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American foxhound

The American Foxhound descends from English hounds brought to Virginia and Maryland in the seventeenth century, later crossed with French and Irish stock.

George Washington kept and bred them, and his kennel records are part of the breed's documented history. It is the state dog of Virginia.

It stands 53 to 64 centimetres, weighs 29 to 32 kilograms and lives eleven to thirteen years, with a short hard coat. It is a pack hound bred to run for hours behind a scent, and it retains that entirely: enormous stamina, a musical and extremely loud voice, and a nose that overrides everything else. As a household pet it is one of the harder breeds to satisfy.

Origin
Virginia and Maryland, United States, from the 1600s
Size
53–64 cm; 29–32 kg
Lifespan
11–13 years
Coat
Short and hard; easy to groom
Voice
Very loud and carrying — bred to be heard at distance
Exercise
Very high; a pack hound built to run for hours

Related: American bulldog · American bully · American English coonhound · American eskimo dog · American hairless terrier

2 american foxhound photos, newest first

  • Damson, a american foxhound

    Damson

    Damson was promoted to train dispatcher handling one tiny late train; unfortunately, a tower of lemons begins to collapse.

    FrostyOtter · 1 week ago

  • Damson, a american foxhound

    Damson

    Took eleven attempts. Damson moved for ten of them.

    SunnyHeron · 2 weeks ago

Living with a american foxhound

The voice is the thing most people underestimate. A Foxhound's bay carries for miles by design, and in a suburb it is a serious problem — this is a breed for rural homes or for people who hunt.

Exercise needs are genuinely high: an hour or more of hard running daily, and a walk on lead does not touch it.

Once a Foxhound has a scent, recall is gone. Secure fencing, and long lines rather than open-field freedom.

They are pack animals and do badly alone; two hounds are easier than one.

Grooming is trivial. Check the ears often — drop ears and outdoor work make infections common — and learn the signs of bloat.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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