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    • What is a sight hound?

    A sight hound, also known as a gazehound is a type of hunting dog. They are classes in the Hound group under AKC along with Scent Hounds. The difference between a scent hound and a sight hound is their hunting style, and general build. Personality wise, hounds are hounds, sweet, sensitive, intellegent, and work.

    Sight hounds have large, forward pointing eyes, narrow muzzles, and slender build. They are a racing dog, fleet, agile, light on their feet. Never heavy or course, they are the definition of elegance and grace. Often they are thought to be fragile because of their slender legs and delicate looks, but these are ancient breeds, dating back to our first known languages, and fearsome hunters in their own rights.

    What breeds compose the sight hounds?

  • Afghan Hound
  • Basenji
  • Borzoi
  • Greyhound
  • Ibizan Hound
  • Irish Wolf Hound
  • Italian Greyhound
  • Pharaoh Hound
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback
  • Saluki
  • Scottish Deerhound
  • Sloughi
  • Whippet
    Italian Greyhounds are consider toys. However, they are downsized sight hounds and still a dynamite speed package.

    These are ancient, ancient breeds. There are arguments in the greyhound/saluki/afghan worlds as to which breed was first and the bases for others. Beyond those arguments, they all share a common ancestry and beauty.

    Sight hounds are driven by their eyes. When something flicks across their gaze they tend to follow it, and often times head out to give chase. Because of this they need to be leashed, as they will finish their chase before returning home, and there made be a road that they do not notice.

    Sight hounds are completely trainable. But they need a positive reinforcement in their training. Harsh words cause these sensitive dogs to shut down. They are also not herding dogs. Unlike a German Shepherd Dog, who spends his life hoping to do things to make you happy, the sight hound in general will tell you that they love you and how nice it would be to lay over here and do something and give you a puzzled look at the repetition of sit.

    Not that these hounds are untrainable. Or stupid. Quite the opposite. But, they have been bred for centuries to have an independent nature about them. They have function on their own on the hunt. To track, follow, and take down prey for their owners, sometimes miles behind needs a dog with independent thought. Repetition bores them, because they catch on quickly. So resist the urge to go over the command twenty times. You will only make them not want to do it.

    Let me reinforce SIGHT HOUNDS ARE NOT STUPID.

    And they are not hard to housebreak. If you walk into the situation thinking your dog will fail, then they probably will. No puppy is 100%. No dog is 100%. But we are blessed with the ones that reach 99.9% reliability. No one likes accidents, but they take a while to conquer. It takes work, effort, and time, as would any dog.

    Now, one aspect that is true of many sight hounds, and larger hound dogs is LOW tolerance to anesthesia. However, with the advances in veterinary medicine the newer, safer anesthetics this problem is decreasing. However, bring up these concerns with your veterinarian. Don't let them brush you off on the topic ether. You are not just being a paranoid owner.

    In general, sight hounds are wonderful dogs. They are loyal, good company, intelligent, and loving. They are different from your typical Labrador or Golden, but worth the time and energy it takes to learn their particular quirks and labels.

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