English Foxhound
Bold and Brave Hunter!
The English Foxhound is primarily a scent hound, which means his nose is incredibly good at following the trail of his prey.
This breed originated out of the need to eliminate what was considered
at the time, an over population of foxes. At the height of this activity, it is believed that there were over 200 packs
of these dogs in service.
The Foxhound excels in running with the pack on the trail of the fox or sometimes other
ground game. They have excellent scenting abilities as well as great endurance.
Most would describe this dog as very handsome, his expression both sharp
and alert, combined with sweet and appealing eyes. There is a constant
appearance of readiness and excitement in the action and set of the
tail.
They are a very rare breed among the hounds.
Characteristics of the English Foxhound
When you consider its heritage, this breed has always been an active dog with lots of energy, so expect more of the same.
It has an affectionate
nature, loves human companionship and even though he was not bred to be a
companion dog, he likes attention and is adaptable to life as a family
pet.
At the same time, this breed has an independent streak and training will need to be very focused and consistent.
English Foxhounds are brave and alert dogs with protective instincts, which makes them
attentive, as well as, vocal watchdogs. They have the ability to bark or
bay quite loudly when so inclined.
One thing to keep in mind is that Foxhounds are the ultimate pack dog, so they are probably happiest in a multi-dog family.
Physical Stats And Care
Height: 23-27 inches
Weight: 55-75 lbs.
Color variations: All recognized hound colors, although the tri-color (black,
white and tan) seems to be the most popular.
The coat is short and dense and is weatherproof. Grooming consists of a
weekly brushing of the coat to keep a nice sheen as well as to remove
any loose hair. Shedding is about average.
The English Foxhound has the folded over ear type that needs to be regularly inspected for parasites, excess wax, debris etc., and cleaned
if necessary to avoid infections.
Bathing along with nail trimming can be done as needed. Tooth brushing is more vital and should be done as often as possible.
Health Notes
English Foxhounds are generally a very healthy breed that can live up to thirteen years with good care.
That being said, the health conditions that may affect them include:
- Kidney problems,
- Epilepsy,
- Hip dysplasia, and
- Bloat (more kikely in deep-chested dogs)
Activity Level And Exercise
The English Foxhound has a lot of stamina and comes from an active background. They can run for miles if they get a chance.
Without an opportunity to exercise, they will often
have weight problems.
Care should also be keep food intake in line with the activity level to avoid overfeeding.
Be sure to always use a leash on walks with your EF as he is extremely prey driven and will chase any animal of interest in a heartbeat.
If you are an active family that likes to jog, run or power walk, this breed will easily keep up with you.
Dog Fitness Treadmill
Ideal Living Space
Foxhounds will do better in an environment with plenty of room to run off their high energy, or with owners who can give
them lots of exercise.
Rural property with acreage is the ideal, but any backyard must be fenced.
The English Foxhound With Children?
Lively and friendly with a gentle nature, English Foxhounds are good with children. Because of their "pack" socialization, they also do well with other dogs in the household.
However, they are not recommended to be in families that have
other non-canine pets.
No matter what the breed's reputation, the best policy in regard to
children and pets, is to have an adult supervise activities between
them because both children and dogs are not always predictable!
Senior Or Less Active Families?
While the EF is very loyal and affectionate, due to exercise constraints, this would not the best breed to choose for inactive seniors, or more sedentary families.
Further Reading
Monthly Joy!