles:

• Ophthalmologist Evaluation.
• MLS DNA Test.
• Hip Evaluation.
• Thyroid Evaluation.
• Cardiac Examination.

Grooming

Beagle dogs has an even, thick double coat which gets thicker in the winter season, so spring season is the shedding season for them. Apart from spring Beagles do shed reasonably through-out the year. Brushing once per week using medium bristle brush will make life easy for you and your dog. Rubber grooming mitt or a hound glove can easily remove the weak hair and it will also boost the new hair growth. Beagles can be bathed once a week as they do not require frequent bathing unless they get catch excessive dirt and smelling bad. Regular nail trimming is must as the long untrimmed nails cause pain for dogs and make their walking and running clumsy.

Exercise

Beagles were bred to hunt in packs and this natural instinct in them makes them happy if they have a companion around. If kept alone for long hours Beagles can get bored and disastrous. Beagle require an exercise for at least an hour each day. Having a playmate around can assure good amount of exercise for Beagle. Regular walks can be helpful to keep up the fitness, but make sure to have the leash on while walk or jogging as being a scenthound Beagle may run after a powerful scent due to the hunting instinct. Beagle is a naughty fugitive, so exercise areas must be fenced with at least 5 feet tall fences.

Nutrition

Beagles are crazy food lovers, they can eat all day long till they blast. Maintaining their diet and nutrition is challenging but necessary task to keep them in good shape and health. High quality dry dog food can be given to Beagles but have your Veterinarian consulted before making any changes to diet. Give a good full meal to your Beagle twice a day, moderate your dog’s daily calorie intake and observe weight change on regular basis.

Training

When it comes to training, Beagles are very difficult to train as many beagle owners have a experience that it takes approximately a year to fully train a beagle. Though Beagles are friendly and gentle but sometimes they can have an independent stubborn streak so obedience training is highly suggested. Beagles should get socialization at early age when they are little pup. Beagles should get experience to face different people, sights, sounds and varied experiences from young age. Socialization will help your beagle puppy grow up to be a well-rounded dog.

2. Dachshund (Scent Hound)

Lovingly called as Doxies, Dachshunds are one of the top 5 hound dog breeds that Americans own from several years. Dachshunds are known for their fun-loving, always alert, companionable, bold and playful nature with their adorably comic shape and short legs with long body adding more to their wide popularity. Dachshunds are also termed as wiener dog or sausage dog due to their long bodied shape and tiny legs and are quite popular hound dog breeds in America due to their adorably funny shape.

Traits and Characteristics

Dachshunds comes with regular size of around 16-32 pounds and 10-12 pounds for the tiny sized, with three variety in coats as smooth, wire-haired and long-haired. Dachshunds are not runner dogs, so they won’t make a good companion for joggers, runners. They are smart and actively alert which make them a great watchdog. Dachshunds are independent and stubborn sometimes, but their affectionate nature and distinctive look helps them steal your heart easily.

Health

Dachshund are known to be healthy and long living breeds with average live-span of 12-16 years, the longest living Dachshund was 21 years old in New York city. Disc damage is the most common health issue with Dachshund, which can be avoided with proper weight management and regular exercise to keep obesity away. Like most other long-ear dogs, Dachshund need proper ear cleaning to avoid ear infections. Despite their rigid health issues, Dachshund are adorably one of top 5 hound dog breeds of America from decades.

Some of the tests are good to be done:

• Ophthalmologist Evaluation.
• Cardiac Test.
• Patella Evaluation.

Grooming

Dachshund do not shed much, and has almost zero body odor, their low grooming requirements help them rank number two in top 5 hound dog breeds in American pet society. Their grooming needs and frequency depends upon the type of coat. Smooth-coated doxies are very easy to groom with just towel-wipe once a week, long-haired doxies need regular brushing and wire-haired coat requires casual trimming depending upon hair growth. Nails should be trimmed once a month.

