American Foxhound Dog Breed (Complete Guide)

The American Foxhound Dog Overview

The American Foxhound has less bone and a higher leg than the English Foxhound, as well as more rear angulation and an arch over the loin.

These characteristics enable increased speed and agility over uneven terrain.

When on the trail, the American Foxhound has a lovely voice. The coat is tough and medium in length. The tone is mild and pleading.

American Foxhound Highlights

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  • The Foxhound is known for his melodious voice, and his bays and howls can be heard for miles; this breed is not ideal for city living.
  • Different odors easily distract foxhounds. You’ll have a difficult time getting him to back down once he’s determined to follow one.
  • Foxhounds are not house pets and will roam if given the opportunity.
  • Foxhounds are incredibly energetic and require one to two hours of exercise per day. Take them on long, meandering walks with plenty of sniffing time, or accompany them on the run.
  • Foxhounds do not do well in small spaces; they want a large yard or, better yet, an acre or two.
  • Foxhounds enjoy eating and can rapidly acquire weight if their food consumption is not closely monitored.
  • Foxhounds can be stubborn and independent, which makes training challenging. On the other hand, obedience training is essential for developing a better bond with your dog and establishing your place as a pack leader.
  • Foxhounds are calm and patient dogs who enjoy spending time with children. They like the companionship of other dogs and can learn to get along with cats if introduced to them at a young age.

American Foxhound  Breed Features & Ratings:

Rated base on a 5 Star Scale

  • ENERGY LEVEL:                                4 Star
  • EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS:           4 Star
  • PLAYFULNESS:                                  3 Star
  • AFFECTION LEVEL:                           3 Star
  • FRIENDLINESS TO DOGS:                5 Star
  • FRIENDLINESS TO OTHER PETS:    4 Star
  • FRIENDLINESS TO STRANGERS:     4 Star
  • WATCHFULNESS:                              1 Star
  • EASE OF TRAINING:                          2 Star
  • GROOMING REQUIREMENTS:          1 Star
  • HEAT SENSITIVITY:                            3 Star
  • VOCALITY                                         4 Star

American Foxhound Characteristics:

  • Dog Breed Group:  Hound Dogs
  • Height:  At the shoulder, it should be between 21 and 25 inches tall.
  • Weight:  40 to 60 pounds
  • Life Span: 12 to 13 years 
  • Type: Purebred 
  • AREA OF ORIGIN: United States 
  • DATE OF ORIGIN: 1600s
  • OTHER NAMES:  Foxhound
  • Temperament: Independent, Intelligent, Kind, Loving, Loyal, Sweet-tempered
  • Activities: Field Trials, Hunting Tests, Night Hunts, Conformation, Running
  • Color: Any
  • Litter Size: 5 to 7 puppies 
  • Puppy Prices: $500 – $700 USD on average

American Foxhound Health:

The American Foxhound is a reasonably healthy breed, and a professional breeder would screen breeding stock for health issues like hip dysplasia and thrombocytopathy, a blood disorder.

Long-eared breeds are susceptible to ear infections, and a Foxhound’s ears should be checked on a regular basis to eliminate foreign matter and prevent wax accumulation.

Brushing the hound’s teeth on a regular basis will maintain them healthy as well.

American Foxhound Grooming:

American Foxhounds have a medium-length coat with a rough texture that lies close to the body and protects the hound from bushes and briars in the field.

The coat is available in a variety of hues; as the phrase goes, no excellent hound is a bad color.

American Foxhounds are a quick-moving breed. A once-a-week brushing with a firm bristle brush eliminates debris and distributes the skin oils that keep the coat healthy.

You don’t need to bathe your Foxhound on a regular basis; only when you notice a strong canine odor or he’s gotten himself into anything filthy.

Dental hygiene is another aspect of grooming. Brush your Foxhound’s teeth as least twice a week to remove tartar accumulation and the bacteria that live within them.

Brushing twice a day is even preferable if you want to avoid gum disease and foul breath.

If your dog’s nails don’t wear down naturally, you should trim them on a regular basis. They’re too lengthy if you can hear them clicking on the floor.

Short, carefully trimmed nails maintain the dog’s feet in good condition and prevent scratches on your legs when your Foxhound jumps up to welcome you.

When your Foxhound is a puppy, begin accustoming him to being brushed and examined. Handle his paws frequently – dogs’ feet are sensitive — and inspect his lips and ears.

Make grooming a pleasurable experience for him, full of praise and prizes, and you’ll build the framework for simple vet exams and other handling when he’s an adult.

