English Foxhound

History & Health

History

The first stud books of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of England date before 1800. English Foxhounds probably were developed starting in the late 1500s or maybe even earlier, likely descending in part from the St. Hubert Hound that was brought to Britain by the Normans after the invasion of 1066. Before the 16th or 17th century, foxes in Great Britain were treated like other vermin, to be extinguished by whatever means was on hand. Somewhere around the 17th century, English hunters began breeding hounds to specialize in tracking, hunting and killing the native English red fox, with riders following on horseback in the traditional British fashion. This coincided with the disappearance of English forests and the corresponding dwindling deer population and led to the English Foxhound we know today. They were developed by crossing the old Southern Hound (a big, slow, deer hunter with an excellent nose) with some form of northern sighthound (then called a "gazehound"), possibly the Greyhound, for its endurance and speed. Fox-hunting eventually replaced stag-hunting as the most popular sport of the English gentry in the 18th century. By the 1800s, many large standardized packs of English Foxhounds existed in Britain. Breeders continued to refine its speed and scent-tracking abilities for the next several hundreds of years. English Foxhounds came to America in the late 1700s, where they became the forefathers of the American Foxhound and contributed to the development of other foxhounds, scenthounds and coonhounds.
Throughout the breed's existence, the Foxhound also has been used occasionally to track other types of game, but the primary focus always has been on the fox. The English Foxhound's stamina is legendary. It was bred for endurance and pack compatibility, being friendly towards other dogs and docile with people. However, any small furry animal that runs from a foxhound is at tremendous risk of not running far. The English Foxhound exists in large numbers today with a world-wide following, but it is rarely seen in the American conformation show ring. It is used for hunting and in field trials and dragging competitions and exhibitions, where its "battle scars" do not deter from its accomplishments.

Health

The average life expectancy of the English Foxhound is between 9 and 11 years. Breed health concerns may include epilepsy, hip dysplasia and kidney ailments. These are remarkably healthy dogs.

Temperament & Personality

Personality

Foxhounds are an excellent dog for an active family. They love being outdoors and have the endurance to stay active all day long. Foxhounds get along great with children and other animals, and in fact do best when they are part of a large pack (human or canine). They are versatile enough to spend all day hunting with dad, only to come home and romp around with children. Foxhounds are adaptable and easy going and are an excellent choice for rural families.

Activity Requirements

Foxhounds need a lot of exercise, and their overall temperament is shaped by how much daily exercise they receive. A Foxhound who does not get enough daily activity can become reserved, anxious, or begin to exhibit dominance, whereas a Foxhound who gets plenty of exercise will be even tempered, social, and obedient. Expect to vigorously exercise this breed at least one hour per day. Those who are not hunters or who do not already jog, hike or bike daily should look to another breed, as should apartment or condo dwellers.
Foxhounds are hard working hunting dogs and can be utilized as trackers in the field. They can move for hours on end without getting tired, and once they catch a scent they become 100% focused on tracking it. This trait can backfire in home life, so when Foxhounds aren't in the hunting field they should be kept on a leash or in a fenced-in area to keep them safe.
Foxhounds do best in multiple-dog homes. While they enjoy the company of people, they only truly thrive around other dogs, so adopting two at a time would be the most ideal situation for a Foxhound.

Trainability

Foxhounds are moderately easy to train, as are most hound breeds. They don't have the longest attention spans, so training should be conducted in short spurts and should not be overly repetitive. Patience is the key ingredient needed when training any type of hound, and calm-assertiveness is also important. Treating a Foxhound harshly will only lead to avoidance behaviors and flat out stubbornness.
Once leadership is established and basic obedience is mastered, Foxhounds can be graduated to advance obedience, tracking, or agility activities.

Behavioral Traits

Foxhounds will bay and howl, especially at night and when left alone. This is just part of their hound dog nature and can be difficult, if not impossible to train out of them, and suburban neighbors might not be understanding of this behavior.
If a Foxhound is not properly exercised, separation anxiety is almost guaranteed to develop. It is imperative that this breed be properly exercised and left with interesting activities when alone to stave off boredom and anxiousness. Companion dogs can help, but if the Foxhound has pent-up energy to burn off, the companion won't do a thing to save your furniture.