Exercise

Dachshund needs very strong muscles to support their back, so regular exercise and couple of moderate walks are suggested to keep Dachshund fit. Stairs climbing should be seriously avoided to prevent back injury and jumping on or off high surface like furniture should also be avoided. Dachshund are human friendly breeds and prefer to be with their human always, so outdoor time alone is not advised for Dachshund.

Nutrition

Obesity and overweight words are highly threatening to Dachshund due to the long back body structure they have. Do not fall for those extra cute pleading eyes, feed only the recommended portion of food. Fat-rich food like cooked bone, chicken fat or beef fat must be avoided. Dachshund are scenthound, so keep the food out of their reach as they can easily scent and try to gulp it.

Training

Dachshund are smart but independent and stubborn dogs, one has to have lot of patience and perseverance while training the Doxies. Dachshund are fairly sensitive to high pitch and noise, harsh commands or punishments won’t work with them, in stead they love treat-based training in a affectionate manner.

3. Basset Hound (Scent Hound)

Basset Hound are the short legged, adorable face, occasionally stubborn but very charming dogs from the hound family. Basset hound are known for strong little legs, huge paws and heavy bones, not taller than 15 inches in height and yet possess same stamina of a big dogs. These cute traits helps them rank number three out of top 5 hound dog breeds in America.

These large and domed-headed dogs sometimes looks like a sad clown due to their mournful eyes and wrinkled eyebrows. Basset Hound are great tracking dogs with their powerful ability to scent and chase the target.

Traits and Characteristics

Basset Hound has very strong scent power and are second most accurate trailing dogs after the Bloodhound. Basset are calm and people friendly dogs who love company of children, other dogs and animals, due to these adorable personality traits Basset hounds are one of top 5 hound dog breeds in American households. Being a pack dog, Basset Hound can not be left alone for long time and always need a company.

Health

Basset Hound are prone to certain health conditions like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, glaucoma, hypothyroidism, luxating patella, bleeding disorders, dislocated kneecap. Following tests are recommended:

• MPS1
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation.
• Thrombopathia Genetic Test.

Grooming

Basset Hound being so close to ground due to the short height, can easily catch the dirt and foreign matter on their body as well as infections to the ears. Frequent ear cleaning and bathing is necessary to keep Basset Hound clean and good looking chap. Basset’s hair shed a lot, so frequent brushing is necessary to tackle the shedding problem. Brushing also give Bassets a full body massage which can benefit to gain healthy skin. Regular nail trimming should be done as they develop very thick nails which can give discomfort if not trimmed timely.

Exercise

Bassets can become obese easily as they are not very active dogs and love to much food all the time. Regular exercise is advised to keep the obesity away. Obesity can lead to health problems related to back and legs. Moderate walking session once a day is good enough. Balance of diet and tolerable walks will give Bassets a sound sleep, keep them fit and healthy and keep them away from getting overweight. Consultation with Veterinarian for diet and exercise schedules will be more helpful.

Nutrition

Bassets can flourish on good quality dry kibble but make sure it contains necessary dietary values in to it. Make sure to check the description of the food packet, kibble with rich protein and fiber content is good, and should not have more grains like corn and wheat in to it. Divide the Basset’s meal into three small portions instead of feeding them in bulk, bulk eating can lead to bloating which can be fatal sometimes. All natural diet is also good for Basset with the approval of Veterinarian.

Training

Training the Basset Hound is a difficult job as they have developed a strong hunting instinct without falling to any distraction. Understanding and following your commands will be difficult for Basset Hound, but with time, consistency and patience they can be trained well. Treats can help during training and early age socialization will do good for pups and owners to achieve the obedience training.

4. Rhodesian Ridgeback (Sight Hound)

Originated from the South African region, particularly Rhodesia, these hound dogs got in to America for the first time at around early 1950s. Due to their even-tempered, loving, highly dignified and delightful nature and affection towards kids, Rhodesian Ridgeback hounds have become one of the most popular top 5 hound dog breeds In America in recent time.