Check for sores, rashes, or symptoms of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, ears, nose, mouth, and eyes, and feet while you groom.

Ears should smell pleasant and be free of wax or crud, and eyes should be clear with no redness or discharge. Your thorough weekly examination will assist you in detecting potential health issues early on.

American Foxhound Exercise:

Foxhounds were specifically developed to spend long periods of time chasing after prey.

That is why an American Foxhound needs at least an hour or two of exercise every day; else, he may get bored and destructive.

They can fit in pretty much anywhere if they receive enough activity.

While they are most content when they are indoors with their family group, American Foxhounds make fantastic companions for long walks or treks.

Because they were developed to hunt and chase animals and follow scents, they should only be let out in securely fenced areas, and any walks should be taken on a leash.

The breed also exercises both the mind and the body by engaging in canine sports such as tracking, rally, coursing ability tests, and other activities that both the dog and the owner can enjoy together.

American Foxhound Training:

American Foxhounds are laid-back and kind. However, they can be difficult and independent, making training an exercise in patience.

It is suggested that they take obedience courses, and as scent hounds, they should never be left alone because their noses can lead them astray.

Foxhounds bred in the house are fantastic friends who are mild-mannered, devoted, and easygoing, and they get along well with youngsters.

Even yet, owners must be patient and persistent while educating their hounds, and hounds might develop undesirable tendencies if not given adequate exercise.

American Foxhound Food and Nutrition:

The amount of food your adult dog consumes is determined by his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.

Dogs, like people, are individuals who do not require the same amount of food.

A dog who is very active will require more than a dog who is a couch potato.

The type of dog food you also purchase matters – the more refined the pet food, the farther it will go toward sustaining your dog, and the less of it you will have to shake into your dog’s bowl.

Hounds enjoy eating. To help avoid obesity, measure your Foxhound’s food before serving it, and serve meals twice a day rather than putting food available all day. 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dog food per day is the recommended daily quantity.

When you look down at him, you should be able to perceive his waist. To ensure your dog’s health, perform the hands-on test on a regular basis: putting your hands around his body, thumbs along the spine, and fingers extended downward.

You should be able to feel his ribs beneath the muscular layer. Your dog needs more activity and less food if they’re buried beneath rolls of fat.

American Foxhound Temperament and Personality:

Although the Foxhound was traditionally not a house pet, this dog is well-mannered in the home. Foxhounds do best when they have human or canine company.

Even though they are not particularly vocal, they are patient, courteous, and kind dogs. Most people are wary of strangers.

This dog needs daily exercise in a secure environment. Once on the ascent, the Foxhound will pursue eagerly, disregarding commands.

This is a dog that bays and enjoys being outside, and it is not typically classified as a city dog.

American Foxhound Care/Upkeep:

The American Foxhound, which was bred to be a swift hunter capable of running for miles, requires a lot of exercise.

If he is not going to be a hunting companion, he will require daily runs or other forms of exercise to help him burn off his inherent energy.

He’s ideally suited to a dwelling with a yard — or, better still, an acre or two; he’s likely too loud for a condo or apartment.

The American Foxhound, which is often raised in outdoor kennels with a pack of dogs, is used to hoofing it and can live outdoors if he has a good shelter and another sociable dog to keep him company.

If he is an only dog, he should live indoors with his human group to avoid loneliness.

Obedience training is strongly advised to help the independent Foxhound see you as the pack leader.

Because he will not respond well to punishment-based training, use food and praise to reward him for performing what you ask.

And the keyword here is “ask.” If you try to boss them about, they will simply ignore you.

When teaching an American Foxhound, keep an old Southern proverb in mind: honey catches more flies than vinegar.

American Foxhound Relationship with Children and Other Pets

American Foxhounds are gentle and affectionate with youngsters, and it’s not uncommon to hear of a child learning to walk while clutching the family Foxhound.

However, as with any breed, never leave a dog and a young child alone together. They should constantly be monitored to avoid either party from ear biting or tail pulling.

American Foxhounds, which were bred to live in huge packs, are always delighted to enjoy the company of other dogs.

A bored canine will seek things to occupy himself — destructive methods that you will not appreciate — so if no one is home during the day, it’s best if he has at least one canine companion.

If nurtured in the house, American Foxhounds get along well with cats, bunnies, and other pets. Even so, don’t let them alone with other pets until you’re certain they’ll get along.

