A friend of mine asked me a question about scent hounds , she said that she has recently retired and has waited all her life to have a dog as her job ( she told me she was a nurse) was none stop and did not have the time for a dog and has waited till she retired to have a dog so she has the time for one.

She said she has been doing her research and she said she has always had a soft spot for scent hounds and otterhounds in particular. She said the only problem she has with them is that most scent hounds are vocal not a problem for her but she said her neighbour won't be happy with a dog who barks all the time.

So she asked me if it's true that all scent hounds are yappy and bark or howl all the time?

I told her that I'm not entirely sure as I'm not an expert but I can find out for her and she said she was very greatful if I could find out for her.

My understanding on scent hounds ( I have only ever met Basset, beagles and Griffen Vendée) is that they are vocal if left alone or is they hear or see something but the scent hounds I know are not yappy or constantly vocal yes they are quicker to howl or bark then most breeds but there no more vocal than GSD , I know a few Friends with beagles the ones I know only bark if there outside, or if someone comes to the door ect..., But in the house there pretty quiet.

I just wanted to ask for everyone's advice would you call all scent hounds very vocal ( always barking) ? ( Were talking about inside not outside as she's fine if there vocal outside , she's asking if there vocal in the house all the time?

She is aware that scent hounds have to stay on lead as there not great with recall and she's fine with that and she's fine with there independent nature.

I have a rescue scent hound.  She is very quiet in the house except when the doorbell goes and then all hell breaks loose!  Outside she can be very vocal, almost 'screaming' at squirrels/birds/rabbits.  Squirrels are her favourite!  I can't let her safely off the lead, she is too highly prey driven - her nose goes down and she's off - as she was bred to do.  All I would say to your friend is I don't think scent hounds are for the feint hearted, especially someone not experienced in that breed in particular (she is interested in an Otterhound?).  I'm not sure how they would cope being on the lead all the time, unless your friend has a safe area the dog could be let off for a run?
If it were me, I'd be advising her to look at another breed/rescue as a first dog.

Point out to your friend that - putting it bluntly - Otterhounds STINK

She already knows that most scent hounds smell but that doesn't bother her, and she's not picked the otterhound just there her favourite, the question was referring to all scent hounds.

> Point out to your friend that - putting it bluntly - Otterhounds STINK

So are German Shepherds when wet! Ottherhounds are a breed on the brink of extinction though, and loyal and friendly dogs otherwise, I would certainly give them a chance.

I've not owned an otterhound myself but given that it is in human nature to exaggerate things like that, I would suspect the reality is likely to be better than it is reported (stink that is).

I met an otterhound for the first time a couple of months ago and she was a lovely friendly dog. She was not quite two years old and seemed far calmer then my five year old golden who really enjoys meeting other dogs. The owners said she does have to be on the lead all the time, I didn't notice a smell particularly but we were outdoors at the time. Her coat was lovely and soft feeling.
The owners told me there are currently only three active people breeding otterhounds in the uk, if their dog does well and passes health tests etc then she may be bred from. Problem that is arising is finding a mate that isn't too closely related to try and keep the COI down.

My Bassets didn't normally bark, but if the situation arose, they would howl.   If they did bark, it was for good reason and those neighbours we did have (we always lived out in the country until recently) appreciated it as it showed there was somebody around!   And the sound a Basset makes isn't irritating (like my Whippet!!).    Hounds need company and if not a canine companion or two, or three ..... their humans become that so if a single hound is left alone, it will be noisy.  And if it's left alone outside - for sure!    And 'the howl' is something that if one starts, the rest have to join in with.  Even if originally sleeping!    On one memorable occasion, we'd been out and when we came home, we could hear a howl-in going on to the point we got right into the kitchen before they realised we were back, so intent was the howl-in.   We tended to live in detached properties!

My small pack could be let off the lead and were once we were off the roads and out across the fields.   I think some Beagles can't.   I have no first hand experience with Otterhounds but I couldn't cope with something quite as big and hairy (which is probably why the breed is numerically in trouble).   For me, the PBGV and GBGVs are more 'terrier' in nature but still appealing.

My best advice to your friend would be to locate a few breeders, via the relevant Breed Club, and go visit.   Most would be more than happy to sit with a prospective new owner, show them their adults (note because all puppies are aaaah) and answer questions.   But do make an appointment - breeders are busy people.    If a Basset appeals, I can give a few names if you PM me.

I have a breed (in the Hound Group in UK, but they are s tracking Spitz used for hunting large game) that is fond of it's voice, but I do not allow them to be noisy as I have owned up to 6 in a suburban house with lots of neighbours.  It really is a matter of training.

I do not leave them outdoors unattended and any unnecessary barking means they are brought indoors.  they soon learn if they want to mooch and nose in the garden they must not bark.

As for breed something more manageable why not sugget she looks at these: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/standard.aspx?id=1177 The Basset Fauve De Bretagne, a very pleasant breed.

Scenthounds, especially those traditionally worked in a pack, are supposed to be vocal when they scent something interesting! The hounds that didn't 'give tongue' to call the rest of the pack to the scent were no good and were disposed of. So expect them to be very noisy at times. And otterhounds, with their oily coats, are very smelly, even when dry. Lovely dogs with terrific temperaments, but not a dog most people would want in their house!

> we'd been out and when we came home, we could hear a howl-in going on to the point we got right into the kitchen before they realised we were back, so intent was the howl-in.

My Long Coat Chihuahuas do this believe it or not.  They must hear the car, because I can hear them howling before I open the door.

My gang of various types do as well - they start every time I leave and go for a minute or two.  Drives me nuts because I know my soundproofing is dreadful!  I really must do some more training to stop them...

> The hounds that didn't 'give tongue' to call the rest of the pack to the scent were no good and were disposed of.

We had one, our first hound, who was the opposite - he babbled which would have probably excluded him from a pack BUT actually in many ways, at least we could hear where he'd got to when out in the wilds of Canada.   He wasn't noisy at home tho., just on a scent, or finding one.   I remember only too well when he'd got on a squirrel in one of the big Toronto parks.   We went to where he was and he was so focused on what he was following that he ran right into my husband's legs!!     Over time, I became rather notorious in that Park, where the Mounted Division of the police (horses) were stabled/stationed, and routinely patrolled - oh it's that mad English woman again.

There's no denying hounds can have a distinctive odour,  but in their defence have smelt far worse in other breeds & like any dog/hound is down to management & input.
I've known two Otter hounds in recent years & both fabulous gentle boys, but not really in ideal circumstances, bought with little thought & no research. One, very over weight, with front problems that required surgery to one leg & by the tine we knew him, limped, was sluggish & inactive. The second, always imagined was a whim purchase, left alone for long periods most days, had little if any input or company, & ate everything from school uniforms (serves them right for leaving them lying around), to skirting boards, walls, window sills & anything in between.
Personally love hounds they are not easy, wouldn't want them any other way, but wouldn't want to own one I couldn't let off lead, but that's down to training & constantly being aware to what's going on.
Otter hounds are 'large', need lots of floor space, our two bassets used to curl up easily between the outstretched legs of our friends hound.
We had two hounds, both could suffer vocal separation anxiety depending on the circumstances, the elder was the worst & when he bayed, it was a sound you couldn't ignore, deep & bassy, & heard a long distance away.

Thank you all, she is now looking to see which scent hound is for her.