Quote Originally Posted by Peter View Post
Same thing isn't it? A dog is a dog.

No. Historically, "hound" specifies a hunting dog, one bred and selected for its ability and willingness to chase or follow (beagle, basset, bloodhound, borzoi etc.).

Others herd, protect, retrieve and so on. A labrador, for instance, does hunt, but it does not "hound"; rather, it recovers prey you have shot.