American Foxhound

Leggier than its English counterpart, and descended from English, Irish, and French hounds, this ardent and strong-voiced dog tends to work individually rather than as a group. Used for fox hunting in northern states, it is also used for night time scent-trailing in southern states. Unlike the English Foxhound, most of these dogs are raised as both family and working dogs.

History
The American Foxhound is among one of the first breeds to originate from the United States. They were recognized by the AKC in 1886 but have existed from as far back as the 1700s. To this day, they are still considered a rare breed in the American Kennel Club. There are various strains of this breed.

These hounds were bred into existence. In the 1600s, an English sailor named Robert Brooke came to the U.S. with his hunting dogs. They were a mixture of hounds and kept within the family for many centuries. Eventually George Washington was given some hounds that were descendents of Robert’s pack.

With dedication to breeding of these dogs with French hounds, the American foxhound was born. They were bred to hunt foxes, thus becoming the American foxhound. They are the cousin of English foxhounds but primarily came from the states of Maryland and Virginia. They would go on to become the state dog of Virginia.

Personality
American foxhounds primarily hunt foxes but are also great family dogs. They associate with other animals and children exceptionally. They are very gentle and docile in nature. They can be very shy but loving soon after meeting a new friend.

Although they are shy, they are distinguished by their melodious howl. Their call can be heard for very long distances.

Traits
This sweet-natured hound is a decently sized dog. They are very large and typically tri-colored. The colors they can be are endless but the most prominent are black, white, and tan. They have long legs and are usually measure to be 21 to 25 inches tall. They can weigh up to 71 lbs with 55 lbs being the lowest weight. Although these are the average dimensions, these dogs can be much bigger.

Their bodies are built to efficiently follow the scent of anything, especially foxes. They have narrow chests and long muzzles for ultimate sniffing. Their eyes are usually a shade of brown or hazel.

Handling
The grooming of American foxhounds can be fairly easy but be aware training might not be. These foxhounds do not shed a lot so brushing only needs to be a minimum of once a week. Their draping ears need to be checked frequently to avoid bacterial moisture that causes ear infections.

Since their main function is following their noses, it is vital that their obedience training starts from puppyhood. They are independent and stubborn so it may take a great deal of patience. It is next to impossible to break a foxhound’s mission to follow a scent. This is why persistence crucial. You don’t want your dog ignoring you because he is busy.

Foxhounds are very active canines. They need adequate exercise or else they will get depressed. It is best for foxhounds to reside in larger areas or rural farms. Not only will they get their exercise, they also have the freedom to sound out their foxhound song. They may set it off anytime they hear an animal or person walk by, so apartments aren’t ideal.

Health
American foxhounds don’t typically have genetic disorders. They are often deemed quite healthy. The most common problem these canines get are thrombocytopathy which is a platelet disease that can cause excessive bleeding. Tests can be ran to ensure this disease isn’t running rampant.

It should also be noted that since foxhounds can be easily overfed, they have the ability to be overweight. Ear infections are minor but popular among the breed because of the curtains of ears. Despite these issues, their lifespan is 10-12 years.