American Foxhound

Life span :12 to 13 years

Availability: Rare

About American Foxhound
A Foxhound is sweet and affectionate, but he’s also highly energetic. This is a dog bred to run full throttle over hill and dale, hot on the heels of a fox. Expect to provide him with lots of daily activity. A bored Foxhound with energy to burn will create his own entertainment, and you probably won’t like it. He’s also noisy, with a loud bay that carries long distances. It’s not a good idea to keep him in an urban environment.

When the first European settlers arrived in the American colonies, some of them brought their hounds with them. In the late 1700s, the descendents of these dogs were bred with imported Irish, English, and French hounds. The American breeders were aiming to develop a Foxhound that would be lighter, taller, and faster than his English cousin, with a keener sense of smell, to better suit the game and terrain of their new country.

George Washington was among the early American breeders. He kept a pack of American Foxhounds at Mount Vernon and tried to improve his dogs by breeding them to imported British hounds. He also bred them to French foxhounds given to him by his friend the Marquis de Lafayette, a wealthy Frenchman who fought with him in the American War of Independence.

Foxhounds can be stubborn and independent, making training a challenge. Obedience training is important, however, to develop a better relationship with your dog and establish your position as leader of the pack.

Visits to Groomer-Low

Drooling-Yes

Bath-Rare

Tolerance to heat-Basks in it

Tolerance to cold-Loves snow

Exercise Requirement-Lots

Under Coat-Yes

Colour- White & Cream, Red, Tri-color, Blue, Tan, White

Coat Type-Short

Hair Length-Short
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Hair Density-Sparse

This is typically a healthy breed and isn't known to have any hereditary illnesses. On rare occasions, an American Foxhound may have the following condition:

Thrombocytopathy


Congenital deafness


Eye problems


Ear infections


Hip dysplasia


,Pelger-Huet anomaly


Obesity

Temperament

Foxhounds are an excellent dog for active, rural families. They love being outdoors and have the endurance to keep moving all day long – and then move some more. Foxhounds get along great with children and other dogs. Foxhounds are incredibly versatile – after spending all day in the field hunting with the guys, they'll come home and romp with the kids, then sleep at mom's feet when it's time to go to bed.


Training & Intelligence

Foxhounds are moderately easy to train, as are most hound breeds, but the trainability of individual Foxhounds varies. In general, they don't have the longest attention spans, so training should be conducted in short spurts and should not be overly repetitive. Patience is the key ingredient needed when training any type of hound, and calm-assertiveness is also important. Treating a Foxhound harshly will only lead to avoidance behaviors and flat out stubbornness.


Once leadership is established and basic obedience is mastered, Foxhounds can be graduated to advance obedience, tracking, or agility activities.


Breeding
Litter Size-5 to 7 (approximately)

Complication in Breeding- yes

Procreation
The American Foxhound requires occasional brushing to remove dead hair. Bathe only when necessary. American Foxhounds can live outside in warm climates as long as shelter, bedding, and ample socialization are provided. Avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity. The American Foxhound has a lifespan of 10-13 years and is generally healthy. It has litters of 5-7 puppies.