American Foxhound
Country/Date of Origin: USA/18th Century
The ancestry of American Foxhounds can be traced back to the hounds owned by Robert Brooke in the 1650s. He brought English Foxhounds with him and bred them to be more suitable for hunting in the rolling hills of Maryland and Virginia. Later fanciers blended in strains of other English, French and Irish hounds. The result was a lighter-boned hound with a keener sense of smell than its English counterpart. The American Foxhound is considered a dog of the Southeastern states where fox hunting was considered a gentleman's sport.
Other Names Body Type Personality Coat Health Concerns
Back to TopVirginia Hound
AKC Group: Hound
Breed Club: American Foxhound Club, Inc.
Rescue Club: Foxhound Relocation and Retirement
Back to TopBody Type:
- A substantial hound of the chase with lines that reveal its great athletic ability
- Height: 21-25 inches (at shoulder)
- Weight: 65-75 pounds
- Hanging ears are not altered
- Tail is carried erect with a slight curve and is not altered
Personality:
- A sweet nature but not particularly people oriented; This is especially true of dogs raised in a pack; they tend to bond with others of their own kind instead
- Not homebodies; American Foxhounds will roam if given the chance
- Extremely active
- Do not adapt well to confined quarters
Coat:
- Short and harsh to the touch
- Any of the hound colors are acceptable
- The most commonly seen are black, tan and white tricolors or piebald marking of tan or lemon on a white background
Health Concerns:
- Hip dysplasia
- A blood disease found only in this breed is sometimes fatal
- Some genetic deafness
Tasty Tidbits:
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