Boarding hound breeds

The American Kennel Club says all hounds were bred to pursue warm-blooded quarry, by sight or by scent. A Dachshund and a Bloodhound share a group but not a kennel size, so this page sorts the group by weight.

The size spread, breed by breed

Weights come from each breed's AKC page, and the kennel column is what the breed's page here recommends for one dog. The spread runs from a miniature Dachshund at 11 pounds and under, in the table below, to the Irish Wolfhound, about 120 pounds for a male by the AKC.

Two Beagles or two Dachshunds from one home can share an Economy run at $52 plus $44. Two large hounds from one home do better in First Class: $72 for the first and $61 for the second.

Sighthounds and scenthounds in a run

Sighthounds such as the Greyhound and Whippet are lean, deep-chested and short coated. They do not carry much body fat, so the heated winter runs and the blanket matter to them. Scenthounds such as the Beagle, Basset and coonhounds are sturdier and more nose than legs, and they tend to follow their noses along the fence line during walks.

Each dog has its own run with a doggie door, so a sighthound that likes to curl up inside and a scenthound that wants to sniff outside can both do what they like. Walks are included.

Bath rows for short-coated hounds

Almost every hound on this list has a smooth or short coat, which puts it in the Extra Short or Short column of the chart effective January 1, 2024. A 26 to 50 pound Whippet or Basset is $35 Extra Short or $40 Short. At 51 to 75 pounds the same columns are $40 and $45, at 76 to 100 pounds $45 and $50, and over 100 pounds $55 and $65.

A droopy-eared Basset or Bloodhound is a coat question and an ear question, so tell the front desk when you book. Please ask to confirm today's price.

More hound-group breeds

The AKC Hound Group also includes these breeds, each with its own page:

• Afghan Hound
• American English Coonhound
• Bluetick Coonhound
• Borzoi
• Cirneco dell'Etna
• English Foxhound
• Ibizan Hound
• Irish Wolfhound
• Norwegian Elkhound
• Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
• Pharaoh Hound
• Plott Hound
• Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
• Redbone Coonhound
• Saluki
• Scottish Deerhound

Heat and the nose

Hounds have longer muzzles than the flat-faced breeds, but a short coat does not make a dog heat proof. Vacaville records about 100 days a year at 90 degrees or more. The runs are air-conditioned in summer, and drop-off from 7:30 to 11:30 AM keeps the pavement cooler.

A scenthound that wanders off a trail will wander out of a gate. Leave your dog in the car at check-in so staff can walk it in safely.