American Foxhound

One of the first breeds created in the US, the American Foxhound, is becoming increasingly uncommon. This medium-sized hound combines endurance, speed, and a strong work ethic to make an excellent hunter. These days, her most likely appearance is as a pack member in a foxhunting club.

Though bred for hunting, the American Foxhound can also make an excellent family companion. She has an easy-care coat and is loving and loyal. She gets along with people and animals just fine. She needs a home with enough space to run and a family that can give her lots of exercise. She's known for her musical baying, so ideally, there shouldn't be any neighbours nearby who might be bothered by her vocal nature.

Get a Pet Insurance Quote

American Foxhound Appearance

Highly regarded by its cousin, the English Foxhound, for its long legs and sleek build, the American Foxhound is a graceful and athletic breed. This tall hound weighs 60 to 70 pounds and has a smooth, hard coat that is typically medium to short in length. It can be any color, though a combination of black, white, and tan is most frequently seen. In addition to having large, brown, or hazel eyes and long, soft ears, the breed is distinguished by a noticeably bushy tail or "slight brush." Her expression is gentle and endearing. Her true nature is revealed when her hunting instincts take over, and she detects a scent.

American Foxhound Personality

American Foxhounds are brilliant, friendly, and affectionate dogs. Because of their laid-back attitude, they are easy to get along with almost anyone. However, they also have a strong sense of independence, which is excellent for hunting dogs.

They aren't very demanding, but they love company and would rather be indoors with you—that is, if they don't get the many hours of exercise they require daily. They need to move a lot because of their high levels of energy and work ethic. American Foxhounds that receive insufficient exercise may develop destructive and bored tendencies, exhibiting behaviors such as digging, chewing, howling, and more.

Though they make great hunting dogs, they can also make excellent companions if you know what they need. They take some work to train and handle but loving and devoted companions. They work best with knowledgeable dog owners who can accommodate their unique requirements. These dogs get along well with children and can develop close relationships. Additionally, they get along well with similar-sized dogs and, with the proper socialization, can adjust to smaller dogs and other animals.

American Foxhound Living Needs

Even though it's an ancient breed, the American Foxhound adjusts to modern life quite well. Although they can be wary of strangers, they are loving toward kids, adults, and other pets. Providing your American Foxhound puppy with early socialization can help them feel more at ease around strangers. These dogs, well-known for being playful, are typically not easily frightened or stressed, making them an excellent choice for active homes with lots of activity and noise.

American Foxhounds do suffer from boredom and loneliness. They can be heard barking loudly and don't hesitate to show their disapproval. When a foxhound is lonely or bored, she may turn destructive, frequently chewing or digging for amusement. Give your foxhound lots of exercise to keep them happy. There are many entertaining ways to keep her interested, even if you're not into hunting. It's best to have a big, safely fenced yard, but ensure the fence is strong enough to keep her in if she smells something interesting.

Regarding their diet, pick a premium dry dog food with one of the main ingredients being meat. To satisfy their energy needs, choose foods that are higher in fat and have a good protein content. Steer clear of dog foods with corn or soy among the first five ingredients because these are not as appropriate for an active breed like this one. Maintaining a healthy and active American Foxhound can be achieved through proper nutrition.

American Foxhound Care

An American Foxhound is straightforward to groom. Every week, she uses a rubber mitt to brush her coat, baths herself when she gets too dirty, and trims her nails to prevent noise when walking on hard floors. Pay close attention to her ears, especially if she likes to play or swim in the water. After engaging in any water activity, clean her ears with an ear-cleaning solution to avoid infections.

Since food is a powerful motivator for foxhounds, training them can be very fulfilling, particularly when combined with treats and positive reinforcement. Despite her intelligence and rapid learning, she is easily distracted by smells, which could lead to her need to remember her training when you are away from home.

Additionally, listen for howling. If it starts to occur more frequently, talking to your veterinarian could help address any underlying issues, which could be an indication of stress.

American Foxhound Health

Although most dogs can have some health problems, American Foxhounds are generally a healthy breed. Hip dysplasia is one issue, as are ailments like Pelger-Huet anomaly, a white blood cell disorder, and thrombocytopathy, a platelet disorder.

Ear infections are a common issue, especially if your Foxhound is an avid swimmer. Their floppy ears can retain moisture, which makes it perfect for bacteria or yeast to cause excruciating infections. To help prevent diseases, it is a good idea to clean your dog's ears with an ear-cleaning solution after every swim if she enjoys making splashes.

Since foxhounds are hunters and enjoy being outside, you should frequently examine their paws and skin for any cuts or sores they may have received while in the field. Watch your dog closely if you see that it is limping. Active dogs may injure muscles or joints further up their legs and paws.

American Foxhound Exercise Requirements

The extraordinary exercise requirements of the American Foxhound, which are significantly higher than those of most other dogs, make it a high-maintenance breed. These dogs are perfect for long days spent chasing foxes because of their extraordinary endurance. You'll need to find other activities for your Foxhound to use up all that energy if they aren't hunting.

If your Foxhound doesn't get enough exercise, it can exhibit a range of undesirable behaviours, including destructive, whiny, and generally unhappy behaviour. They require two hours of structured physical activity daily; simply dropping them off in the backyard won't do.

American Foxhounds are best suited for active individuals or families due to their high energy levels. A Foxhound might be an excellent match if you like taking long walks, jogging, biking, or hiking. You can ensure they get the exercise they require to stay happy and healthy by including them in your regular workout regimen.

American Foxhound Training

Given their intelligence and hunting capacity, foxhounds can undoubtedly learn more than just basic commands. They are good at obeying commands but can also be challenging to train because of their stubbornness and independence. It helps to have some prior dog training experience, as you'll need to be firm and confident in your training style.

The best time to train your Foxhound is after they have consumed some of their energy. Training sessions should ideally be planned after physical activity when the person is more focused and less energized.

Get a Pet Insurance Quote

American Foxhound History 

The history of the American Foxhound began in 1650 when Robert Brooke imported a line of hounds from England to the United States. The Black and Tan Coonhound is thought to have descended from a pack of black-and-tan foxhounds that he carefully bred. Virginia had become home to Foxhounds by the early 1700s. In the middle of the eighteenth century, George Washington was given a pack of foxhounds as a gift and grew to love the breed. He kept precise records and pedigrees that contributed to establishing some of the best early examples of the breed, and he kept, bred, and hunted with American Foxhounds. Washington brought in several large French Hounds in 1785 to make his foxhounds larger, and he added Irish hounds in the 1830s to make them faster.

The American Foxhound was developed primarily to hunt red and gray foxes in various environments, including river valleys, forests, and open fields. However, in the eastern United States, a popular foxhunting region, the red fox was uncommon, and the gray fox was slow. English red foxes were brought over for sport to solve these problems. These English foxes eventually crossed with Native American foxes to produce a swifter native fox ideal for chasing.

American Foxhound Fun Facts

The history of the American Foxhound is extensive, going back to George Washington, who was among the first breeders of this canine at Mount Vernon. Among the famous hounds in his pack were Tipsy, Tipler, and Drunkard. Washington reportedly compared their voices to "the bells of Moscow," as the AKC points out.

The American Foxhound is significant because it is the state dog of Virginia, even though it is not as popular. Several American Foxhound characters are included in Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy mystery series, set in Virginia's hunting country, contributing to their cultural presence.

How do American and English Foxhounds differ from one another? American Foxhounds can be distinguished from their English counterparts by having slightly arched backs and longer, more slender legs.