The American Foxhound is a sleek, rangy pack scenthound bred to hunt fox over the open country of colonial Virginia — closely tied to George Washington, who kept and bred them. It stands 21-25 inches and weighs roughly 60-70 lbs, lighter and longer-legged than its English cousin, built for speed and all-day endurance on a scent line. It is one of the least common AKC breeds kept as a pet, and that is largely because it is a working pack hound first and a housedog a distant second. Temperament is genuinely easy: independent, easy-going, sweet-tempered, gentle with children, and notably good with other dogs and even cats it is raised with — a pack animal that does not want to live alone. The honest part of the profile is everything that follows from the job it was bred for. The American Foxhound has a single-minded prey drive and a nose that overrides training; off-lead recall in open areas is unreliable for life. It bays — a loud, melodious, carrying sound that delights hound people and infuriates close neighbors. It is independent and slow to housetrain, a poor match for novice owners wanting quick obedience. And it needs a lot of exercise: an under-exercised Foxhound becomes depressed, destructive, and even more vocal. Who the American Foxhound is right for: an active owner with a securely fenced yard, rural or tolerant-neighbor setting, ideally a second dog for company, and the patience for an independent hound that will never be an off-lead obedience dog. Who it is wrong for: apartment dwellers, noise-restricted neighborhoods, first-time owners, anyone gone all day with no canine company, or anyone expecting biddability. This is a low-maintenance dog on grooming and a high-management dog on exercise, noise, and containment — be honest about which you can provide.
Life Span
11–13 years
Weight
27.2–34 kg
Height
53.3–71.1 cm
moderate
Exercise
moderate
Grooming
moderate
Shedding
Yes
Good with Kids
Yes
Good with Pets
Friendly
Apartment
The American Foxhound descends from English foxhounds brought to the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, later crossed with French and Irish hounds to develop a lighter, faster, longer-legged dog suited to hunting fox over the open, rolling country of Virginia and the Southern states rather than the closer terrain of England. George Washington is the breed's most famous early breeder: he kept extensive kennels at Mount Vernon, metic…
American Foxhound dog breed portrait
The American Foxhound belongs to the Hound Group.
The average lifespan of a American Foxhound is 11 to 13 years.
American Foxhound dogs are valued for their independent, easy-going, sweet-tempered nature.
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American Foxhound care is light on grooming and heavy on exercise, containment, and company. Coat: the short, hard coat needs only a weekly rubber-mitt or brush going-over and a bath every couple of months; shedding is moderate and manageable. The grooming task owners forget is the ears — the long, drop ears trap moisture and debris and are prone to infection, so check and dry them weekly and after any wet work. Exercise: 60-90 minutes of real daily activity — long walks, running, hiking, ideally jogging or cycling alongside an adult dog. This is a stamina breed; a tired Foxhound is a calm housedog, an under-exercised one digs, escapes, bays, and can become depressed and destructive. Always exercise on-lead or in a securely fenced area; the scent and prey drive defeat recall permanently, and a fence needs to be tall and dig-proof. Company: as a pack breed it does poorly with long isolation. A second dog or a household that is home much of the day prevents most separation problems. Weight: keep the dog lean — excess weight worsens hip dysplasia and joint wear on an athletic frame. Two measured meals, ribs easily felt, monthly weigh-ins. Decision rule: a head shake, ear odor, or scratching at one ear is a within-the-week vet visit, because untreated otitis in this breed can progress to deeper infection; unexplained bruising, nosebleeds, or prolonged bleeding from a small wound is a same-day veterinary concern because the breed carries an inherited platelet (bleeding) risk.
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American Foxhound Care Guide
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