American Foxhound

The Foxhound is one of the oldest of American breeds but also one of the least known. He’s found most frequently on the Atlantic Seaboard or Southern United States, usually as a member of a pack owned by a foxhunting club. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering making one of these handsome hounds a member of your family. 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. Be sure to walk or run him on leash unless you’re in an enclosed or traffic-free area. Otherwise, he’ll take off when he finds a good scent, going at a pace that you won’t be able to match. He’ll also need a securely fenced yard to ensure that he doesn’t go off hunting on his own. An underground electronic fence does not qualify as secure or effective for this breed. The desire to follow a scent will overrule any fear of a brief shock. The typical Foxhound is gentle and friendly, especially with children. Toward strangers, his temperament varies, ranging from reserved to protective. If he’s raised with them, he gets along fine with cats and other small critters, but use common sense. Don’t leave them together unsupervised unless you’re sure that they really are best buds. Being a pack animal, the Foxhound is fond of canine company and is best suited to a home where he won’t be the only dog. The Foxhound is smart and stubborn, but if you begin training early and show him what you want, he is willing to learn. Positive reinforcement, particularly with food rewards, is the way to win his heart and mind. Working with a trainer in an obedience class will help you learn how to establish your leadership in a firm but fair way that the Foxhound will respect and respond to. You’ll need to put in additional effort if you’ve adopted an older Foxhound or one who is used to living in a pack rather than a home. While you might think of him as an outdoor dog, nothing could be farther from the truth. Foxhounds love their people, especially children, and will pine without human companionship. They should certainly have access to a securely fenced yard, but when the family is home, the Foxhound should be with them. Foxhounds have short, easy-care coats and need only a weekly brushing or wipedown. The only other grooming they require is regular nail trimming and tooth brushing. Check the ears weekly and clean them as needed to prevent ear infections. Remember that the American Foxhound is an uncommon breed. You may have to wait six months or more for the right puppy to be available, so start your search well in advance of the time you would like to have a dog. A list of breeders can be found on the website of the American Foxhound Club. Choose a breeder who has agreed to be bound by the club's Code of Ethics, which prohibits its members from selling puppies to pet stores and outlines the responsibilities of its member breeders to the dogs they produce and the people who buy them. You can find the Code of Ethics on the website as part of the membership application. Consider an adult dog from a shelter or a rescue group. Since a Foxhound can live to be 15 years old, even an adult dog will be with your family for a long time. The American Foxhound is friendly with his family and other dogs. He has a kind and intelligent nature that makes him a good family dog, even with young children. Many a toddler has steadied himself by hanging onto the family Foxhound. With strangers, though, some American Foxhounds are wary or even downright aggressive. A Foxhound should never be left to live alone with little human or canine companionship.