American Foxhound

As the name suggests, the American Foxhound belongs to a group of scent hounds that are used to hunt foxes. The American Foxhound has been genetically developed such that it is lighter and taller than its more popular English cousin, the English Foxhound. It is a product of the genetic combination of the English Foxhound and the French hound and has been around since the early 18th century. Genetic modifications also make it quicker on the field and give it a more distinct olfactory sense.

The American Foxhound makes a great pet at home- it is friendly and loving. On the field however, it is a fierce hunter. In the course of evolution, some breeds of dogs evolved as good hunters. They always worked as pack-hunters and this demanded a great amount of co-operation. So it is understandable why this foxhound is friendly with kids and other dogs at home. Because of its basic instinct, it requires a great deal of daily exercise. So if it is intended to use as a pet at home, care is best taken to give it this exercise so as to keep it fit and happy. Irregular or insufficient exercise can render their mood cranky and frustrated. Destructive tendencies are observed when this occurs. The foxhound has an amazing level of stamina- it can indulge in heavy physical activity throughout the day and still be active at the end of the day. A fetching game played on vast open spaces works best to exercise these dogs. When overfed, these dogs tend to put on weight very easily. Therefore, feeding habits must be closely monitored too. The best features of this foxhound are its tracking and hunting abilities. It can also be used as a watchdog and has had some success as a companion. Foxhounds can be stubborn at times and training might require an expert for the job. They are less obedient than the retrievers by nature.

The American Foxhound is visually pleasing and has a well defined musculature consisting of strong, straight-boned front legs. Its head is slightly elongated. Its broad ears dangle downward, almost along the full length of its face. Eye color is usually brown or hazel and the dog seems curious or friendly in most pictures. The coat itself is multicolored and is usually a combination of white, black and brown but there is no distinct pattern or rule to the coat color.

The average litter size of this Foxhound is about 5-7 puppies and each dog goes on to live for about 10 to 12 years on an average. The American Foxhound is a relatively healthy breed and does not carry any genetic disorders. A platelet disease known as thrombocytopathy is one of the few conditions that pose a minor health risk.

Different sub-breeds of Foxhounds are present these days. These include the Walker, Goodman, Trigg, July and Penn-Marydel. Walkers make good show-hounds and the Penn-Marydel is used most often in hunts. All these strains are usually recognized as foxhounds.