Hug Your Hound Day

Ranked the most popular dog breed by the AKC for two straight decades, the Labrador is an effective bird dog due to its “soft mouth”, a trait common in retrievers and setters. As fast and powerful as any other breed of sighthound, the Afghan was originally used to hunt game, including antelopes and, according to some, leopards.

Hounds are specialists in locating their prey with either their keen eyesight or their incredible noses, then stalking/chasing them, often at high speed before catching and killing them (or holding them until they can be killed). Many types of hounds are good family dogs and excellent around kids. They're also fairly low-maintenance as far as grooming and other care. Because of their strong nose, hounds can be helpful dogs to have around on a ranch or a farm, and they're also very intelligent.