American Foxhound

The American Foxhound is a prominent representative of the family of hunting dogs, large, colorful, capable. His stamina can be envied, he has outstanding qualities and loves hunting so much that he is ready to follow the trail at any time, even without a team. Of course, this is a rather specific hunting-oriented dog, therefore, no matter how hard you try, it will not be able to become a companion, indulgent on pillows. Therefore, a pet needs a master who provides for his needs, and only then can the Foxhound be able to display his natural talents.

Breed origin

Foxhound is the oldest English breed whose roots go back centuries. The researchers found that his ancestors are associated with Celtic tribes that invaded Western European territory and colonized Britain and Ireland.

The Celts are considered quite warlike people, but they also successfully engaged in farming and hunting, in the latter case they were helped by large and enduring dogs. For such a long period, due to new types of hunting, the breed has undergone significant changes. The dogs were divided into hunters for deer, hares and foxes, the last and Foxhounds.

The history of the American breed began in the middle of the 17th century, then Robert Brooke brought several individuals of the English Foxhounds to the territory of North America. Breeding purebred dogs became a family affair, and for 300 years the Brooks took care of the purity of the breed. Later, the dogs from Great Britain were tied with hounds from Ireland; as a result of selection, new representatives of the hunting species, lighter and faster, turned out.

Description of breed American Foxhound

Unlike the heavier English ancestor, the American Foxhound is tall, slim, and has long limbs. These dogs have flat, raised muscles, a strong build, a bit stretched, and a light bones. Already looking at a dog, you can determine its sexual type: vyzhlets larger and more enduring than vyzhlovka. The constitution of animals is strong, dry, the body is covered with a tight-fitting, elastic skin.

The growth of most males varies from 55.88 to 63.5 cm, bitches a bit smaller, their growth starts from 53.34 cm and does not exceed 60.96 cm. There is a peculiarity of show-class individuals, they are much higher than working colleagues, so the standard admits height at withers to 71.12 cm in males and up to 66.04 in females. Naturally, in the ring like stately dogs look very impressive.

The standard does not impose any requirements on the weight of representatives, however the mass of most American Foxhounds is between 29 and 34 kg. But exhibition copies can exceed similar indicators, and representatives of a number of working lines have a more harmonious constitution and do not weigh more than 20.5 kg.

The standard contains the following description of purebred specimens:

The head is elongated, slightly widening in the area between the ears, with a flat skull and occipital dome, small in size. The "Americans" have some extra skin on the face and cheekbones, which can form in wrinkles, but they are not as numerous as the bloodhalls.
The muzzle of the Foxhound is elongated, in the shape of a rectangle, with a smooth, straight nose bridge and a smooth stop. There are slightly drooping wings overlapping the lower jaw. Lips are pigmented with black color.
The jaws are strong, with a developed full dentition, the bite is correct, scissor-like. Nose black, well developed, slightly elongated, has many aromatic receptors, providing the perfect sense of smell, necessary for the "hunters".
The eyes are medium-sized, oval-shaped, with a brown or hazel iris. The look in these dogs is usually sad, giving the animal a pleading expression.
The ears of the American Foxhounds are somewhat longer than those of the English brethren; they quietly hang down the sides of the muzzle.
Dogs have a long, muscular neck, elongated, well muscled body, which is especially noticeable in the shoulder area. Withers well developed, significantly favored. The chest is not lowered much, rather narrow, the ribs do not protrude. The back is straight, elongated, with good muscles, goes into a strong lower back and a little sloping croup. Abdominal line heavily matched in the groin area.
The tail is located at an average height, long, carried vertically, in the form of a curved saber.
Limbs are not as thick as the English type. On the front we can say that they are straight, are parallel to each other, allow the dog to develop high speed. Back straight, have elongated, prominent hips. Paws are round, compressed into a tight, strong lump.

Color and quality of wool

Like most hounds, the torso of American Foxhounds is covered with stiff, short, tight-fitting coat. On the ears and skull the coat is smoother.

As for colors, the standard allows for their great variety. Most of the found individuals have fawn wool, red, languid brown, white, combined with other shades. The most common type of tricolor wool is considered - the main tone is white, on which are placed black and brown (or reddish) shades of the spot.

Character

Dogs have a balanced temperament, they are not inclined to show aggression towards animals or humans. Historically, it turned out that the Foxhounds were more often kept in packs, so they normally feel in company with their own kind and know how to get along with a large canine family. But this led to the fact that they interact with people less and worse than other representatives are amenable to training.

This pet gently and playfully applies to younger members of the family, this applies even to young children. Most of the dogs quickly get used to the owner and the household, and treat strangers detachedly or peacefully. But in some Foxhounds, aliens can be troubling.

As a hunter, such a pet is flawless, but to achieve obedience from him can be quite difficult. Showing independence, he can ignore the team. The hunting instincts of this dog are in the blood, so it is recommended to use a leash during walking - the dog can be carried away by an odor at any time, and he will go in search of the source, forgetting what is happening around.

Education and training

Experts do not recommend beginners to start such a pet, even experienced dog breeders have to make maximum efforts to achieve obedience and unquestioning obedience from the Foxhound. It is important that the dog respect the owner and fulfill his tasks.

