The English Foxhound is a large-sized dog that stands at a height of 24 inches. Dog breeders would describe these dogs in two words: beautiful and balanced. Their bodies are covered with short, dense, and glossy coats in black, tan, and white colors. They also feature ears that are flopped downward, brown eyes, and straight, long tail.
English Foxhounds are definitely not the dog to get if you’re only looking for a companion dog. These dogs are best for active people who love to go out for a run, jog, bike, or even going out for horseback riding. But, these dogs need to be exercised daily, so you need to be very active and not just active on weekends.
With all these, it’s probably now clear that these dogs need their space and would not be suitable to apartment living. If you happen to meet these dog’s needs, they can be your best friends.
English Foxhound Statistics
| Dog Breed Group | Hound |
| Breed Size | Large |
| Height | 24 inches |
| Weight | 60-75 pounds |
| Lifespan | 10-13 years |
English Foxhound Ratings
| Energy level | |
| Exercise needs | |
| Requires attention | |
| Playfulness | |
| Trainability | |
| Shedding | |
| Grooming | |
| Friendly with family | |
| Friendly with kids | |
| Friendly with strangers | |
| Friendly with other dogs | |
| Prey Drive |
English Foxhound History
English Foxhounds came from England and are believed that Bloodhounds, Greyhounds, and Staghounds were used to develop them. As their name implies, these dogs were developed to hunt red foxes.
It is believed that English Foxhounds were developed as far back as the 13th century. But it wasn’t until the 17th century when British colonists brought the dogs to America which then contributed to the development of American Foxhounds.
It took longer before the American kennel Club recognized the breed in 1909. The dogs currently rank 188th in popularity in the US, and are still used for traditional fox hunting in England where hunters are usually riding in horses.
English Foxhound Temperament
English Foxhounds are affectionate and gentle dogs to their family. They love children, but you need to keep close supervision to toddlers and make sure they don’t get rough with your dog.
These dogs are used to working in packs, which makes them more fond with other dogs than people. They’ll be great playmates if you have other dogs, which is great in keeping your English Foxhound entertained.
These are very active, athletic, and energetic dogs. They need space to run around and won’t be suited in an apartment living. They can also be loud which may not please your neighbors.
When letting him run loose outside, you should ensure that you have a securely fenced yard. You also need to keep him on a leash when taking him out for a run or jog. These are hunters, and will chase off prey when he picks up the scent.
These are sociable dogs which helps him get along well with other people and strange dogs. But they still require early socialization so they have a more stable temperament. This will also help him become more well-rounded.
Training these dogs can be challenging as they can be independent and love to get things his way. Being consistent and firm is important to control this dog. Be patient with him and shower him with lots of positive reinforcements to encourage him.
English Foxhound Care Requirements
- Nutrition: English Foxhounds don’t have special dietary requirements. All you need is to provide daily meals that are high-quality and well-balanced. When buying ingredients for your dog’s meal, you need to ensure that you choose food sources that contain proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. These are all essential to your dog’s growth, and it’s crucial that you only choose high-quality ingredients. Add fruits and vegetables, too, for additional fiber and vitamins. For commercially manufactured products like dog food and dog treats, checking the label is a must. It’s essential that these products don’t contain fillers, additives, and by-products, as these have very low nutritional value. Watch the number of calories you feed your dog in a day. You don’t want your English Foxhound to get overweight. If you don’t know how to solve the number of calories needed, you can always ask for help from the vet.
- Grooming: English Foxhounds have short coats that require very minimal maintenance through weekly brushing and occasional baths. As these dogs shed regularly, you might need to brush a few more times in a week to keep the shedding to a minimum. Brushing will also help remove any dirt stuck on their coat. For baths, make sure that you only use gentle dog shampoo. Frequency usually depends on how dirty or smelly your dog gets, but once a month will be good in keeping him clean. Just make sure to clean out the ears regularly. Nails should be trimmed at least twice a week, once a week if you observe that the nails are too long. Overly grown nails can be painful to your dog and will cause discomfort when walking or running.
- Exercise: English Foxhounds are energetic dogs that need a lot of exercise and outdoor activities daily. These dogs require space and may not be the best fit in apartment living. If you’re an active owner, you can take these dogs for hiking and running. They are bred to run for miles, so they have quite the stamina. Long, brisk walks every day should also suffice if you think you can’t run for long. Remember to keep these dogs on a leash all the time. Let them loose only if there’s a securely fenced yard. These are hunters and will surely run off the moment he scents something interesting. If you’d like to participate in canine sports, that’s also possible with these dogs. Training them in tracking, obedience, agility, coursing, and rally are great exercises for them.
- Health: English Foxhounds are generally healthy dogs. But, they are still prone to some health conditions. Although there’s a high chance they won’t get most or all of these, it’s still important that you, as a dog owner, know these conditions. For English Foxhounds, you need to watch out for hip dysplasia, renal disease, and epilepsy. You can also have your dog’s screened for eye diseases just in case. They might also get hereditary diseases, though rare, so meeting at least one of your dog’s parents would be a good idea. Providing the right nutrition and care for your dog can go a long way. Closely monitoring your dog’s behavior is essential too. If you notice any changes, take him immediately to the vet for a check-up.
- Lifespan: The life expectancy of English Foxhounds is 13-15 years.
Famous English Foxhounds
- Auditor: The first English Foxhound registered
Fun Facts about English Foxhounds
- English Foxhounds were developed around the 1200s in medieval England.
- They were developed for fox hunting.
- They are larger than their American Foxhound cousins.
- They were bred to live and work in a pack, which makes them easily get along well with other dogs.
- These dogs come in four colors: tan, red, black and white, and tricolor.
- English Foxhound is the rarest breed in the United States.
- They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1909.
Check Out Other Hound Dog Breeds:
Afghan Hound, American English Coonhounds, American Foxhound, Basenjis, Basset Hound, Beagle, Black and Tan Coonhound, Bloodhound, Bluetick Coonhound, Borzois, Cirnechi dell’Etna, Dachshund, Grand Basset Griffon Vendeens, Greyhound, Harrier, Ibizan Hound, Icelandic Sheepdogs, Irish Wolfhound, Norwegian Elkhound, Otterhound, Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen, Pharaoh Hounds, Plotts, Portuguese Podengo, Redbone Coonhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds, Sloughis, Treeing Walker Coonhound, Whippet