American Foxhound: Amazing Facts, Diet, Health

American Foxhound Scientific Classification

Kingdom                 Animalia

Phylum                    Chordata

Class                         Mammalia

Order                       Carnivora

Family                       Canidae

Genus                        Canis

Scientific Name:      Canis lupus

Locations

North America

Conservation Status

Not Listed

Physical Characteristics

Color                 Black, White, Tan

Skin Type          Hair

Lifespan             10 to 12 years

2 Pros and Cons of Owning American Foxhound

Pros

Gentle

These dogs are famous for their gentle nature, making them exceptional family dogs.

Hunter

These dogs are used for hunting and are commonly made for foxhunting. Their strong sense of smell helps them find prey.

Cons

Exercise

They require too much exercise. This demand is not favourable for the person who needs a relaxed lifestyle.

Not for apartments

These dogs are not apartment dog breeds; they need large surface areas.

American Foxhound History

Historical annals suggest that George Washington was a devoted fox hunter. For this hobby, he had hounds derived from imported British dogs. Ultimately, he crossed these hounds with French breeding stock from Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat and military major who battled in the American Revolutionary War.

When the European settlers reached the American colonies, some took their hounds with them, and later, in the 1700s, these dogs were crossed with the Irish and English hounds to produce the American Foxhound. American breeders wanted to create nimbler, higher, and faster foxhounds with a clever sense of smell appropriate for their new country’s game and environment. Now, there are four types of hound dogs:

• Pack hounds
• Drag hounds
• Slow trailing hounds
• Field trial hounds

  

American foxhound Appearance

The American Foxhound is also in tri-coloured black, white, and tan. The tail of the Foxhound is set in elevation and finishes with a trivial brush but does not whorl over the back. The coat is standard length, close to the skin, and firm to protect it from running through the coarse terrain. Their head is elongated, and their floppy ears are fixed reasonably low. They have a deep chest to lodge excessive lung ability for running. This breed’s hips and thighs are powerfully muscled, foremost into straight, shrill legs, which determine the Foxhound’s excellent fleet capability and prevailing population.

American Foxhound Temperament

This dog breed can be persistent and prey-inclined, chiefly once they pick up the aroma. With appropriate training, they can be affectionate with people. They are also very tolerant of strangers, so they do not have good guard dogs but are great with children and other dogs. If you keep other dogs, you must be sure to socialize your Foxhound with people frequently and from a young age.

Your Foxhound can coexist with smaller pets such as birds, cats, and rabbits. The Foxhound is a sweet, patient dog but is bred for activity. There are better options for owners living in urban areas. This intelligent, alert breed will find a way to dwell in itself, and in a critical way, if they don’t have space or time for running.

American foxhound Size and weight

American foxhound dogs are more significant than English foxhound dogs. The females are 21 to 24 inches long and weigh around 40 to 60 pounds. The males are 22 – 25 inches long and weigh 45 – 65 pounds.

Height (Male)                  22 – 25 inches tall

Height (Female)              2 – 24 inches tall

Weight (Male)                45 – 65 lbs, fully mature

Weight (Female)            44 – 60 lbs, fully mature

American Foxhound Feeding

The recommended daily food for this dog breed is 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dog food. However, food quantity varies depending on size, age, digestion, and action level. Every dog is unique and needs a different amount of food. Active dogs require more food than less energetic dogs.

The quality of dog food also matters, as high-quality food provides better nutrition and demands less food to be served in each meal. As dogs enjoy eating, it is necessary to measure their food to prevent obesity. Providing two meals a day instead of leaving food all the time can help maintain a healthy weight.

For more information on feeding your Foxhound, refer to the strategies for selecting the appropriate food, feeding puppies, and feeding adults. A proper diet is necessary to uphold their health and well-being.

American Foxhound Health

Foxhound is a healthy breed but may also be prone to some health conditions like other breeds.

