American Foxhound Dog Breed Information, Images, Characteristics, Health

History - American Foxhound for Sale

american foxhound - historyAs a cousin of the English Foxhound, the American Foxhound is a scent hound and bred for hunting. Robert Brooke brought the first hunting dogs to the colonies in 1650. These dogs were the starting point for several American hound breeds including the American Foxhound.

For almost 300 years the Brooke family owned and bred dogs from this bloodline.

At the same time that Brooke was hunting with and breeding his hounds, George Washington was given French Foxhounds. These were crossed with the Brooke’s dogs to create the American Foxhound. This breed is said to have been originally bred in Virginia and Maryland.

They are the state dog of Virginia. After Red Foxes were imported or migrated, Irish Foxhounds were brought to American and added into the line, increasing the stamina and speed that today’s dog’s still display.

The American Foxhound was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1886. Today’s American Foxhound presents in many different lines but are all considered the same breed even though some ay look very different. These strains include the Trigg, Walker, Penn-Marydel, Goodman, July and Calhoun.

Description - American Foxhound for Sale

american foxhound puppy - descriptionGiven the variety of bloodlines and strains mentioned above, there can be many differences in the American Foxhounds. Because of this most American Foxhounds bred to show are Walkers as they most closely fit the AKC Breed Standard.

In general, the American Foxhound has long, straight legs and is taller than the English Foxhound. They have a narrow chest and domed skull with a long muzzle.

They have low, wide set eyes that should be dark – brown or hazel, never blue. They have feet like a fox and laid-back shoulders with a curved tail. Athletic and muscled, the American Foxhound is bred to run. They are one of the rarest breeds in the United States.

Characteristics - American Foxhound for Sale

american foxhound dog - characteristicsWith a reputation as a docile, sweet dog, the American Foxhound is great with kids and animals. They are gentle and often very shy with strangers. They are strong willed and stubborn especially when training them, so they are not a good first dog. They need an owner who has handled dogs before and knows how to be the pack leader without being angry or mean.

The American Foxhound is a scent hound and once he is on the scent it is close to impossible to distract him from it. They have a tendency to ignore commands when they are in this state. A strong owner/leader is needed for this reason. Don’t let him off leash in an unfenced area.

Health Problems - American Foxhound for Sale

american foxhound puppies - health problemsThe American Foxhound, like most hunting dogs does not carry a lot of genetic disorders. But they can easily become overweight and this can cause major problems. Dysplasia of any type had been mostly unknown in this breed, but due to obesity it is cropping up on occasion. Breeders have not, and do not usually screed for any genetic diseases.

The most devastating health issue the American Foxhound faces is thrombocytopathy. We will go into more detail on this in the Care for Pet section. This is a disease of the blood system, namely the platelets.

Caring The Pet - American Foxhound for Sale

Feeding

american foxhound dogs - caringWhether feeding a pup, or an adult American Foxhound, you need to be sure the food is high quality and that you don’t overfeed. The Foxhound is happy to eat as much as you give him. They like to eat. Make sure you measure and don’t free feed. Control what they are eating.

For a puppy feed twice, a day – 2 to 3 cups of high quality puppy food. When he becomes an adult feed him once a day with 2 cups of adult food.

Health issues

As mentioned previously, the American English Foxhound, like most of the hound breeds is a very healthy dog. They do not have many genetic health issues. They do have a risk for thrombocytopathy. This risk is slight, but all owners of American English Foxhounds should be aware of it.

Thrombocytopathy

This disease is a circulatory system disease with poorly or non-functioning platelets. Platelets are designed to assist in the control of bleeding and without functioning ones the dog can bleed excessively from just a minor cut or bleed internally from a minor injury. The disease can be treated but you have to notice it first. Depending on how severe the disease is, the treatment will vary. Some dogs will have to be given platelets.

Exercise and games

This is a high energy breed that is very active and needs a lot of exercise. They are not good for the first-time owner as they are stubborn and hard to train. They need room to run and get frustrated and out of sorts if they don’t have it. They can live in the suburbs but only with a large fenced yard, an even larger dog park and regular walks. This dog needs a lot of exercise. The simplest thing to do is take him hunting.

Basic Information - American Foxhound for Sale

Group:
Hound dog
Origin:
United States
Height Male:
53 - 64 cm20 - 26 inches
Height Female:
49 - 60 cm19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 32 kg55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
21 - 30 kg46 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 12
Size:
Large dog
Other Names:
Foxhound
Colors Available:
red, tricolor, black and tan, blue
Coat:
short, hard
Shedding:
Seasonal
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Sweet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Bloodhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  2. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  3. Greyhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  4. Francais Blanc et Noir vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  5. Saluki vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  6. American Foxhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  7. American Foxhound vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison
  8. Borzoi vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  9. Black and Tan Coonhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  10. Mountain Cur vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  11. Black Mouth Cur vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  12. Rajapalayam vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  13. Plott Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  14. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  15. Otterhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  16. Mudhol Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  17. Ibizan Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  18. Rampur Greyhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  19. Galgo Espanol vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  20. Azawakh vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  21. Hanover Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  22. Majestic Tree Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  23. Chart Polski vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  24. Polish Hunting Dog vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  25. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  26. Segugio Italiano vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  27. Sloughi vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  28. Tasy vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  29. Treeing Walker Coonhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  30. Hortaya Borzaya vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  31. Circassian Orloff Wolfhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  32. Samoyed vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  33. Labradoodle vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  34. Cane Corso vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  35. Alaskan Malamute vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  36. Mixed vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  37. Bullmastiff vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  38. Dogue De Bordeaux vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  39. German Shorthaired Pointer vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  40. Great Pyrenees vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  41. American Staffordshire Terrier vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  42. Boerboel vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  43. Old English Sheepdog vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  44. Presa Canario vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  45. Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  46. Labrador Husky vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  47. Perro de Presa Canario vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  48. Bernedoodle vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  49. Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds