The Hound was designed as a two-seat general purpose biplane, a private venture to meet Air Ministry Specification 12/26.

It was delivered to the Royal Air Force in January 1928 receiving serial number J9127 for evaluation.

While it showed superior performance to the other competitors for the specification, it was rejected because of its wooden construction and the order was placed with the Hawker Hart.

[1] Despite its rejection by the RAF, on 26 April 1928 the aircraft set a world record for carrying a load of 2,205 lb (1,000 kg) over 62 mi (100 km) at 160 mph (257 km/h) piloted by H.S.

[2] A project to further develop the Hound as a four-seat passenger transport under the designation DH.74 was left unrealised.