Hip Dysplasia

A genetic disease in dogs causes the hip joint to develop abnormally. Mild cases are treated with medications such as physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs, but acute cases may need surgery.

Common signs of hip dysplasia are:

• Bunny hopping gait
• Hip pain
• Shifting of weight to front legs
• Limping
• Lameness

Thrombopathia

Thrombopathia is a blood disease that disturbs healthy platelets, making them less able to do their work. It has no treatment, so affected dogs should avoid surgery except when necessary.

Signs of Thrombopathia are:

• Excessive bleeding from cuts or wounds
• Tiny bruises under the skin
• Bleeding gums
• nosebleeds

Maintenance and Grooming

American foxhounds have small and thick coats. To groom them, brush their coats weekly to remove dead hair and help distribute skin oils. With normal shedding, brushing their fur regularly can avoid excessive hair everywhere.

Training

Training in the American foxhound dog breed is easy, although the dogs are independent and stubborn. You must be severe and stable for this dog breed to follow your training commands lest they get their ideas efficiently.

These dogs are clever and easygoing, but they were also produced to work freely, a trait that can obstruct training. In addition to constructing and supporting the human-animal bond, progressive training time has the advantage of exercising your dog’s brain and body.

Exercise

Before you get an American foxhound, you must know that exercise is essential to keep this breed healthy and happy. Without protracted hunts, they want a couple of hours of daily activity.

These dogs need much exercise daily. They have long stamina and can run many miles at one time. Another potential exercise could be letting them accompany you on your rambling advice. These dogs are also the best jogging partners.

American foxhound Puppies

The best way to get a puppy of this breed is to buy from a reputable breeder. Unluckily, they are scarce in modern America. According to the AKC, the American Foxhound only ranks 196 out of 201 familiar breeds. The puppies of this dog breed are lovely due to their big eyes and floppy ears.

American foxhound puppies need care in the same way as you care about adult dogs. However, you should start training the puppies earlier so that they can adopt good habits and train quickly.

The puppies’ meals should be divided into several meals so that their little stomachs digest the food quickly.

American Foxhound Popular Names

• Gaius
• Gideon
• Ruddy
• Mickey

Male vs. Female

Males are slightly larger than females. They are more solid, heavier, and muscular than their female partners. Males are also a couple of inches taller than females. Despite size dissimilarities, males and females are ultimately very similar. Some claim that females are sweeter and more reserved than males, but this has not been confirmed.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Is an American Foxhound a good family dog?

This dog breed can be brilliantly sweet and dedicated family dogs with the right family. These active hunting dogs need at least one hour of exercise daily and ample companionship.

Do American Foxhounds bark a lot?

They are highly vocal dogs. In addition to barking and howling, hounds are famous for their ability to bay. Baying is lower and more profound than violent and can be heard long distances.

Is the American Foxhound rare?

Unfortunately, they are scarce in modern America. According to the AKC, they only rank 196 out of 201 familiar breeds. That means finding this dog breed by accident in a shelter or rescue group will be very difficult.

Can American Foxhound be left alone?

This dog breed is amiable and intelligent. He loves his family, but being left alone with no companion or canine friend can distress him. This dog breed is produced to run and can go for miles, so exercise is essential.

Are American Foxhounds loyal?

The Foxhound can make excellent companions, good-natured, easygoing, athletic, and independent, but only with some caution. They want too much exercise and training. If an owner covers these things, this dog will be a loyal and sweet companion, even for families with kids.

Do foxhounds have separation anxiety?

They tend to adore their pack family and follow you everywhere. However, separation anxiety is a big problem with some foxhounds. This is true if they are not exercised enough or have nothing to entertain them when you are gone.

Can American Foxhounds be aggressive?

They are reserved and protective around strangers and may sometimes be aggressive towards them. She should not be left alone around cats and other small creatures she has not been raised with, as she may regard them as prey.

Thank you for reading. If you have questions, contact us.