American Foxhound facts for kids
American Foxhound
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common nicknames | Foxhound | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes | State dog of Virginia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The American Foxhound is a type of dog that is related to the English Foxhound. These dogs are scent hounds. This means they were specially bred to hunt foxes by using their strong sense of smell.
Contents
History of the American Foxhound
The story of the American Foxhound began in 1650. A man named Robert Brooke sailed from England to North America. He brought his hunting dogs with him. These dogs were the ancestors of many American Hound breeds. Brooke's family kept these dogs for almost 300 years.
Later, George Washington owned French Foxhounds. Many of his dogs were descendants of Brooke's original pack. When these French hounds were mixed with Brooke's dogs, the American Foxhound breed was created. This breed is known to have started in Maryland and Virginia. It is even the official state dog of Virginia. These dogs were developed mainly for hunting foxes.
One special thing about the American Foxhound is its unique, musical howl. You can hear this howl from miles away! This is why these dogs are not usually good pets for city living.
Today, there are many different types, or "strains," of American Foxhounds. Even though they might look a bit different, they are all part of the same breed. The American Kennel Club first officially recognized the American Foxhound in 1886.
What Does an American Foxhound Look Like?
.jpg)
American Foxhounds are usually 21–25 in (53–64 cm) tall at the shoulder. They typically weigh between 55–71 lb (25–32 kg). However, many of these dogs can be larger. Males might stand 26–29 in (66–74 cm) tall, and females 25–28 in (64–71 cm). They often weigh less than expected, around 45–65 lb (20–29 kg).
These dogs have very long, straight legs. Their chest is quite narrow. They have a long nose and a large, rounded head. Their ears are wide and hang low. Their eyes are usually hazel or brown, and they are large and set wide apart. American Foxhounds typically live for 10 to 12 years.
Their coat is short, hard, and close to their body. It can be any color, but black, white, and tan is a common mix. American Foxhounds do shed a fair amount of hair. Brushing them once a week can help reduce shedding.
How Do American Foxhounds Behave?
American Foxhounds are known for being gentle and sweet. They are usually easygoing and get along well with children and other pets. However, they might be shy or reserved around people they don't know.
This breed is very active and has a lot of energy. They need a lot of exercise and are happiest when they have plenty of space to run. If they live in a neighborhood, they should have a fenced yard. They also need to go for several walks every day.
Training is very important for American Foxhounds. This is because they are independent and love to follow interesting scents. If a Foxhound smells something exciting, it might ignore commands and follow the scent. Training them requires patience because they can be stubborn.
Because of their strong hunting instincts, American Foxhounds should not be let off their leash in open areas. Most scent hounds make a lot of noise, but the Foxhound is not a good watchdog.
Images for kids
-
Male Trigg Hound
-
Early Trigg Hound
.png)
.png)
See also
In Spanish: Foxhound americano para niños
