Dog vs. Hound: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A dog is a domesticated mammal from the Canidae family, while a hound is a type of dog bred for hunting or tracking.
Key Differences
Dog refers to a domesticated mammal from the Canidae family, known for its varied breeds and roles. Hound specifically denotes a category of dogs bred for hunting or tracking, characterized by their acute sense of smell and stamina.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dogs encompass a wide range of breeds, sizes, and purposes, including companionship, work, and service. Hounds, as a subset, include breeds like Beagles and Greyhounds, specialized for hunting or racing due to their physical and sensory traits.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dogs serve in diverse roles, from pets to service animals, herders, and guards. Hounds are primarily used for hunting, tracking, or sporting purposes, utilizing their natural instincts and abilities.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dogs as a whole exhibit a vast array of physical and behavioral traits, varying greatly among breeds. Hounds are typically characterized by their keen sense of smell (scent hounds) or remarkable speed (sight hounds).
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, with a rich history alongside humans in various cultures. Hounds have a notable history in hunting and sporting contexts, often depicted in historical and cultural narratives.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A domesticated mammal of the Canidae family
A type of dog bred for hunting or tracking
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Variety
Includes numerous breeds with diverse purposes
A specific group of breeds for hunting or racing
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Function
Serve as pets, service animals, herders, guards
Primarily used in hunting, tracking, or sports
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Traits
Wide range of physical and behavioral characteristics
Known for their smell or sight capabilities
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Historical Context
Domesticated for various roles across cultures
Traditionally bred for hunting and sports
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Dog and Hound Definitions
Dog
A domesticated carnivorous mammal with a wide variety of breeds.
The dog happily wagged its tail when it saw its owner.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Hound
A dog used in sporting events for its speed or tracking abilities.
The greyhound raced ahead, showcasing its remarkable speed.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dog
A member of the Canidae family, often kept as a pet or for work.
She trained her dog to assist with her disability.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Hound
A category of dogs including breeds like Beagles, Bloodhounds, and Greyhounds.
Their Beagle, a hound, excelled in tracking exercises.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dog
An animal known for loyalty, intelligence, and companionship.
Their dog became an inseparable companion for the children.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Hound
A type of dog bred for hunting or tracking, often with a keen sense of smell.
The hound followed the scent trail during the hunt.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dog
A term encompassing a wide range of breeds with diverse abilities.
The dog show featured breeds from all over the world.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Hound
A dog specifically trained for hunting game or tracking by scent or sight.
The Bloodhound, a well-known hound, is famous for its tracking skills.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dog
A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris syn. Canis lupus subsp. familiaris) occurring as a wide variety of breeds, many of which are traditionally used for hunting, herding, drawing sleds, and other tasks, and are kept as pets.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
A domestic dog of any of various breeds commonly used for hunting, characteristically having drooping ears, a short coat, and a deep resonant voice.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
Any of various carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, such as the dingo.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A male animal of the family Canidae, especially of a fox or a domesticated breed.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
To pursue relentlessly and tenaciously
The suspect was hounded by the police for weeks.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
To make repeated demands of or subject to persistent criticism
Her parents hounded her until she agreed to look for a better job.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
Something of inferior or low quality
"The President had read the speech to some of his friends and they told him it was a dog" (John P. Roche).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
To pressure or force from a place or situation
Accusations that hounded him out of office.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
A dog, particularly a breed with a good sense of smell developed for hunting other animals.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
(by extension) A male who constantly seeks the company of desirable women.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
Any of various hooked or U-shaped metallic devices used for gripping or holding heavy objects.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
Projections at the masthead or foremast, serving as a support for the trestletrees and top to rest on; foretop
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
To track or trail persistently
"A stranger then is still dogging us" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
A side bar used to strengthen portions of the running gear of a vehicle.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
To hold or fasten with a mechanical device
"Watertight doors and hatches were dropped into place and dogged down to give the ship full watertight integrity" (Tom Clancy).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
(transitive) To persistently harass.
