Quick Facts about the American Foxhound
- Origin: United States
- Weight: 29–34 kg
- Life expectancy: 11–13 years
- Coat Colour: Any colour; commonly tricolour or bicolour
- Breed Group: Hound
The American Foxhound is a sleek, athletic scent hound bred for speed, endurance, and pack hunting. With a melodic bay and a gentle heart, it’s a rare but historic breed deeply woven into early American history.
American Foxhound History
The American Foxhound is one of the oldest native American dog breeds, developed in the 17th and 18th centuries from English, French, and Irish hounds. Bred by early colonists—most notably George Washington—it was designed for fox hunting across the expansive and rugged American countryside.
These dogs became prized for their stamina, musical voices, and cooperative pack instincts. Though once common in the southern United States, they remain relatively rare outside of hunting and working circles today.
American Foxhound Temperament
Foxhounds are friendly, laid-back, and naturally sociable with both dogs and people. They are not aggressive, but their independence and high prey drive mean they often follow their nose rather than their owner’s voice.
At home, they’re affectionate and easygoing. Outdoors, they transform into focused, relentless trackers with boundless energy. They do best with secure outdoor space or active routines.
Note: American Foxhounds are best suited for owners who can offer space, structure, and patient recall training—especially in scent-rich environments.
Health and wellness
This is a generally healthy and hardy breed with a strong work ethic. However, their drive to explore and hunt means they require supervision in unsecured areas. Their short coat is low-maintenance, and regular ear cleaning is important due to their floppy ear shape.
They benefit from endurance exercise, structured games, and consistent handling to balance their natural drive.
Significant problems:
Hip dysplasia
Ear infections (common in floppy-eared breeds)
Thrombocytopathy (rare blood clotting disorder)
Obesity if under-exercised
Bloat (in deep-chested individuals)
Life expectancy: 11–13 years
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