| Description: This breed is very active and a bold and passionate hunter. English Foxhounds are responsive and obedient to their family/owner/handler, but training takes patience. They are friendly with people and excellent with children, but prefer to be in the company of other dogs and do quite well with other animals. The English Foxhound likes to bay. They are untiring, able to run for hours at a consistent speed, trotting along through brambles, marshes, and sunny countryside for five or six hours without stopping. Since the Foxhound uses up a great deal of energy in its youth, covering thousands of miles without respite, it is ready to be retired at the age of about seven or eight. The English Foxhound is a bit stockier and slower than the American Foxhound, but has a similar personality. This breed is still primarily a pack-type hunting dog, though show lines 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 choose show lines, as field types are extremely active.
Used in packs to chase fox with hunters on horseback, the Foxhound has impressive stamina and a good nose. Some of the English Foxhound's talents are hunting, tracking, as a watchdog and agility.
Other Names: Foxhound
Height: 23 - 27 inches
Weight: 55 - 75 lbs.
Colors: Tricolor, black, white and tan or bicolor with a white background.
Coat: Short and hard.
Temperament: Active, friendly, strong, lively
With Children: Yes, but young dogs may be too exuberant for smaller children.
With Pets: Yes
Special Skills: Fox hunting
Watch-dog: High
Guard-dog: Low
Care and Exercise: Minimal coat care is needed. Occasional rub down with a rough cloth is sufficient. Exercise should be frequent and hard as he should not be allowed to get fat.
Training: Firm, no nonsense leadership is required. Obedience training should begin early. The "come" command is the hardest to teach because of scent distraction.
Learning Rate: Low, Obedience - Medium, Problem Solving - Medium
Activity: High
Living Environment: Not suited for urban living, he does best as a hunting dog or part of large pack kennel. An owner of a English Foxhound should really know about the breed as he is not typically used a pet breed.
Health Issues: No serious genetic faults.
Life Span: 10 + Years
Litter Size: 5 - 7
Country of Origin: Great Britain
History: He dates back to the sixteenth century where he was bred to hunt as part of a pack. He was developed by mixing various hounds and then bred with the greyhound, the bulldog and the fox terrier.
|
