A Hound By Any Other Name…

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268 – May, 2026

By Caroline Coile

We all know there are scenthounds and sighthounds. And we know there are a few hounds that don’t quite fit into either. But how exactly do the hounds divide up according to DNA?

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is not related to any other hounds. Its closest relative is the Great Dane, and those two are next most closely related to Mastiff and Bull & Terrier breeds in one direction, and mountain livestock guardians in another. But again, no hounds. The Ridgeback is basically a working dog stuck in the hound group and called not only a hound, but a sighthound.

The Basenji is also unrelated to any other hounds. It’s most closely related to the Tibetan Mastiff and to several northern spitz breeds. No hounds, no sighthounds. It’s pretty much a village dog.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a hound by function, not heritage. It’s not closely related to the Northern spitz breeds, but is related to the European spitz breeds–especially the Swedish Valhund. Others in its family include the Keeshond, Icelandic Sheepdog, American Eskimo, Pomeranian, Miniature Schauzer–and counterintuitively, the Tibetan Terrier, and Lhasa Apso.

Click here to read the complete article
268 – May, 2026

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Posted by AnthonyA on May 24 2026. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.