There are two different types of hound that have been bred over
several centuries for their working qualities related to the
hare. They are the harrier and the beagle. Beagles stand between
14 and 16 inches and harriers stand up to 21 inches in height.
The qualities of a working hound are: - Scenting ability –
'nose'. - Stamina - which depends on their conformation. -
Bidability - their willingness to work and live as a member of a
pack in and out of kennels - Steadiness - that they are
permitted to hunt hares and not other quarry - Intelligence -
their ability to understand the wiles of the hare - Voice -
which is the sign that they are hunting a hare - and only a
hare. All hounds for hunting are bred in kennels and are
registered annually by their name in their own Association Stud
Book. Each hound is either ear-marked or 'chipped' so as to
provide its positive identification. Hounds bred from those
which are not recorded in the stud book may later be so recorded
through an 'appendix' system. The AMHB each