Traits and Characteristics

Rhodesian Ridgeback hounds are known by the trademark, a clearly noticeable ‘ridge’ on their back and they got the name from this distinctive characteristic itself. These hounds has a visibly muscular and athletic body structure. Rhodesian Ridgeback are extremely protective towards their human, especially the children and their dearest housemates and can be perfect guardians and watchdogs for your family and house.

Health

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are in general very healthy breed, but similar to other breeds they are vulnerable to certain health problems like hip and elbow dysplasia, dermoid sinus (a genetic disorder related to skin), and hypothyroidism. If you find any unusual changes in your dog’s weight then have a proper consultation with the veterinarian to analyse the route cause. Few tests are advised for the Rhodesian Ridgebacks are:

• Elbow Evaluation.
• Hip Evaluation.

Grooming

These hounds are one of the extremely neat and clean breeds, with almost zero smell and lower shedding possibility, due which these dogs are one of the top 5 hound dog breeds that are most popular in America. Weekly brushing will help remove the dead hair and make the coat shinier. Occasional bath is necessary to help them look more handsome and charming dude. Brushing their teeth couple of times a week is important to tackle the dental plaque and bacteria built-up. Like any other dogs, nail trimming is necessary, long nails give dogs discomfort in walking and other activities.

Exercise

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very athletic dogs. As a puppy they are quite energetic and cheerful and as an adult these dogs are super active and acrobatic which make them mighty hunters who can surely bully the wild animals like lion. Overall these guys need a lot of vigorous exercise everyday, at least a 20-25 minutes of fast walk or fetching games and a chance of free running twice of thrice a week to give them mental and physical fitness. Having a strong prey instinct, these hounds need to on leash when on outdoor trips, they can easily fail your obedience training against their powerful prey drive.

Nutrition

Rhodesian Ridgebacks can thrive well on a high-quality dog meal and also home-cooked food with Veterinarian’s approval. diet and nutrition. Weight gain can be an issue with these dogs as they are athletic breed and consume decent amount of food to fulfil their energy needs, so keep regular check on their weight change. Food with high grain quantity or starchy content should be avoided or keep minimal as these dogs are prone to bloat issue.

Training

Rhodesian Ridgebacks have their own mind and can be stubborn sometimes, so training them is a challenge but early age socialisation and training can help in this case. Do not wait till they get 4-6 months old, start training them soon. Being harsh while training will not help, positive encouragement tactics like praise or treats will ease the job for both you and the dog. Apartment living is not suitable for Rhodesian Ridgebacks, they love being at large open spaces, of course well-fenced.

5. Bloodhound (Scent hound)

Bloodhound are hyper active and have keen sense of smell, sweet in nature. As a pack dogs,  Bloodhound are social, gentle, playful and affectionate buddies, very loving towards kids and other dogs makes them an awesome family pet, which makes them one of the top 5 popular hound dog breeds in America.

Traits and Characteristics

Bloodhound are versatile in nature, they can be lovely family dog to you, can be great hunting champion, helping hand as a search and rescue dog to police, act as a bomb or illegal drugs detection machine too. Well-known for having the extraordinary scenting ability, Bloodhounds are used worldwide as Police-Dog to search criminals, find missing person which makes them one of the top 5 popular hound dog breeds in America from long time.

Health

Bloodhounds do encounter frequent bloating problem and owners/pet parents should be able to recognize bloating symptoms early. Bloodhounds has a fearless tendency to eat anything and everything they interests to, this leads to emergency visits to veterinarian, so better to keep close eyes on them, keep the house floor clean and don’t let your Bloodhound find or catch any dangerous object to chew/eat. Ear infections and skin irritations are common issues with Bloodhound.

Following tests are recommended to Bloodhound:

• Cardiac Exam.
• Hip Evaluation.
• Elbow Evaluation.

Grooming

Bloodhounds require moderate brushing as they have short, dense coat. Using grooming tools or hound glove will help remove the weak/dead hair. Regular brushing also stimulates the new hair growth for dogs and helps in distributing the skin oil along the coat. Regular bath is necessary for bloodhound as they spend a lot of time outdoor sniffing, biting, scratching so many things all day. Like all other dogs, Bloodhound need regular trimming of nails and cleaning of ears to avoid any infections to develop.

Exercise

There is a misbelief that Bloodhound are lazy inactive dogs, fact is they are very vocal, super-active and not suitable for apartment living as they need lot of exercise on regular basis which keep them healthy in a way. Daily long walks will be beneficial to Bloodhounds with leash on as they can not resist a scent and follow it furiously. Backyard exercise should be under observation as Bloodhounds are good at digging and escaping, so appropriate fencing is necessary.

Nutrition

Dry dog food is a good source of dietary supplements for the Bloodhound, but food with high grain value, starchy carbohydrates like legumes and lentils can cause bad metabolism in Bloodhounds. Raw dog food is beneficial to Bloodhounds but such diet plan should be carefully constructed under Veterinarian’s supervision. Bloodhounds are prone to faster weight-gain, so regular weight check-up and accordingly changes in diet, portion sizes is a must.

Training

Bloodhound are intelligent, super active and charged scenthound, training them is a challenging task for owners as this breed is of independent and stubborn nature. Positively approached and reward-based training can shorten the duration. Bloodhounds would do better in a large house with fencing yards than the small apartments. Training the Bloodhound from early age can be more beneficial, so do not wait till they become four or six months old, remember that early socialization plays key role in training.

“There is no right or wrong breed, most suitable is the perfect choice”

All dog breeds are adorable and extremely loving if you spend adequate time with them, pamper them and create that special bond. Many people has a doubt in mind that which breed is right for them, or which one they should not pick? In my opinion there is nothing like right or wrong about any dog breed, it is just that you have to understand various factors before selecting a breed to be your beloved pet.

Do consider the following important factors while selecting one of the top 5 hound dog breeds for you as your charming pet.

• Breed’s traits and characteristics and which one is most suitable to as per your personality and psychology.
• Locality you are living at.
• Type of house you own/rent.
• Personal choices.
• Budget that you can allocate for your pet.
• Social and family circumstances.

FAQs:

Time for some frequently asked question by many pet enthusiasts which need to be answered so their decision making will be a bit easy for selection of pet.

Que: Is hound dog a good family pet? Can I adopt one?
Ans: Of course all hound dogs are good family pet, they are as sweet as any other breed, in fact some of the hounds are extremely protective and affectionate to their human, kids and favourite housemates that they can be your best bodyguards.

Que: What is the best hound dog for kids? Which is the best hound dog to select as pet?
Ans: Beagle dog is the best choice for you if you want a kind, gentle, loving, energetic paw-buddy to play around you and your kids. Beagle is one of the top 5 hound dog breeds Americans prefer to pet from decades. If you enjoy being extra-protected, cared and loved then muscular Rhodesian Ridgeback is good choice for you, these dogs are great watchdog and are extremely protective for their human.

Que: What are the characteristics of hound dog breeds?
Ans: Hound dogs were bred for the primary purpose of hunting. Classified by their two distinct traits, which are necessary for chasing and hunting of prey: Sighthound, who uses their powerful sighting power to locate, chase and catch the prey and Scenthounds, who has strong scent ability to trail and find their prey.

Que: Largest hound dog breed?
Ans: Irish Wolfhound is popularly known to be the tallest and largest hound dog breed so far. Irish Wolfhound was bred for big-game hunting, these dogs helped control the wolf population in Ireland back in 15th century so the name came from this historic incident.

Que: Best hound dogs for families?
Ans: Beagle undoubtedly is the best hound dog for families due to their high intelligence and friendly playful nature with those unignorable deep loving eyes one can easily melt for. Beagle are very protective and caring towards their favourite housemates, especially the kids in the house.