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Pronunciation

Description

The English Foxhound is an athletic hunting dog. The skull is wide and the muzzle is long. The nose is about 4 inches long (10 cm.) with wide open nostrils. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The hanging ears are set low, laying flat to the head. Some choose to "round" the ears, which means about 1 1/2 inches are cut off of the end of the ear. The large eyes are brown. The legs are straight and the cat-like feet are round. The long tail is set high. The coat is short, hard, dense and glossy. Coat colors come in black, tan, and white, for example tri-color (black, white & tan), or bi-color with a white background or any combination of these three.

Temperament

The English Foxhound is a courageous, passionate hunter. High energy, they need a lot of daily exercise. They respond well to leadership and are willing and able to be obedient, but are not as responsive as some breeds and training takes patience and a general understanding of the canine animal. They are friendly with people and excellent with children, but prefer to be in the company of other dogs and do well with other animals. The English Foxhound likes to bay. They are untiring, able to run for hours at a consistent speed, for five or six hours without stopping. Can become destructive without enough exercise. The foxhound does slow down somewhat at about seven or eight years old. The English Foxhound is a bit stockier and slower than the American Foxhound, but has similar traits. There are two types, field lines and show lines (bench). Field types are bred for hunting and field trial work. The bench type are bred for conformation shows. Both types are energetic and need daily exercise, but field lines have a higher energy level and need even more exercise. The dominancy level in this breed varies even within the same litter. If you are not the type of person who can display a natural air of calm, but firm authority, then be sure to choose a pup who is more submissive. The temperament of both show and field lines vary widely, depending upon how the owners treat the dog and how much and what type of exercise they provide. Both types are still primarily a pack hunting dog, though they can make good companions if given sufficient exercise. It is recommended that if you are looking to own an English Foxhound solely as a pet, that you are an avid jogger, biker or hiker and are looking for a canine partner. Even show lines will need a great deal of exercise, just a little less, as field types are extremely active. This breed not only needs extensive daily exercise, but also an owner who has a determined, consistent loving approach, setting rules and structure and consistently sticking to it.

Height, Weight

Health Problems

Living Conditions

Exercise

Life Expectancy

Grooming

Origin

The English Foxhound dates back before the 1800s, in Great Britain. The Brit's had kept records of over 250 different foxhound hunting packs, where studbooks were kept by the British Masters of Foxhounds Association since at least 1800. Records of English foxhounds showed up in the USA dating back to the mid 1900s. Developed by crossing a variety of hounds with the Bulldog, Greyhound and the Fox Terrier. Used in packs to chase fox with hunters on horseback, the Foxhound has impressive stamina and a good nose. He can run steadily for hours at a time. Some of the English Foxhound's talents are hunting, tracking, watchdog and agility. The English Foxhound was recognized by the AKC in 1909. The English Foxhound is a a little slower and a bit stockier than the American Foxhound.

Group

Recognition

CKC = Continental Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American Kennel Club
CKC = Canadian Kennel Club
NKC = National Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.

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