Southern Hound

The origin of the Southern Hound is unclear: it is presumed to be the result of a cross between a Talbot and a Greyhound made to obtain a dog with a fine sense of smell (characteristic of the Talbot) and speed (characteristic of the Greyhound). William Youatt postulates that the origins of the Southern Hound date back well before the Norman invasion and that it was used by the island Bretons. The popularity of the Southern Hound declined during the eighteenth century. In the nineteenth century, packs were still used in Devon and the breed was sometimes used in addition to English Foxhounds: the Southern Hound was tasked with finding the scent trail of lost game thanks to its sense of smell. Some were employed in Wales for ferret hunting and they were also used for otter hunting before being used in the development of the Otterhound. The breed likely contributed to the improvement of many modern breeds: Beagles, Harriers, Foxhounds, Coonhounds, and Saint Hubert Hound, among others.

It was a large dog, heavy, with a square head and long ears. It had a deep chest, a long and bony body, and a melodious and deep voice. It was rather slow, but had excellent sense of smell. Because of its lack of speed and measured temperament, it was considered a good choice for hunting hares or deer, which can tire during pursuit but cannot hide in a burrow, like foxes or rabbits. It was common south of the River Trent in the 1700s (the term "southern hound" literally means "southern running dog"); to the north was more commonly found the Northern Hound, faster but with less sense of smell. In 1859, in his book The Dog, in Health and Disease, Stonehenge states that the two breeds can be differentiated by the accordion-pleated neck skin of the Southern Hound, but the illustrations in that same book do not show this anatomical detail. It is likely that mid-nineteenth century authors confused the Southern Hound, the Northern Hound, and the Talbot.