During training, the owner should be persistent and demanding, as any indulgence will be noticed, and the dog will cease to obey. The hounds on such a great "scent". In the course you can start a variety of methods, in addition to physical effects. If the dog is beaten, it will become bitter or frightened and cowardly.

The puppy requires early socialization, but not to the extent that other dogs breed. They have a desire to hunt at different ages, some earlier, others a little later.

With special training, hunting breeds make an arrival - they begin to teach hounds to poultry and livestock so that later they do not consider them as prey. If this is not done, harm from the would-be hunter will be more than good, and such behavior can not be corrected by adult dogs.

During the upbringing of the pet, weaning to approach strangers, to pay attention to other sounds. Methods of training are selected individually, some hounds need affectionate, polite treatment, and from others it is impossible to achieve a result without strict tone.

How to care for a fox hound

Representatives of this breed do not need any specific care. It is recommended to comb their short coat with a massage brush once every 2 weeks, and during a molt you can use a silicone or rubber glove that removes dead hair. This is enough to make the wool beautiful, have a natural luster, and the skin is healthy and elastic.

Hounds are not bathed more often than once a month, but after walking in bad weather, their wool should be wiped with a damp cloth, removing dirt. It is also necessary to clean the dirt from the paws, washing them with water and drying them.

Foxhounds are not trimmed, but they need to trim their claws regularly. If they are too long, it can cause damage to the skin or cause discomfort during movement of the animal. The dog's ears are cleaned every 4-7 days, removing excess sulfur, dust and dirt, causing inflammatory and infectious processes with a cotton pad.

We should not forget about other standard events. Pet should be vaccinated according to the established schedule. After walking or working in the forest zone, the dog must be inspected for parasites. It is important in the spring and summer to treat it from fleas, ticks, lickers, using special means - shampoos, drops, sprays, you can also put a special collar with insecticidal action on the dog.

Once every 3-4 months, the dog is given anthelmintic drugs, saving the animal from worms invasion and preventing its development. All Foxhounds, regardless of their country of origin, need intense physical exertion. They need a long walk, engage in general training, work and train to hunt.

Breed diseases

American Foxhounds are happy owners of good health, the infusion of fresh blood during breeding has benefited them exclusively. But, like other large dogs, they can suffer from dysplasia of the joints or diseases of the visual organ, but this is quite rare.

How and what to feed the American Foxhound

Hounds need a balanced diet that contains vitamins and minerals in the right proportion. It can be provided with premium or super premium ready-made rations. Cheaper feeds do not have a suitable composition and can adversely affect the condition of the skin and coat, as well as disrupt the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

Additionally, the dog is allowed to give natural food - boiled meat, cut into pieces. The maximum daily rate - 250 g. Also useful components are cereals, vegetables, greens. Pet meal should not exceed a quarter of an hour. If the dog is fed and moved away from the cup, and some of the food remains, then the remnants of food should be removed. This will disaccustom him to keep food for the future.

Food for each feed should be fresh. In the summer period, food spoils quite quickly and can cause enteritis or other unpleasant and dangerous diseases in an animal. Dogs of this breed are prone to obesity, so you should adhere to the regime, do not give food more than you need, do not feed them with waste from your table. Excessive weight affect the mobility of the pet and its hunting qualities.

Dog content

Ideal conditions for the American Foxhound is a spacious aviary. Some owners decide to take a puppy of this breed to the apartment, but they should be aware of the associated disadvantages:

the dog has a fairly decent size;
seasonal molting is intense;
a similar pet is not too neat and clean.

Foxhound himself will feel uncomfortable in the apartment, as he needs a more spacious room. Another nuance - the representatives of this breed are famous for their unique, vociferous voice, which is very much appreciated in the hunting environment. Not only that, he has an individual dog.

During work, barking can spread over many kilometers, but in an apartment building, such quality is unlikely to be appreciated. A favorite will bark with joy, indignation and simply, for personal pleasure, which will surely ruin the host’s relations with its neighbors. By the way, it is almost impossible to wean them from such a habit, which is built on the genetic level.

Photo of American Foxhound

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Acquisition of an American Foxhound puppy

Buying a puppy of this breed can be accompanied by a number of problems. First of all, some time will take the search for nurseries or private breeders with a good reputation. In fact, on the territory of Russia, American Foxhounds are considered a rare phenomenon. You may have to wait for the litter to appear or the baby will grow up, reserving the most appropriate.

The cost of puppies is quite high, it varies from 45,000 to 80,000 rubles. The lower price should be alerted - perhaps it is about offspring with vices or mestizo. It is more profitable to buy a pet in the homeland of the breed - in the USA, but transportation of an animal is associated with some difficulties. American Foxhounds are recognized as national treasure, and this fact is enough to get a well-founded refusal to export a doggie out of the country.

Nature has generously endowed the American Foxhound - he is quick, dexterous, vocal, having discovered a suitable smell, he is right on the trail. All these qualities of a pet must show during work. Dog can be used in sports, where he will also show excellent results. But to start a puppy just "for beauty" is not recommended, it can not be a simple companion, calm and inactive.