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American Foxhound
The American Foxhound is a scent hound related to the English Foxhound. They are fairly large dogs, weighing anywhere from 40 to 75 pounds, and ranging from 21-28 inches tall. The body of the Foxhound is narrow, and it has very long, straight legs. The Foxhound has a large skull, low and wide-set ears, a long muzzle, and wide-set hazel or brown eyes. The Foxhound bears a slight resemblance to the Beagle; however it is a larger, taller breed.
The lifespan of the breed is generally 10 to 13 years. There are only a few minor health risks in the breed such as platelet disease, dysplasia and some eye issues. The Foxhound does not generally carry genetic disorders.
The American Foxhound is a very loyal, loving pet. Like other hounds, they need thorough training, socialization and exercise to keep them from being bored and destructive. Although trainable, the Foxhound tends to follow a scent once picked up, neglecting commands from its owner. The Foxhound does not make a good watchdog; they are so friendly as a breed that if a stranger comes up they greet them affectionately. Foxhounds do not bark with the frequency and volume of some other scent hounds but they do have loud, deep voices that carry. Training a Foxhound can prove difficult, as it is a generally stubborn breed.
The breed was developed primarily for hunting foxes; the ancestors were brought to America in the 1600s. There are several different strains of American Foxhound today. Some of these include Walker, Goodman, Trigg, July and Penn-Marydel. Most of the pack hounds are Penn-Marydel, and most show hounds are Penn-Marydel. The American Foxhound is the state animal of Virginia.
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