What makes the English Foxhound Unique?
These medium-sized hounds are a rare breed that has often been used for hunting both foxes and deer. Although they are the least common of all the dog varieties currently recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), English Foxhounds are great companions for rural dwelling families.
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Is the English Foxhound Right For You?
English foxhound is of powerful build, with large bone. The size of bone at the ankle is considered especially important. This build, along with comparatively straight angulation of the stifles, favors stamina over speed. The rich, deep voice is prized for the hunt. It gets along well with horses, dogs, children and other pets. It is an avid sniffer and trailer, however, and needs daily exercise in a safe area. It is a tolerant, amiable and gentle dog, even though it is not very demonstrative. Most are reserved with strangers.
In 5 Words
- Tolerant
- Gentle
- Friendly
- Companionable
- Active
Characteristics
Learn About the English Foxhound
Description
General Description
Foxhounds of the English type are generally shorter and stockier than their American contemporaries. However, English Foxhounds have a powerful physique that is well-suited to a hunting breed. They were developed for stamina rather than speediness. These athletic dogs have broad skulls and lengthy muzzles with teeth that should meet in a scissors bite. English Foxhounds have large, brown eyes that often have a sweet expression in them. Hanging, low-set ears are another breed feature. A number of these dogs have their ears surgically enhanced by cutting about 1 to 1.5 inches off in attempt to make these appendages more round in nature. They also have sizeable bones and straight legs. Special attention in particular is paid to the size of an animal’s ankle bone. English Foxhounds likewise have rounded paws that resemble those of a cat.
Size
Males of this breed stand between 21 and 24 inches (56 to 63 centimeters) in height and they generally weigh around 60 to 75 pounds (24.9 to 31.8 kilograms). Female English Foxhounds stand about 22 to 25 inches (53 to 61 inches) tall and measure about 54.9 to 70.1 (27.2 to 34 kilograms) in weight. There have been instances of bigger males that top over 100 pounds being bred from show lines as well.
Coat
These dogs have short coats that are stiff and glossy in texture. According to the American Kennel Club, English Foxhounds can be plain white, lemon and white, or tricolored.
Short History of the English Foxhound
Members of this energetic breed benefit greatly from having some form of companionship and should not be left alone for long periods of time. While these dogs tend to prefer the company of other animals, they are well-behaved around children and are sociable towards other members of their human family. Strangers can make English Foxhounds wary at times, but most other animals will get along exceptionally well with these dogs. Despite the fact that English Foxhounds were bred for hunting in packs, they nonetheless can be good house pets if they get enough exercise. However, this breed is known for its vocal displays and loud baying or howling is not uncommon. This makes English Foxhounds a poor choice for city life.
Temperament
Members of this energetic breed benefit greatly from having some form of companionship and should not be left alone for long periods of time. While these dogs tend to prefer the company of other animals, they are well-behaved around children and are sociable towards other members of their human family. Strangers can make English Foxhounds wary at times, but most other animals will get along exceptionally well with these dogs. Despite the fact that English Foxhounds were bred for hunting in packs, they nonetheless can be good house pets if they get enough exercise. However, this breed is known for its vocal displays and loud baying or howling is not uncommon. This makes English Foxhounds a poor choice for city life.
Caring for Your English Foxhound
General Health
Born in litters averaging about 6 or 7 pups, the Springer Spaniel generally lives over 10 years. These dogs have a limited number of major health concerns such as hip dysplasia, deafness, epilepsy, kidney problems, and renal disease. Even these ailments are only occasionally found in English Foxhounds. Dogs that still perform hunting tasks may occasionally become hurt in the line of duty. They should be inspected for injuries after returning from a hunt and treated for any problems that arise as soon as possible.
Care
Daily
These dogs have the ability to sprint for miles without becoming fatigued. Therefore, a briskly paced daily walk is recommended for English Foxhounds. Members of this breed also enjoy hunting, hiking, or jogging as a way to get appropriate amounts of exercise.
Weekly
English Foxhounds should have their coats brushed once a week.
Monthly
Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention medicines are a must for any pet and most products are generally administered once a month.
Grooming & Bathing
These dogs don’t have to be bathed often. However, they should have their nails trimmed and their ears inspected for debris on a regular basis. Dogs that still perform hunting tasks should be checked over for injuries after returning from a hunt and treated for any problems that arise as soon as possible.
Exercise & Training
English Foxhounds are usually easy to train because they were developed to follow a hunter’s instructions and perform well as a member of a pack that could contain many other animals. Although members of this breed desire to please their owners, they don’t learn as quickly as other dogs might. Therefore, anyone attempting to train English Foxhounds will need to be patient with them as it may require a number of repetitions before the dog understands what is being asked of them.
With a warm shelter and an appropriate companion, such as another member of the same breed, these dogs can live outdoors in temperate environments. English Foxhounds should get plenty of exercise to prevent them from engaging in destructive behaviors. These dogs should not be allowed to roam freely because they will follow any interesting scent that catches their attention and may become lost as a result. These dogs also enjoy running, but this activity is best carried out in a fenced in backyard if they are not on the hunt.
English Foxhound Picture Gallery
