Podenco Galego vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison

Podenco Galego is originated from Spain but American Foxhound is originated from United States. Podenco Galego may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than American Foxhound. Podenco Galego may weigh 17 kg / 37 pounds lesser than American Foxhound. Both Podenco Galego and American Foxhound has almost same life span. Podenco Galego may have less litter size than American Foxhound. Both Podenco Galego and American Foxhound requires Low maintenance.

History

The Galego is an ancient sighthound breed of hunting dog from Spain.

Unfortunately, like most of the Podencos, they have been badly treated in Spain. People who own them have also used them for rabbit hunting.

It is thought that these dogs may have been bred with other sighthounds over the centuries. The dog may well be the most recognized breed in Spain, but its isn’t recognized by the World Canine Organization. There are however breeders wanting to make it an official breed.

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

The Podenco Galego is a medium sized dog standing at between 42 to 52cm in height and weighing roughly from 10 to 15kg.

The Podenco Galego is similar in appearance to greyhounds, being tall ad slender with short smooth coats There are varieties with longer coats. The dog is lean and agile with bright, intelligent eyes.

The coat is thick and dense and available in a variety of colours which include brindle and white. The ears are erect and the tail long.

Temerament:

Loving and loyal to his human family, it is terrible that this dog that has been so abused by humans should still wag his tail and offer a paw of friendship.

He is a gentle dog that loves to play with children. He is intelligent too and if you train him and have him socialized he can be a pleasure to have around.

He is the kind of dog that can adapt to life in the city or the countryside so long as he is exercised regualarly. He has well developed senses and is an alert dog, active and independent, responding well to training.

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

Your Podenco Galego is an energetic dog who will rely on you to provide him with lots of daily action.

He is a strong willed dog and will do well with a confident firm, patient and consistent owner. He becomes attached to his human owner and he plays well with gentle, kind, respectful children in the home.

He is a quiet dog too that doesn’t irritate with constant barking. He has had a raw deal from the people in Spain but he is still willing to show you what he can offer you – ongoing friendship and love, and that’s a lot more than lots of humans can offer you.

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

These dogs are ancient dog breeds not particularly well known outside the Iberian Penninsula. They are strong, robust dogs,resistant to disease. However, they can succumb to some of the more common dog diseases even though they are so resistant to diseases.

With proper care, a Podenco hardly ever gets sick and can live to be 12 – 14 years of age.They also have a low probability of developing degenerative diseases such as hip dysplasia. This is a joint disease common in other breeds.

Skin Allergies

Dogs can get allergies which can be very upsetting for both you and your dog.Your dog scratches and licks and can’t find relief. The most common area affected are the ears, underarms, the eye area, groin and paws. You will need to get your pet to the vet as he can become frantic with the itching and pain.

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

Your Galego is a lean, muscular dog, and he wants lots of exercise. He won’t be content with just a walk every day, but will want ball and frisbee games or joining in with you as you as you go running or jogging.

Diet:

To ensure your dog stays as robust and healthy as he is, make sue he gets quality food. If you do opt to feed him a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure it isn’t one of the low quality foods that are filled with bad ingredients and which can actually make your dog sick.

Apart from a high quality dry kibble, provide him with some tasty homemade food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice and pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and added into the kibble once in a while will be a wonderful treat for your pet.He will be totally satisfied with this. Try and give him some raw meat occasionally as this helps to stave off irritating skin problems.. Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water close by.

Make sure his vaccinations are up to date.

Provide him with a dry, warm comfortable place to sleep.

Brush him twice a week. Check inside his ears for infections.Trim his nails and look inside his mouth for bad teeth which can play havoc with his health.

Take him to the vet whenever he is sick.

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:
Hound dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Spain
United States
Height Male:
42 - 52 cm
16 - 21 inches
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
Height Female:
42 - 52 cm
16 - 21 inches
49 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
10 - 15 kg
22 - 34 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
10 - 15 kg
22 - 34 pounds
21 - 30 kg
46 - 67 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
1 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Spanish Geyhounds
Foxhound
Colors Available:
brindle, Variety of colours - bi-color with white
red, tricolor, black and tan, blue
Coat:
Short and smooth, longer-haired variety
short, hard
Shedding:
Minimal
Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, 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. 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. Redbone Coonhound vs Podenco Galego - Breed Comparison
  27. Santal Hound vs Podenco Galego - Breed Comparison
  28. Podenco Galego vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  29. Podenco Galego vs Pharaoh Hound - Breed Comparison
  30. Podenco Galego vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  31. Podenco Galego vs Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  32. Podenco Galego vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  33. Podenco Galego vs Hungarian Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  34. Podenco Galego vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  35. Podenco Galego vs Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  36. Podenco Galego vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  37. Podenco Galego vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  38. Podenco Galego vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  39. Podenco Galego vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Podenco Galego vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  41. Podenco Galego vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  42. Podenco Galego vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  43. Podenco Galego vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  44. Podenco Galego vs Podenco Canario - Breed Comparison
  45. Podenco Galego vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  46. Podenco Galego vs Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  47. Podenco Galego vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  48. Podenco Galego vs Podenco Andaluz - Breed Comparison
  49. Podenco Galego vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  50. Podenco Galego vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds