Breed Bios for the Whippet, English Foxhound, Scottish Deer Hound

When you say “hounds,” most everyone thinks of their lovely singing voices and their ability to “bay.”  Aside from their distinctive call, hounds are bred to “hunt either in packs or alone, using sight, scent or a combination of both,” according to Sean O’Meara and Michael Hayward in The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dogs.  Both British and American kennel clubs are consistent with which dogs are classified “hound,” except for the Italian Greyhound which the British label as a toy breed.  The Whippet, English Foxhound, and the Scottish Deer Hound all claim a bit of Greyhound in their genetic makeup. 

Small: Whippet, 18-22 inches, 21-35 pounds

Appearance:  Whippets’ short and dense coat requires very little grooming.  In Diane Morgan’s, The Simple Guide to Choosing a Dog, she states that these dogs are “practically odor-free and naturally clean.”  Any color is acceptable for the Whippet’s coat from solid white to brindle and everything in between, says O’Meara and Hayward.  Morgan also says that if  “your  Whippet has the correct topline, you should be able to put a drop of water on the back of his skull and watch it run down the neck, along the back, and off the tip of the tail.”  The American Kennel Club (AKC) concurs, with saying Whippets, “should convey an impression of beautifully balanced muscular power and strength, combined with great elegance and grace of outline.”

Profile:  Whippets are affectionate and friendly dogs.   Despite their racing prowess, Whippets are actually calm and make quiet house pets.  The AKC says, “the Whippet, an English Greyhound in miniature, is the fastest domesticated animal of his weight, capable of speeds up to 35 mph.” Because of their sparse coat, these dogs do suffer in cold weather.  Developed mainly for racing rather than hunting, Whippets are still sight hounds and can be “stimulated by sudden fast movement, so special care is needed when walking the dog in and around traffic,” according to O’Meara and Hayward. 

History: “As with almost all sight hounds, the Whippet’s ancestry can be traced back to northern Africa,” states O’Meara and Hayward.  The AKC says that having evolved in Northern England since the 1700s, Whippets weren’t accepted into the English Kennel Club until 1891.  The AKC website says that, “Used for racing early on, the breed was nicknamed ‘the poor man’s race horse.’  Whippets were first brought to America by English mill operators of Massachusetts, which for many years was the center for Whippet racing.”

Family Match:  Whippets are extremely affectionate and are good with children, but they cannot handle rough play, says Morgan.  They get along well in any living situation as long as they get daily exercise.  They are good with other pets but may chase rabbits or cats. 

Medium: English Foxhound, 23-27 inches, 60-90 pounds.

Appearance: The English Foxhound is the original of what is now two separate breeds, says O’Meara and Hayward, “the English Foxhound is heavier and slightly slower than the American.”  The English Foxhound can come in a variety of colors; black, tan and white are most common (tri-color) or tan and white (bi-color).  They are moderate shedders with a dense, short coat.  The AKC says that the Foxhound’s “symmetry” is most important in judging.

Profile:  Friendly and lively describes the Foxhound, as does independent and stubborn.  Morgan says that even though the English Foxhound makes a very fine “watchdog,” they are not protective in nature.  This dog is a true pack animal and is most happy with other animals, particularly other dogs.  The AKC says that they are a “versatile dog, and can be trained to hunt almost any game.”  Because they were bred to run long distances in a pack, they need daily exercise. 

History: The AKC says that the English Foxhound’s roots in Great Britain, “date back before 1800.  There have been more than 250 packs of hounds in Great Britain and careful breeding records have been kept throughout the years by the masters of those packs.”  The earliest American entries for the breed are 1890.  O’Meara and Hayward say that the foundation for the Foxhound comes from the Greyhound, Fox terrier, and Bulldog. 

Family Match: The English Foxhound’s versatility makes them good in most households with a large fenced yard.  They tolerate children and love other animals, especially other hounds. 

Large: Scottish Deerhound, 30-32 inches, 85-110 pounds.

Appearance: “The Scottish Deerhound is a large sight-hound breed that displays a characteristic wiry coat and lean physique.  It is slightly larger than the Greyhound but smaller than the Irish Wolfhound, “says O’Meara and Hayward.  Average shedders, the Deerhound’s shaggy, raggedy coat needs minimal attention.  Morgan says that their colors range from dark blue gray, to pastel shades of gray or dark gray.  Lighter shades of yellow, brindle, and fawn were formerly seen but are rare now. 

I:  These dogs are courageous and companionable.  They don’t make good watchdogs other than that their size would be intimidating, says Morgan.  The AKC says that while Scottish Deerhounds “possess a quiet and dignified personality in the home; they may try to chase any furry animals that run past.”  Leashes and fenced yards are suggested.  These dogs are used in lure coursing and are often seen in the show ring.  The AKC says that they are “one of the oldest breeds and have a preeminent hunting ability” as they were bred to hunt deer.

History:  The Scottish Deerhound was known centuries ago as the “Scotch Greyhound, Rough Greyhound and Highland Deerhound,” according to the AKC.  They became a clearly identified breed in the 16th and 17th centuries.  They were the best breed to use in the “pursuit and killing of deer, and at the time they could only be owned by no one of rank lower than an earl.”  This designation almost led to their extinction, but luckily the breed was revived in the 1800s.  Archibald and Duncan McNeill are credited with saving the Scottish Deerhound, and the AKC says that, “today’s deerhound closely conforms to authentic records of the 18th and 19th centuries in type, size, and character.”

Family Match:  O’Meara and Hayward say that the Scottish Deerhound is “gentle with children and is considered to be willing to accept the presence of anyone, provided that person is accepted by the family.”  They make great pets; however, due to their size, they are not well-suited to apartments or urban areas, says Morgan.

Works Cited
www.AKC.org
Morgan, Diane.  The Simple Guide to Choosing a Dog. TFH Publishers: Neptune City, NJ, 2003.
O’Meara, Sean, and Michael Hayward.  The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dogs.  Metro Books: NY, 2008.