If you’re currently considering adding an American Foxhound to your family (and who wouldn’t be) we’d encourage you to take a moment and read the follow article that will attempt to shed some light on this particular dog breed and help you determine if an American Foxhound is going to be a good “fit” for you and your family.
History and Origins of the American Foxhound Breed.
If you haven’t spent any considerable time in the northeastern or southern portions of the United States, it’s understandable why you may not be super familiar with the American Foxhound Breed simply because it is in these areas where they are much more popular as opposed to the rest of the country.
This is because…
It was in these areas of the country back in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s where the American Foxhound first found its “footing” and became somewhat of a “staple” go to dog breed. You see, back then, hunting foxes on horseback throughout the rural areas of America was a very popular sport for the “affluent” folks in that day and was particularly popular within communities located in the Northeastern and Southern states of American.
Now regardless…
Of one’s opinion on whether hunting a fox while sitting atop a horse should actually qualify as a “sporting” event, one thing that is undeniable is that… the American Foxhound is ideally suited for this task! Especially given the fact that this breed was adapted from its English counterpart, the English Foxhound which stands about 4 inches taller and weighs about 10 pounds heavier than the “American” version.
American Foxhound Fast Facts
Average Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Area of Origin: United States
Color: Variable
Coat: Smooth and short
Physical Characteristics of an American Foxhound.
Most American Foxhounds will demonstrate the traditional black and tan coat patter with a white underbelly consisting of a short or medium length fur that generally make grooming a somewhat carefree or easy task for its owners.
That said however…
Because American Foxhounds love getting into the think of things, you’ll find that that they’re not afraid to get a bit dirty. This is why even though their coats may be easily “groomable”, one should be prepared to “hose” down their furry little buddy from time to time because chances are, they’re likely to test just own “low maintenance” they can be from time to time.
How big do American Foxhounds get?
Typically, what you will find is that male American Foxhounds will stand approximately 22 to 25 inches tall with females ranging just a few inches shorter. And while weights may vary, most would agree that a healthy American Foxhound will weigh in somewhere between 40 to 65 pounds placing it right in the middle of what one would consider a medium sized hound dog.
Another difference…
Besides just being smaller than their English counterparts, that you will see is that American Foxhounds will tend to have larger more broader ears as well as more “sloped” forehead leading into their characteristic short muzzle. English Foxhounds on the other hand will tend to have smaller ears and demonstrate a strong pronounced brow.
American Foxhound Temperament and Personality.
While it is true that the American Foxhound was bred to be a hunter, it’s pretty safe to say that these “guys” also have a lot more going for them! After all, it’s not as though “fox hunting” is something that regularly occurs any more.
Which is why…
American Foxhounds are now best known for their friendly personality and loyalty. And while it is true that most American Foxhounds will be a bit reserved around new people or strangers, that does not mean that they won’t want to be an integral part of your household.
So…
If you’re looking for a dog that is going to be happy spending all day outside in the yard and isn’t going to be clamoring to come inside, purchasing (or better yet adopting from an American Foxhound rescue center or rescue groups) an American Foxhound probably isn’t going to be the best choice for you!
Also…
As with many hounds, we should point out that American Foxhounds are prone to “bay”. Not sure what “baying” means? We’ll if this is the case, we would STRONGLY recommend visiting YouTube and look it up because “baying” refers to the sound that a hound dog and in this case an American Foxhound makes when her or she is lonely.
You see…
American Foxhounds were breed to hunt in a pack. So inherently, they are going to be very social animals that will generally be much happier if they are surrounded by other dogs or other pets and are not left on their own for an extended period of time.
Now…
As you can imagine, if you live in an apartment or have neighbors that live very close to you, you may find that purchasing an American Foxhound isn’t going to be the best bet for you.
American Foxhound Obedience Training.
As we’ve mentioned before, the American Foxhound is great family pet breed that is generally going to be very sweet and affectionate, but at its core, the American Foxhound is a hunter with an incredible sense of smell.
Which means that…
You’re new little hunter is also going to be very energetic and always sniffing around for some “scent” to go after. And when it catches a “whiff” of something that he or she finds interesting… Watch out because chances are he or she will be off to the races!
Now does this mean that it’s impossible to train an American Foxhound how to do anything other than hunt?
No, not at all, it just means that you’re going to need to be aware of the fact that your new companion is the product of a breeding program designed to create a super hunting machine!
It also means…
That there will be days when you really find your American Foxhound to be quite stubborn. Its days like these that you’ll want to take advantage of this fact and give your Foxhound plenty of opportunities to exercise, run around a lot and receive amply positive reinforcements as well as a few tasty treats along the way so that you don’t find yourself at odds with his or her genetics!
American Foxhound Health Concerns.
Anytime you’re considering purchasing a purebred animal, you always face the risk that your animal may be more prone to a particular health concern than a non-pure bred animal.
The good news…
That when it comes to the American Foxhound, the breed seems to be pretty health overall. That said however, there is one condition that can sometimes be an issue which is the presence of abnormal blood platelets. This condition can be easily identified with a blood test and should be something that you ask your dog breeder about before ultimately settling on an individual American Foxhound.
Other conditions that…
Might also affect your American Foxhound may include common infections within the ears and possibly some hip issues (hip dysplasia) although these are quite rare.
Despite these few risks, we here at IndulgeYourPet will often still recommend that folks at least consider purchasing a pet insurance policy for their new family member simply because with a dog this active, and this prone to run off into the wilderness, the likelihood that they might suffer from an injury or an animal attack (snake, or other dog) always remains a real possibility.
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “Best” pet insurance policies in the industry, feel free to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
