Kerry Beagle vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison

Kerry Beagle vs American Foxhound - Breed ComparisonKerry Beagle is originated from Ireland but American Foxhound is originated from United States. Both Kerry Beagle and American Foxhound are having almost same height. Both Kerry Beagle and American Foxhound are having almost same weight. Both Kerry Beagle and American Foxhound has almost same life span. Both Kerry Beagle and American Foxhound has almost same litter size. Both Kerry Beagle and American Foxhound requires Low maintenance.

History

kerry beagle - historyThe Kerry Beagle is an ancient dog breed, thought to go back as far as the 16th century and looked upon as one of the oldest of all the Irish dog breeds. The dog was introduced to Ireland by the Celts.

It is believed to have descended from the Old Southern Hound or Celtic Hounds.The Kerry Beagle was taken by Irish immigrants to America and is a foundation breed in the development of the  Coonhound for hunting and scenting.

The Kerry Beagle isn't recognized by the AKC but has been recognized by the Irish Kennel Club in 1991. It is still rare outside of Ireland and it hasn't been recognized by major kennel clubs.

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

kerry beagle puppy - descriptionThe Kerry Beagle is a medium sized dog with a solid physique. He stands at about 56 – 61cm and weighs between 22 and 27kg. He has a broad head with drop ears. His eyes are large and deep set and are a yellow to brownish color, giving the dog an intelligent expression.

His coat is short and the most common color for this dog is black and tan, but you can also find tan and white or some blue mottling as well. He is a lean, muscled dog with a deep chest and legs which are slim and long, providing the dog with the ability to pick up speed on a hunt. The tail of the dog is long and slightly curved and carried level.

Temperament:

As a packhound this dog is a serious hunter. He may look aggressive as he goes after his prey but he is actually a calm, well-balanced, friendly dog who forms a strong, loving relationship with his human family.

He is also gentle and playful with children in the home and also gets on well with other dogs too. He is intelligent and will readily respond to training and socialization. It's a dog that just loves being outside, especially when there is something to do, such as playing ball games or going on a long walk.

He is alert and inquisitive and makes an excellent watchdog. A home with a good sized garden will be ideal for the Kerry Beagle, though it can be kept in small gardens in the city too, just so long as he is given the opportunity for daily exercise.

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

kerry beagle dog - characteristicsThe Kerry Beagle may well be quite an aggressive dog when showing off his hunting skills, but when it comes to being around his human family, he softens up and becomes a gentle, loving friend.

He is an affectionate playmate for children and also gets on well with other dogs you may have in the home.

Your Kerry Beagle is alert, intelligent and active, and when you have one of them as a 4-legged family member, you'll discover what a wonderful, devoted companion he can be.

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

kerry beagle puppies - health problemsIf your Kerry Beagle is ill or injured you need to get him to the vet for a full assessment. As a puppy he will also need certain vaccinations to protect him from some life-threatening illnesses as well as getting de-wormed.

Dental Health:

Bad smelling breath is a symptom that your pet's teeth need checking. If you're not sure how to maintain his teeth, make sure your Kerry Beagle has professional dental cleaning to ensure his gums and teeth are kept in a healthy state. Your vet will give you advise on how to watch for periodontal disease.

Fleas and Ticks:

In hot weather particularly, check your dog over for fleas and ticks and remove them.

Heartworm:

Heartworm is a fatal disease which which can affect your dog. Speak to your vet about treatments as living in a hot, wet area opens you pet up to bites from infected mosquitoes.

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

Grooming:

kerry beagle dogs - caringBecause of the short coat of the Kerry Beagle, he is looked upon as a low maintenance dog. He doesn't shed very much, and simple grooming is required such as brushing the coat twice a week.

His nails will also need to be clipped, as left long, they can hook on things and rip your pet's flesh.

You will need to check his teeth and also check inside his ears. Dogs with floppy ears are more prone to infection in the ears and this can cause terrible pain for your pet.

Diet:

If you keep your Kerry Beagle as a hunting dog, you will know that active dogs like these have different dietary requirements to companion dogs.

All that activity requires top quality nutrition and a certain amount of calories. If you're buying dry kibble, make sure its the highest quality so that he doesn't require huge portions to satisfy him. Leading canine nutritionists recommend a hunting dog like this be fed a large meal once a day and preferably in the evening, after all the hunting action.

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

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Ireland
United States
Height Male:
56 - 61 cm
22 - 25 inches
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
Height Female:
56 - 61 cm
22 - 25 inches
49 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
22 - 27 kg
48 - 60 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
22 - 27 kg
48 - 60 pounds
21 - 30 kg
46 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 10
1 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
None
Foxhound
Colors Available:
Black and tan, blue mottling, white and tan
red, tricolor, black and tan, blue
Coat:
Short and smooth
short, hard
Shedding:
Minimal
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Sweet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Sakhalin Husky vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  2. Portuguese Water Dog vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  3. Puli vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  4. McNab vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  5. Porcelaine vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  6. Hokkaido vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  7. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Pumi vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  9. Kintamani vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  10. Osterreichischer Kurzhaariger Pinscher vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  11. Russo-European Laika vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  12. Ryukyu Inu vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  13. Seppala Siberian Sleddog vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  14. Serbian Mountain Hound vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  15. Shiba Inu vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  16. Sulimov vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  17. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  18. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  19. Standard Schnauzer vs Kerry Beagle - Breed Comparison
  20. Kerry Beagle vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  21. Kerry Beagle vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  22. Kerry Beagle vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  23. Kerry Beagle vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  24. Kerry Beagle vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  25. Kerry Beagle vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  26. Bloodhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  27. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  28. Greyhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  29. Francais Blanc et Noir vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  30. Saluki vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  31. American Foxhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  32. American Foxhound vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison
  33. Borzoi vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  34. Black and Tan Coonhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  35. Mountain Cur vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  36. Black Mouth Cur vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  37. Rajapalayam vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  38. Plott Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  39. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  40. Otterhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  41. Mudhol Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  42. Ibizan Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  43. Rampur Greyhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  44. Galgo Espanol vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  45. Azawakh vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  46. Hanover Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  47. Majestic Tree Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  48. Chart Polski vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  49. Polish Hunting Dog vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  50. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds