At first glance, you might mistake an English Foxhound for his American cousin. Since the 1600’s foxhunting was a favorite pastime among British aristocricy. It was the job of the Master of the Hounds to carefully breed their bloodlines for purity and performance…

English Foxhounds Waiting For Command
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South of the Mason-Dixon line, there is no sound more recognizable or more enthralling than the loud, low, deep bay of a Black and Tan Coonhound who has treed a raccoon! This is a true American breed, developed from the Bloodhound and Virginia Foxhound… [click to continue…]
For the first time in Westminster history, in 2008 the Best in Show honor went to Uno, a Beagle whose perfect conformation and remarkable disposition made him completely irresistble to the crowd and the judge! Uno is everything a Beagle should be: alert, humorous, friendly and packed with breed personality…

“Beagle On The Beach”… The New Drink
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What do you do when you need a hunting hound that is long in body, but short legged-enough to follow hunters who are moving slowly and carefully on foot? If you’re a French monk at the abbey of St. Hubert in the 1500’s, you develop the long, low Basset Hound!…

Basset Hound Takes A Nap
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It’s been said that this dog is the ultimate scent hound, whose ancestors date back to the Middle Ages when they were bred by Belgian monks. William the Conqueror brought these hounds with him when he invaded Britain in 1066…

Bloodhound Listens
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The Borzoi was originally named the Russian Wolfhound and is still known in some parts of the world by this name. This aristocratic hound is both beautiful, gentle and agile, bred in Russia in the 13th century…

Borzoi Runs
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The Dachshund is Germany’s national dog, where he is called a “Teckel.” Dachshund means “badger hound;” this is what this long, low and completely fearless little dog was bred to do. A Dachshunds is firm in his belief that he owns the world! Don’t let his size fool you; the Dachshund can hold his own against his hunting prey, other dog, or human!…

Dachshund Puppy Poses
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When a dog is bred to have a wirehaired coat (the meaning of “griffon”) there’s a very compelling reason; these dogs are hunters, springers, pointers and retrievers who regularly push through fields of brush, brambles and thorns. The retrieving dogs must plunge into cold water to bring a downed fowl to the hunter. A rough waterproof coat protects the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon as he does his job… [click to continue…]
Those who regard the Afghan Hound, with its long, luxurious coat and regal appearance as just another pretty face but without function would be woefully underestimating this skilled, ancient hound breed!…

Afghan Hound Watches The Dog Race
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This fiesty hound is among the most primitive domestic breeds along with the Australian Dingo. Basenjis, meaning “bush thing,” originated in early human civilization in the African Congo and Zaire where he lived and hunted with Pygmy tribes. His picture has also been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to the fourth dynasty…

Basenji Poses In Front Of Mountains
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This highly-prized spaniel that originated in Wales in the 1300’s remains one of the UK’s most dependable and “all business” gun dogs. Their ancient lineage has not deterred them from being bright, enthusiastic fowl-hunting dogs… [click to continue…]
This English sporting gun dog was among the top ten dogs to be recognized by the newly formed AKC. Why is it now very close to extinction?… [click to continue…]
If there’s a rule that says spaniels hunt in the fields and only retrivers love leaps into water to grab a hunter’s downed fowl, someone forgot to tell the Irish Water Spaniel! His water-loving ancestors can be traced back to the 1100’s, making him one of the oldest pure-breds known… [click to continue…]
One gaze into a pair of deep, adoring eyes, and you’ll be hooked on this dog that seems to look directly into your heart! The Field Spaniel is a product of selective breeding that eliminated most of his hunting abilities, but favoring him as a companion dog… [click to continue…]
At first glance, this spaniel may look like his cousin, the American Cocker Spaniel. But a closer look clearly identifies these dogs as two distinct breeds… [click to continue…]
Unless you’re of Italian descent, you’ve probably never heard of this pointer. He gets his name from an Italian thorn bush through which he single-mindedly pursues and flushes game fowl. You may have seen him in the show ring, where he is sometimes knows as the Italian Griffon (”wirehair”)…

Spinone Italiano From Side
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If you want to start a fiery, endless argument among expert dog breeders, just ask them about the history of the Vizsla! Hopefully blood won’t be drawn, and you’ll get to know the hotly-debated opinions about the origins of this multi-talented hunting dog…

Vizsla By The River
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As many prized dog breeds as Germany has bred, the Weimaraner is the most favored for larger mammal hunting like foxes and bobcats; only Germany’s Dachshund can out-hunt him with burrowing mammals. The Weimaraner is a strong, elegant-looking gun dog is popular also as a fine companion dog…

Weimaraner Puppy
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