Welsh Hound

The Welsh Hound (Bytheuad) is a breed of hunting dog of the foxhound type, indigenous to Wales.

History

The Welsh Hound is descended from rough-coated hound types of ancient origin. "The ancient laws of Wales codified during the region of Hywel Dda (942 – 948AD) gives the value of the Welsh Hound as 240 pence trained, 120 pence untrained. By comparison a sound pack horse was valued at the same time as 120 pence." [http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/hunting/inquiry/evidence/welshhoundsubmission.htm Submission to the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs from The Welsh Hound Association, February 2000]

Temperament

The Welsh Hound has been kept as a hunting dog for many hundreds of years, living and hunting in packs. It is adapted to hunting in rocky and mountainous terrain in its native Wales. It is not a suitable pet dog.

Breed recognition

The Welsh Hound is registered with the The Welsh Hound Association, which has been keeping the breed's stud book since 1922, and maintaining the breed as purebred since 1928. The association was formed "for the purpose of preserving and promoting the Welsh Fox Hound as a specific British breed." [ [http://www.nlw.org.uk/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=1&coll_id=20368&expand= National Library of WalesWelsh Hound Association, papers] ]

Since the outlawing of hunting with dogs in Great Britain, various clubs have been offering registration for the Welsh Hound as a rare breed pet.

Appearance

Coat is hard and wiry, red with white patches. Similar in appearance to the (English) Foxhound. Height : 24 in/61 cm Weight : 75 lbs/34kg. [Dogs Of All Nations (1915, San Francisco) By Walter Esplin Mason, pg 35]

See also

*Foxhound

References