English Foxhound

Country of origin:	Great Britain
Registries:	AKC, UKC, CKC
Occupation:	Hunter
Size:	23 to 27 in tall; 50 to 80 lbs
Longevity:	10 to 12 years
Exercise:	Daily aerobic exercise
Training:	Challenge
Grooming:	Easy
Colors:	Black, tan, white, in any combination

HISTORY

Historians place the initial development of the English Foxhound as far back as the 13th century. It is believed that they were created as a result of judicious crosses between Bloodhounds, Greyhounds, Staghounds and the Saint Hubert Hound. The aim of those crosses was creating a dog that could track the faint scent of a fox while on the run and maintain the chase for an indeterminable amount of time.

The English Foxhound is still used in traditional English fox hunts, where hunters on horseback accompany the dog as the red fox is being chased. Even today the English Foxhound’s stamina is legendary and irreplaceable.

PERSONALITY

English Foxhounds are considered to be the perfect combination of beauty, balance, and utility. They are active, endurable, athletic, adaptable, easy-going, biddable, docile and obedient.
English Foxhounds are suitable for families with older children because they are energetic and have bouncy nature. They are very gentle and tolerant. Despite their natural distrust of strangers, they are easy-going and do not make good watch nor guard dogs. English Foxhounds can bay, howl and bark extremely loudly.

Since English Foxhounds are sociable pack dogs, they love the company of other dogs. They are friendly and very comfortable around horses. Although they generally get along well with other animals, it is not advised to leave them alone with small animals, because of the Foxhound’s strong prey drive.

TRAITS

English Hounds are elegant, athletic and muscular dogs with powerful built and strong bones. The hallmark of the breed, are the flopped downward ears and the large, brown eyes. The front legs are straight and the hindquarters are strong and providing great endurance.

The English Foxhound’s haircoat lays flat and is short, dense and glossy with hard hair
texture. Hound colors are black, tan and white, or any combination of these three.
Females stand tall 23-25” (58-63.5 cm), while males stand tall 25-27” (63.5-69 cm). Both females and males weight around 55-75 lb (25-34 kg).

HANDLING

Although on occasions English Foxhounds can show their typical independent – sometimes even stubborn – hound personality, generally they are excellent team workers, which makes them relatively easy to train. The training should start at an early age and the training sessions need to be short and interesting, because this breed is easily distracted and often gets bored. English Foxhounds are very quick learners.

The key ingredient needed when training members of this breed is patience. English Foxhounds need to be trained by people who provide firm and consistent training. As soon as the owner establishes his pack leader status, the training can start.

Socialization plays an important role in the process of raising a well behaved English Foxhounds. Since they are friendly and companionable, the socialization process is a piece of cake.

HEALTH

English Foxhounds are a pretty healthy breed. There are few inherited diseases, which can be flagged as a concern among the breed, including hip and elbow dysplasia and patella luxation. Major problem in this breed is the high incidence of congenital deafness. English Foxhounds are predisposed to deafness and a specific renal disease, named renal amyloidosis which results in kidney dysfunction, failure and ultimately death. Other health issues include brachygnathism, hound ataxia, prognathism, thrombopathia, hypothyroidism and ocular disorders. English foxhounds are extremely sensitive to some severe infectious disease such as the leishmaniasis.

The average lifespan of the English Foxhound is estimated to be 11-12 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZbukx9nQPQ