English Foxhound

Quick facts

	AKC Group:	Hound
	Height:	Male: 22-25 inches, Female: 21-24 inches
	Weight:	65-75 pounds
	Colors:	Black, tan, white
AKC recognized in:		1909

The English Foxhound was created from a carful combination of the Greyhound, the Fox Terrier, and the Bulldog. Getting the mixture right meant the best traits in speed, agility, and tenacity to hunt their favorite prey: the fox.

It was during Henry the VIII’s reign that fox-hunting became extremely popular. Game such as fox remained abundant, while deer hunted for food and sport were growing scarce. This gave rise to the birth of English Foxhounds in the 1800’s.

As one of the four breeds of foxhound, the English Foxhound belongs to the family of scent hounds. Originally a pack hound, it finds greater purpose in trailing foxes and living around horses and other hounds.

According to AKC registration records, the English Foxhound is the rarest dog breed in the U.S. Aside from a good nose, it is prized by foxhunters everywhere for its stamina and determination.

Temperament

English Foxhound Summary
Affection
Cold Tolerance
Ease of Training
Energy level
Exercise Requirements
Friendliness : Children
Friendliness: Other Animals
Friendliness: Other Pets
Grooming Requirements
Heat Tolerance
Playfulness
Protection Ability
Watchdog Ability

Straight-boned and muscular, the English Foxhound is quite formidable. Its paws are somewhat rounded and almost catlike. Clean and athletic in form, its body has great symmetry perfect for show dogs. But beneath its graceful appearance, know that it possesses a strong hunting instinct.

More than a wide skull and a long muzzle, it carries a sweet expression in its eyes. It’s a dog which forms strong ties with its owner. Once you connect with it, you will see earnestness and intelligence in its look.

The English Foxhound comes from a gentle and tolerant breed. A pack hound by nature, it enjoys the company of humans and other dogs. Socially, it also gets along well with children and other pets like horses.

So here’s a dog who prefers to nose around and investigate on new people rather than bark at them. It finds comfort in the company of loving owners and affectionate children who treat it as family.

In contrast, it also comes from a very active breed. It is happiest when hunting, searching, and learning new things. Minimal care goes to its glossy coat which is short and dense.

Health and Exercise

The English Foxhound has an expected life span of between 10 and 13 years.

A passionate hunter by heart, an English Foxhound enjoys long runs and long walks in the outdoors. Energetic and tireless, it can run all day long with breaks few and far in between. As an owner, you must not only be impressed by its stamina. You will have to match it to enjoy all the activity.

Independent, spirited, and a little bit stubborn, this foxhound requires training in obedience and discipline. Once you curb its natural curiosity for interesting objects, it can be trained to hunt game other than fox.

Give it plenty of exercise and a wide area to run, and your foxhound will last from 10 to 13 years. Confine it to a small space and an inactive lifestyle, and it will grow restless and destructive.

Fortunately, there are only a few health problems encountered with this breed. The most common ones are hip dysplasia and renal disease. Occasionally, there have been cases of epilepsy reported.

Visitor Comments

This is your chance to add your feedback. Do you have a English Foxhound in your family, or know one in someone elses? Do you have a story to tell related to that English Foxhound? Or maybe you have more questions that either DogNation.net or another of our visitors might be able to help you with? Feel free to add your comment or question below.

No comments for this page yet... be the first!

Your Name:

Your E-Mail:

Website (optional):

Security Code:

Comments:

No HTML allowed. URLs will be linked with nofollow attribute. Whitespace is preserved.