Hound is a label for a large family of hunting dogs, not one breed. Scent hounds such as Beagles, Coonhounds and Foxhounds follow a trail by nose, while sighthounds such as Greyhounds and Whippets chase what they see. Most hounds on adoption listings are scent hound mixes, usually medium sized at roughly 20 to 70 pounds, with a short coat, long ears and a loud voice.
Hounds tend to be friendly with people and other dogs, and happiest when following their noses. That nose can lead them astray, so in Glendale, where city parks and trails require a six-foot leash, a leash and a secure yard matter. Many howl or bay, and training takes patience because they often treat cues as suggestions. Because ancestry varies so much, size, energy and voice differ from one hound to the next.