Breed group: Hound



Weight: Male: 70-75 lbs; female: 65-70 lbs

Height: Male: 22-25 inches; female: 21-24 inches

Overview

The American foxhound has its descendence directly from the French and English hounds. They were brought to America in 1650, and more than a hundred years later they were bred to a French hound. This dog was sent from Lafayette to George Washington as a gift. These dogs were used to seek out Indians in the seventeenth century. They also became very good at hunting wild animals. The American foxhound has a very good nose and they also possess a lot of speed. It was never intended that this breed should just be a pet. The rich people that enjoyed fox hunting regarded these dogs very highly.

Temperament

Although these dogs are intense and courageous warriors when hunting, they are also very gentle and loving dogs when at home. The American foxhound gets along very well with children, as well as with other dogs. Not all the foxhounds are friendly toward strangers - some can be very protective. These dogs should be fenced in, as they will easily take off after an interesting scent. This breed will not always be ideal as a house pet seeing that they have a history as outdoor pack kennel hounds.

Care

The grooming needs for the American foxhound is not very high. They have a smooth coat that is easy to groom. It can be combed with a form hair brush once in a while, and this will also be good for their skins. The American foxhound should only be bathed when it is really necessary. These dogs are average shedding dogs.

Training

American foxhounds are very intelligent dogs, but not always very receptive when it comes to training. They are very brave dogs, and also very fun-loving. These dogs are quite open for positive reinforcement, but will not respond well to punishment as it will often leave them confused. This breed is fairly difficult to housetrain. The American foxhound should also be socialised well to make sure they are not shy later on. This dog will perform at his best if the training environment is fair and consistent.

Health problems

The American foxhound is a very healthy dog, and in general these dogs do not have any defects or inborn conditions. This dog also doesn't suffer from any unbearable hip and bone disorders that you find in some of the large breeds. But some hip problems are up-and-coming in the breed as they are being bred larger and larger. If you have a foxhound that is very tall, extra care should be taken to ensure they do not run to hard.