The English Foxhound is the original of the two foxhound breeds of dog. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt by scent.
History: It is believed that at the beginning, around 1750, the English foxhound was developed by men who envisioned a dog that could track the faint scent of a fox while the dog was on the run and maintain that chase for an indeterminable amount of time. It is believed that t he English foxhound was developed by crossing a variety of different hounds, and then carefully breeding the result other breeds such as the Greyhound, the bulldog, and the fox terrier.
Appearance: With a powerful build and large bones, the English foxhound is made for stamina more than speed. The front legs are to be absolutely straight with importance centered on the size of the bone at the ankle. The skull is wide, the muzzle is long, and eyes carry a sweet expression. The legs are muscular, straight-boned, and the paws are rounded, almost cat-like. The ears are set low and lie close to the cheek. Many of these hounds have “rounded” ears, which means that the ends of the ears are shortened by about 1 ? inches. The coat and color of the English foxhound is of relative unimportance as long as the color is considered to be an appropriate “hound color.” Usual hound colors are black, tan and white. The coat is generally short and dense with a hard, glossy texture.
Size: Height – Dogs 22-25 inches (56-63 cm); bitches 21-24 inches (53-61 cm)
Weight – Dogs 65-75 pounds (29-32 kg)
Temperament: Considered to be a bold and passionate hunter, the English foxhound is a very active dog that does best with other dogs, children, and other pets. This dog loves to trail and sniff, and also likes to bay. They are untiring, able to run for hours at a consistent speed without stopping. While it is not a particularly demonstrative dog, it is gentle and friendly, but it can be reserved with strangers.
Health: There are very few health factors in this breed. Occasionally seen are chronic hip dysplasia, renal disease, and epilepsy.
Life expectancy: 10-13 years
Grooming: The only coat care necessary for the English foxhound is occasional brushing and combing to remove dead hair. A rub down with a rough cloth is also suggested. Bathe only when necessary. This breed is considered to be an average shedder.