Foxhound, American

Foxhound, American

The American Foxhound is a sleeker and somewhat faster version of its English cousin.

History:

The Foxhound was originally developed in Britain sometime during the thirteenth century. The Foxhound was formed from several Hound breeds including Staghounds, Greyhounds and perhaps even Bulldogs and Terriers. The English Foxhound was taken to the USA and bred to Irish and French Hounds to produce the distinctive American Foxhound, which is faster and lighter.

Physical characteristics:

A medium-sized, athletic dog. Height: not specified, but usually around 23 in (58 cm). Weight: not specified, but usually around 60 lb (27 kg). The head is tapered, with a broad skull and negligible stop. The nose is black and long. The eyes are large, round and brown. The ears are short, set low, and hang into the cheeks. The body has a large chest with deep ribs and a wide, level back below well-sloped shoulders. The tail is long, set high, and carried gaily. The forequarters are straight and lightly muscular, the hindquarters strong and solid with straight stifles. The coat of the American Foxhound is short-haired, dense and shiny. The coat color is any Hound color: tan and white with black markings; tan and black with white legs, throat and tail; or lemon and white pied mixtures.

Behavior:

The American Foxhound is a sleeker version of the English Foxhound, yet has a similar temperament. The American Foxhound is a very sociable dog and seems to really appreciate the company of other dogs. This dog is very determined in the chase and works very well with members of its pack. Once on the scent, they operate a as tag system, with one or two dogs rapidly pursuing the quarry and then others later taking over at the front. If individuals are kept as companion animals, they quickly assimilate into the family. To gain maximum enjoyment from these dogs as companion animals, they should be given a lot of attention and brought into the everyday activities of the family.