The American Foxhound is medium-sized hunting dog that stands up to 25 inches at the shoulder and can weigh as much as 75 pounds. It is similar in appearance to the English Foxhound, but is taller, with a somewhat lighter build.
These energetic dogs are perfectly suited to their work, with long legs that eat up the ground, and widely set eyes that give them excellent peripheral vision. The head is long with hanging ears. They have a short harsh coat with 4 recognized color variants, red, blue, tri-color, and black and tan.
The American Foxhound descends directly from its English cousin. They first came to America in 1650, and have been a popular hunting companion ever since. It is believed that the ‘legginess’ comes from cross breeding with French hounds. These dogs are renowned for their speed, their excellent scenting ability, and their unique bark when hunting.
These days, the American Foxhound is still used extensively for hunting and field trials. But they can also make a good pet for the right owner. This comes however, with a number of provisos. These are incredibly energetic dogs who not only want to work, but actually need a job to keep them happy.
The ideal owner for this dog would be someone with a love for the great outdoors. The dog will enjoy hiking and jogging, but will prefer to have a job to do. Someone with a job where they can involve the dog would be a good fit. If you cannot meet this dog’s exercise requirements, you should definitely look elsewhere.
In the right hands though, this is an excellent companion and a wonderful pet. American Foxhounds are sociable dogs who love interacting with humans. They are excellent with children and do well with other dogs. With non-canine pets though, its another matter, and you’ll have to keep a close eye on them. The develop close bonds with their family, but tend to be wary of outsiders.
When naming your American Foxhound you’ll want to come up with something that captures the free spirited nature of this breed. If you need help finding a name, I’d recommend puppy names hq, a site with thousands of puppy names, including a mega-list of female dog names.
This is a very healthy dog breed with no recognized congenital disorders. They are however prone to obesity so you’ll have to exercise strict portion control and be strict with treats.
The American Foxhound coat is short, and easy to maintain. A weekly brush down is all that is required, except during the shedding season when daily brushing will be the norm.
It should be pretty obvious that this dog will not do well in an apartment. If you have a house with a large garden, or better still if you live in the country, this may be the dog for you. But you will still need to be prepared to give the dog vigorous exercise every day.