He hounded me for weeks, but I was simply unable to pay back his loan.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
To be persistently or inescapably associated with
Questions about his youthful indiscretions dogged him throughout his career.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
To be recurrently or persistently in the mind; haunt
Despair dogged him in his final years.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
A variety of the domestic dog, usually having large, drooping ears, esp. one which hunts game by scent, as the foxhound, bloodhound, deerhound, but also used for various breeds of fleet hunting dogs, as the greyhound, boarhound, etc.
Hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
The species Canis familiaris (sometimes designated Canis lupus familiaris), domesticated for thousands of years and of highly variable appearance because of human breeding.
The dog barked all night long.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
Any member of the family Canidae, including domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, and their relatives extant and extinct; canid.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
Projections at the masthead, serving as a support for the trestletrees and top to rest on.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
A side bar used to strengthen portions of the running gear of a vehicle.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
The meat of this animal, eaten as food:
Did you know that in South Korea, they eat dog?
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
To set on the chase; to incite to pursuit; as, to hounda dog at a hare; to hound on pursuers.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
Any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
(derogatory) Someone who is cowardly, worthless, or morally reprehensible.
Come back and fight, you dogs!
You dirty dog.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
Pursue or chase relentlessly;
The hunters traced the deer into the woods
The detectives hounded the suspect until they found the him
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Hound
A term often associated with dogs used in traditional hunting practices.
The foxhounds, a group of hounds, were essential in the hunt.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Dog
Any of various mechanical devices for holding, gripping, or fastening something, particularly with a tooth-like projection.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A click or pallet adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel, to restrain the back action.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A metal support for logs in a fireplace.
The dogs were too hot to touch.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A hot dog: a frankfurter, wiener, or similar sausage; or a sandwich made from this.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
(informal) Something that performs poorly.
That modification turned his Dodge hemi into a dog.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
(transitive) To follow in an annoying or harassing way.
The woman cursed him so that trouble would dog his every step.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
To fasten a hatch securely.
It is very important to dog down these hatches.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
To watch, or participate, in sexual activity in a public place.
I admit that I like to dog at my local country park.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
To intentionally restrict one's productivity as employee; to work at the slowest rate that goes unpunished.
A surprise inspection of the night shift found that some workers were dogging it.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A quadruped of the genus Canis, esp. the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch.
What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A fellow; - used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly dog; a lazy dog.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
One of the two constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis Major contains the Dog Star (Sirius).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A grappling iron, with a claw or claws, for fastening into wood or other heavy articles, for the purpose of raising or moving them.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
To hunt or track like a hound; to follow insidiously or indefatigably; to chase with a dog or dogs; to worry, as if by dogs; to hound with importunity.
I have been pursued, dogged, and waylaid.
Your sins will dog you, pursue you.
Eager ill-bred petitioners, who do not so properly supplicate as hunt the person whom they address to, dogging him from place to place, till they even extort an answer to their rude requests.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds;
The dog barked all night
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A dull unattractive unpleasant girl or woman;
She got a reputation as a frump
She's a real dog
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked; often served on a bread roll
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
Metal supports for logs in a fireplace;
The andirons were too hot to touch
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
Go after with the intent to catch;
The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
The dog chased the rabbit
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Dog
A four-legged mammal commonly used in various service roles.
The police dog was crucial in solving the case.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What distinguishes a hound from other dogs?
Hounds are specialized for hunting or tracking.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Are hounds used in professional hunting?
Yes, traditionally in various hunting sports.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Do all dog breeds have the same abilities as hounds?
No, dog breeds vary in abilities and traits.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Why are hounds preferred in hunting?
For their scent or sight tracking ability.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
How do dogs benefit human health?
As companions, reducing stress and loneliness.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
What roles do dogs play in human society?
Pets, service animals, herders, guards, and more.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Is training a hound different from other dogs?
It can be, focusing on their hunting skills.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Are hounds suitable for urban living?
Depends on the breed and individual needs.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
How do dogs express affection?
Through licking, nuzzling, and tail wagging.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Do all dogs have a keen sense of smell?
Generally, yes, but hounds especially so.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Hifza Nasir
Shumaila Saeed