American Foxhound Names 

RankBoy NamesGirl Names
01JackMolly
02DukeBella
03HarleyLola
04TobyAnnie
05CodyCoco
06RileySadie
07MiloZoey
08ZeusLayla
09GusRoxy
10SammyZoe

All About American Foxhound

Packs of American Foxhounds lead the chase whether you see foxhunters in movies or on television — or out in the field if you live in hunt area.

Perhaps you learned about the breed from Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy mystery series, which is situated in Virginia hunt country and has a number of American Foxhounds as significant characters.

This uncommon species still lives and works in the same way that its forefathers did when they arrived in this nation more than 200 years ago.

American Foxhounds were formed from hounds brought by English settlers, who altered them to fit the game and topography of their new land. They were bred to hunt in big packs.

American Foxhounds enjoy the company of other dogs, but they can also be a solitary companion dogs if you’re prepared to give them the exercise they’d typically running around with their canine pals, as well as spend the time helping them engage with their family group.

Despite their size, they are gentle creatures until they are in pursuit of their prey. Then they become ruthless in their pursuit.

The Foxhound, like other dogs, is musical. Hounds are said to have bell-like voices, and their baying can be heard for miles.

It’s better not to bring one home unless you’re confident your neighbors will enjoy the event or dwell far enough distant that they won’t be bothered.

American Foxhound History

The history of the American foxhound begins on the other side of the Atlantic. A man named Robert Brooks imported English foxhounds from Britain to colonial America about 1650.

However, the new frontier had its topography and obstacles, and it was realized early on that the breed needed longer legs to adequately cover the ground and keep up with the hunt.

The English foxhound was crossed with other European hounds, and the resulting hunting companion was named the American foxhound.

George Washington is perhaps the most famous breeder of the American foxhound—it turns out that America’s founding father was also instrumental in establishing the American foxhound as we know it today.

As per popular belief, Washington started breeding the hounds with French hounds sent to him as a gift by the French aristocrat and American military commander Marquis de Lafayette in 1785.

Later, the dogs were bred with Irish hounds to create a faster animal that could keep up with the foxes that were popular in hunts at the time.

Washington kept meticulous records of his pack’s breeding and pedigree, immensely contributing to the breed’s expansion and establishment.

The American foxhound was developed in Maryland and Virginia and was recognized by the AKC in 1886. In recognition of the breed’s long history in the state, Virginia designated it as the official state dog in 1966.

While the American foxhound is not a popular household pet, it has been bred and cherished for its sports skills and seemingly inexhaustible stamina.

The sport of foxhunting has considerably aided the breed’s survival. According to early American history, in actuality, foxhunting was one of the most popular pastimes among American aristocrats.

Even today, the sport is prominent in equestrian society, and it is based on pack hounds, several of which are descendants of the original American foxhound.

Where to Adopt American Foxhound

It can be difficult to find an American foxhound to call your own. Despite the fact that they are an early American dog breed, they are extremely rare.

These canines were primarily raised and kept for the traditional pastime of foxhunting. These dogs are primarily bred by hunt clubs.

It is always a good idea, as with any breed, to check with local rescues as well as regional or national breed organization rescues.

The energy requirements of this breed may contribute to their surrender.

If you have the resources and time to include a rescued American foxhound in your pack, you’ll feel good knowing you aided a dog in need.

If you’re looking for an American foxhound, consider out these resources:

More Dog Breeds and Further Research:

The American foxhound will give you a lot of fun as well as some unusual problems. Do your homework to see if this athletic but sensible breed is a good fit for you.

Contacting the breed association or rescue groups is an excellent method to learn more about these dogs’ personalities and requirements.

You may also be open to good hounds; check the following:

American Foxhound Fun Facts:

  • The American Foxhound is the national dog of Virginia in the United States.
  • George Washington was a breeder of American Foxhounds, as we know them today.
  • The American Foxhound has a strong scent for foxes and other similar prey, such as coyotes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Do Foxhounds howl?

The American Foxhound is well-known for his musical voice. His howls and bays may be heard for kilometers.

Is a foxhound suitable as a family dog?

The American Foxhound gets along well with his family and other canines. He has a gentle and intelligent personality that makes him an excellent family dog, even with young children. American Foxhounds raised alongside other pets such as cats, small dogs, or guinea pigs can learn to get along perfectly fine.

Do American Foxhounds enjoy cuddling?

The American Foxhound is a dedicated and clever dog who enjoys friendship and exercise. This breed, on the other hand, is not as cuddly as others, preferring to play or run with family members rather than snuggle.

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