American Foxhound dog breed
- Last updated: February 7. 2022
- Categories: Dog breeds, Hound dogs, Large dogs, Short hair
- Post views: 815
The American Foxhound is a kind and loving hound dog that makes a great companion for families that can give it plenty of exercise. Their short coat requires little grooming, weekly brushing to remove dead and loose hair is enough to keep the shedding under control. American Foxhounds were bred to hunt and give notification of their location while on the scent, making them have a high level of barking. The foxhounds get along with strangers and other dogs just fine, but like with all dog breeds, training and socialization should be started from an early age to learn the dog how to behave around strangers and in new situations
M: 55 - 63 cm / 22 - 25 in
F: 53 - 61 cm / 21 - 24 in
M: 29 - 32 kg / 65 - 70 lbs
F: 27 - 30 kg / 60 - 65 lbs
Healthy dogs of this breed lives
average between 11 to 13 years
Hound: These dogs were bred for hunting. They are great trackers
American Foxhound general info
The American Foxhound dates back to the 1700s when European settlers brought English Foxhounds to America that bred with other foxhounds from France and Ireland. This resulted in the new breed, the American Foxhound. One of the earliest breeders of the American Foxhound was the first president of the United States of America, George Washington. These dogs are known for their speed, stamina, work ethics, and great hunting and tracking skills. Due to their strong hunting instincts, the foxhounds are not suitable to go off-leash as they are prone to running off if they catch the scent of another animal. This breed is neither recommended for couch potatoes, as long daily walks are required to satisfy this energy bundle. For active families who are looking for a companion, this gentle and loving dog will make a great choice
American Foxhound appearance
The American Foxhounds are large-sized dogs that can weigh up to 32 kg / 70 lbs and have a height of 63 cm / 25 inches from the ground and up to the shoulders. They have a short hard coat that protects them from both the weather and the elements, like when they are out hunting in the forest, brushing up against trees and vegetation. Commonly, their coat consists of the colors white, brown, and black. Other colors that are not so common are red and blue. When it comes to the head, they have long broad ears that hang down, with hazel eyes and a straight square-cut muzzle. Their chest is narrower than on their English ancestor, accompanied by fox-like feet with well-arched toes. The dogs overall appearance is a kind and happy look
American Foxhound temperament
American Foxhounds are typically gentle and friendly dogs by nature. They get along with other dogs and strangers just fine, they are also especially friendly towards children, a trait that makes them a great choice for family dogs, as long as the barking and need for exercise doesn’t put potential buyers off. American Foxhounds can also get along with other animals as long as they are raised with them, like cats and critters, although they should be supervised while having playtime, at least until it’s certain they are the best of friends. As with all dog breeds, socialization with humans and other dogs should start at an early age to teach the dog how to behave when encountering strangers and other dogs. Signing up for a puppy class is the first step along the way
American Foxhound breed health
American Foxhounds are generally a healthy breed, as long as they come from reputable breeders and not puppy mills. It is always important to do proper research on the breeders and bloodlines before getting a puppy. As with all dog breeds, they are prone to developing certain common diseases. This can include eye problems, skin allergies, orthopedic problems, and ear infections. Healthy American Foxhounds have an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years. Regular wellness checkups at the vet should be done at least once a year to track the dog’s development and catch any potential health issues early on, which improves the chances of successful treatment. If you suspect that your dog is having issues, or have changed its behavior radically, you must contact your vet and schedule an appointment as soon as possible for a consultation
Foxhound shedding and grooming
American Foxhounds has a short coat that doesn’t shed very much. Brushing the coat a couple of times a week is enough to keep the shedding at bay, which also greatly reduces the amount of hair floating around in your home. Thanks to the short coat, you won’t need to spend any money on professional groomers either with this breed. Bathing is only needed if the dog has gotten dirty on its adventures in the woods. Keeping the dog on meat-rich dog foods also helps reduce the shedding amount and prevents dry skin. Meat is digested and absorbed quickly, promoting better overall health in your furry little buddy. If your dog is subject to excessive shedding, contact your veterinarian and ask for guidance, and maybe schedule a checkup to be on the safe side
American Foxhound barking level
American Foxhounds bark a lot, like with the other hound dogs, they make a loud baying sound which is a combination of barking and howling. The purpose of this ability is to carry its sound long distances to alert their masters of their location while chasing down their prey. Common reasons for dogs barking are protection, alerting, being bored, fear, seeking attention, separation anxiety, or just saying hello. You can read more about barking at this guide from WebMD Pets: Understanding why dogs bark. All dog breeds can be trained to reduce barking, another thing that should be focused on learning from an early age. There are plenty of books and online resources where you can learn how to reduce barking, like YouTube, online courses, and various websites
American Foxhound dog training
American Foxhounds are not the easiest dogs to train, they are bred to be independent dogs and work on their own. They may think their ideas are better than yours and act on them, which it’s why it’s important to be a firm but calm pack leader for the dog. For the novice and inexperienced dog owners, the American Foxhound may not be the best choice due to its stubbornness and independence. Training the dog should be done in a firm and consistent way from an early age to learn the dog who is the pack leader. The first step on the long road is signing up for a puppy class, here you will learn the basics about dog care and training, most classes also have supervised playtime among the puppies for socialization. You can also watch dog training videos, attend online dog training courses, or maybe get yourself a book
Foxhound Exercise requirements
American Foxhounds are very energetic dogs that require lots of exercise every day, both physically and mentally. Long daily walks are a must with this breed, preferably, they should live in a home with a big fenced-in yard where they can run around freely to burn off their energy. Giving them enough exercise is the most important care feature for the foxhound, as they get lazy and overweight quickly if they are overfed and don’t get enough exercise. If you live an active lifestyle with lots of outdoor activities, like hiking, running, golfing, and biking, this breed will make an excellent companion. Playing in the yard with the kids in the family is also another effective and fun way for the dog to get exercise, but keep the playtime supervised with the young kids
Caring for dogs
Grooming is not the only maintenance your dog requires throughout its life. Complete examinations at the vet should be done at least once a year for adult dogs. Puppies should come in every 3 or 4 weeks until they are around four months old. Contact your vet and they will set you up with schedules.
Trimming the claws should be done whenever they touch the ground when the dog is standing up, or make it a frequent routine to keep them short
Brushing the teeth should be done on a daily basis to prevent gum diseases. Chew bones and toys will also help strengthen your dog’s teeth and gums
Cleaning the ears to prevent ear infections is also another important part of the dog’s routine maintenance. You can have your vet show you how to do it
Socializing dogs
No matter what kind of dog breed you have, socializing it from an early age is the most important thing you can do in order to get a well-behaving buddy that reacts to the world around it in a healthy way. Until your puppy is around 16 weeks old, it should encounter different kinds of people, situations, and locations, learning that the world is a wonderful place to live. Puppies have a short developmental window in which their experiences will form their future selves. Puppies should however not be forced into situations they might feel uncomfortable with, as bad experiences may imprint and stay with the dog for the rest of the life. You can watch free videos from professional dog trainers on how to socialize your new puppy and learn how to do so the correct way
American Foxhounds on Instagram
Here are some pictures of the American Foxhound on Instagram. See even more pics of this breed by exploring #AmericanFoxHound or at Google Image Search
Video of the American Foxhound
Check out some footage of the American Foxhound in this YouTube video with the top 10 facts about the breed, summarized quickly into an 8 minute long video
Frequently asked questions
References and resources
You can absorb more knowledge about this dog breed from the resources below. Websites, books, and social media sites where you can ask dog owners questions
