Hound (heraldry)


The hound or dog is used as a charge in classical heraldry.
In English heraldry, the commonly used variant are the talbot, also blazoned as sleuth-hound, e.g. in the arms of Wolseley of Staffordshire, the greyhound and bloodhound.
Rarely seen variants are the ratch-hound, the mastiff, the foxhound, the spaniel and the terrier.
The "sea-dog" is a curious charge resembling the talbot but with scales, webbed feet and a broad tail, used in the arms of Stourton barony, presumably originally depicting a beaver.
Similar charges include the wolf and the fox.
German heraldry distinguishes three variants of dogs: Windhund, Bracke and :wikt:Rüde|Rüde.
Attitudes of the hound may be sejant, rampant, salient, passant, skipping, courant or questing. The ears, tongue and claws may be in different tinctures. It is often shown gorged or collared.
An early example of a blazon involving a dog is that of Sir Perez Burdeux in Walford's Roll : porte d'or ou ung lev'er de gules, ou le collere de sable ou le bordure de sable besante dor.