Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed: American Foxhound

Beautiful Lexie an American Foxhound Mix pondering her lineage.

American Foxhound

Height: Male 22 - 25" & Female 21 - 24"

Weight: Male 45 - 65 lb lbs & Female 40 - 60 lb

Coat: American Foxhounds have a medium-length coat that lies close to the body and has a hard texture, protecting the hound from brush and briars in the field. American Foxhounds have a close, hard, hound coat of medium length. Defects--A short thin coat, or of a soft quality.

Color: The coat comes in various colors.  Any tri-color with a saddle being the most common.

Appearance: Clearly athletic dog of stamina with sleek lines that are not overly refined. The legs of a Foxhound are very long and straight-boned. The foxhound’s chest is rather narrow. It has a long muzzle, and a large, domed skull. The dog is a Virginia Common pet. The ears are wide and low-set. The eyes are hazel or brown, and are large and wide-set. The coat is short and harsh. Overall, they are very similar to the Beagle, only standing higher and being larger. Their coats come in four colors: red, tri, black and tan, and blue.

Temperament: A true hunting dog, the American Foxhound is happiest in the field and on the trail. With its powerful sense of smell, this dog is easily distracted by various scents, and once it has decided to follow one you will have a difficult time calling it off. The breed hunts with the passion of a warrior, but is gentle, affectionate, and great with children in the home. With regard to strangers, the American Foxhound’s temperament can vary tremendously. Some dogs act in an extremely protective or guard-like manner while others will eagerly embrace an outsider. The American Foxhound has a long history of hunting in packs, and therefore gets along exceptionally well with other dogs; it also tends to be good with pets. This dog will bay and howl, and city living is therefore not recommended.

Health: The Life expectancy for an American Foxhound is about 10-13 years. This breed is not generally a breed that carries genetic disorders. Overfeeding these dogs can easily cause them to gain weight. A minor health risk in American Foxhounds is thrombocytopathy, or platelet disease. While dysplasia was largely unknown in Foxhounds, it is beginning to crop up occasionally, along with some eye issues. It is not typical or customary for Foxhound breeders to screen for any hereditary disorders at this time. The American Foxhound is an energetic breed. According to some veterinarians and trainers, it needs plenty of exercise, for example, a fairly long walk followed by a game of fetch.

Famous:

Washington’s home state, Virginia, claims the American Foxhound as its official state animal.

American Foxhounds are featured in the novel, The Hunter’s Horn by Harriette Simpson Arnow.

Lexie owned by April Miller

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America Foxhounds, best bully stick, bestbullysticks, Breed Spotlight, dog, pet

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