English Foxhound - Stud Dogs
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For more information about the English Foxhound Click hereThe English Foxhounds appeared around the late 16th century in England, where they were bred, unsurprisingly, to pursue red foxes. The British royalty, nobles, and gentry had for long hunted red deer for pleasure and food using the Staghound and the Deerhound, both bloodhound breeds.
In the course of King Henry VIII's reign, however, there was rising suspicion that the red deer was gearing towards depletion and, therefore, ardent horseback hunters had to find another viable prey. The red fox - which was until this point reserved for groundskeepers and peasant farmers - was chosen as the next prey of choice for the nobles and the ruling class. They of course needed an ideal hunting dog breed for the new endeavor.
As a result, the English Foxhound was created by judiciously crossing the Fox Terrier for their terrific hunting instinct; the Greyhound for their speed, and the British Bulldog for their avid hunting skills and determination. Staghounds and bloodhounds may have also been thrown into the mix. The new breed served as a hunting dog for not only foxes but also stag. It wasn't long before they also replaced the Greyhounds in India for jackal coursing during the British Raj era.
Even before then, the foxhound breed had reached the shores of America by the early 17th century courtesy of the British colonists. In fact, there are records showing that the first pack of English foxhounds was imported to Maryland in the early 1650s by foxhound fancier Robert Brooke. Moreso, they contributed to the development of their sleeker cousin, the American Foxhound.
The detailed history of the English Foxhound has been carefully kept since the turn of the 18th century by the British Masters of Foxhounds Association.
Appearance
Carved to run at full throttle, the English Foxhounds are large, long-legged, and fairly muscular dogs with a characteristic wide forehead and long muzzle. Aside from being long, their legs feature straight bones and strong muscles with round, nearly cat-like paws.
These hunting dogs sport large hound ears that drop down to near the cheeks. The stern (aka the tail) is skinny, long, and tapers towards the tip, which it often lifts up during a hunt.
The dog's coat is dense, glossy, and typically short, requiring little to no grooming. The dog can come in any of the quintessential hound colors, but usually wears the traditional tricolor coat of tan, red, and black with a white essence. You may notice some ticking, freckles, or generally white patches spread over the hindquarters and on the neck area.
As with most scent hounds, the English Foxhound has a stately and graceful gait, most noticeable when running or picking up a trail. They are typically 20-27 inches (51-70 cm) tall and weigh from 55 to 75 pounds - males tend to be larger than bitches. Either case, they're agile, alert, and quick to action, particularly when they sniff out a familiar scent.
Temperament and Demeanor
The English Foxhound is a scent hound through and through. With above-average intelligence, an impressive sense of smell, and lots of energy to boot, they are fierce hunting dogs.
The dog breed was developed to hunt as a pack, so it tends to get along well with other pets, as well as their human friends. They also play with other dogs, kids, and horses, which isn't surprising given that they historically hunted alongside hunters on horseback. All up, this is one active scent hound breed that enjoys trailing foxes and capable of running miles without tiring.
In a hunting mode, these dogs have a tenacious, energetic, and determined personality. As a pet, on the other hand, they are a tolerant, social, and relatively gentle dog breed.
Although they can be stubborn, as seen in most bloodhounds, English foxhounds can be easily trained at a young age. They take a rather vigorous and enthusiastic approach to life, so make sure to give them an opportunity to run about and exercise for at least 90 minutes each day.
Health
As with most purebred dogs, English foxhounds are susceptible to certain health issues, such as hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and kidney disease. Otherwise, they're generally active and healthy dogs with an expected lifespan of between 10 and 13 years.
Grooming and Care
Considering that they were bred for hunting, English Foxhounds require a great deal of exercise, including lots of outdoor space to play and run. Thankfully, their coat is short, glossy, and dense, meaning that they require only occasional grooming. A weekly brush-down to get rid of dead skin and hairs will do the trick.
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