quality of hounds

At least the pack looked fully capable of holding up its end of things, Lycon thought approvingly...Their flanks were lean and scarred, and their massive shoulders bespoke driving strength. Their trainer might be a slovenly yokel himself, but his hounds themselves were excellent hunting stock and well cared for.
-Killer pg. 17-18

No chance of recapturing the beast alive now. Any one of the six Molossians were nearly the size of the blue creature, and the arena would have taught the pack to kill rather than to hold.
-Killer pg. 21