English Foxhound

The English Foxhound is a pack hound bred for stamina over distance — the foundation of most modern scent-hound packs, including the American Foxhound.

History

It was developed in England from the seventeenth century by crossing older hound types for a dog that could run with horses all day, and it has been recorded in stud books for longer than almost any other breed. It has always been bred by hunts for pack work rather than by households for companionship.

Temperament

The breed is known for being sociable, tolerant and even-tempered, at ease with other dogs to an unusual degree — pack life selected for that directly. It is also single-minded on a scent and has a carrying, musical voice.

Care and training

It needs very substantial exercise and secure fencing; a hound on a trail is not listening. Recall is the hard part of any scent hound, and this breed is rarely suited to a small household. The short coat is easy.

Health

Generally robust, with hip dysplasia and, in a deep-chested hound, bloat among the known tendencies. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.