fellfolioScent hounds
English Foxhound
The English Foxhound is a substantial English scent hound with a short coat. Bred for fox hunting in a pack, it brings considerable endurance and a strong interest in scent trails. Before bringing one home, you should plan for long walks, suitable canine company and a gradual introduction to household life.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at shoulder
- 58 to 64 cm
- Lifespan
- over 12 years
- Activity
- High
- Grooming
- Weekly
- Training
- Patience & clear guidance
- Owner experience
- Experience recommended
A scent hound with stamina and a long history of pack hunting
A pack is a group of dogs working together. This way of hunting has shaped the English Foxhound for centuries. The dogs were expected to follow scent and travel considerable distances alongside others. That background helps explain their stamina and the importance of canine companionship.
The international standard describes a friendly, sociable dog. An adult Foxhound’s experience also matters when meeting people, unfamiliar dogs and new living arrangements. If you are adopting a dog from a working pack, you should ask what its everyday life has involved. It may be familiar with constant canine company while still needing to learn how to settle indoors.
Everyday life
Anyone considering a Foxhound should be able to make substantial daily exercise part of an ordinary working week. A brief circuit of the block will usually be too little for a Foxhound. Longer walks should include time to investigate scents and practise together, followed by somewhere comfortable to rest. Activity should be appropriate to the dog’s age, health and existing fitness.
An absorbing trail can lead the dog a long way from its person. In open areas or around wildlife, it should therefore be reliably secured on a lead. Recall is the exercise of returning when you use an agreed cue. Quiet places with few distractions are suitable for the first lessons. A long training line can later allow practice at greater distances. Free running should take place in a suitable, securely enclosed area.
Canine companions should be chosen according to how well the individual dogs get along. For a dog accustomed to almost constant company, being alone is a separate skill to introduce. Very brief separations that it can manage comfortably are a useful start. If even these cause marked distress, you should arrange company and seek qualified help with the training.
Staying home alone
Dogs learn to stay home alone in small steps. The RSPCA advises no more than four hours at a time. Puppies and dogs that become unsettled when left alone need shorter absences and gradual practice. Arrange someone to care for your dog when you will be away longer.
Everyday dog training: recall, a loose lead and clear communication ↗
Day-to-day care
A soft brush or suitable grooming mitt can remove loose hair from the short coat. A short-haired Foxhound still sheds. Grooming also provides an opportunity to check the skin for changes and small injuries. After walks through undergrowth, you should inspect the feet and the spaces between the toes.
Ears, nails and teeth need attention too. The visible ear surfaces should be clean and free from irritation. Unusual odour, discharge or repeated head shaking should be assessed by a vet. Dental care can be built up through brief, rewarded sessions with a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste.
Size and build
Records maintained by hunting packs have long shaped English Foxhound breeding. The international standard describes stud books kept before 1800, with breeding focused on stamina and work alongside other hounds. It lists the adult dog’s height at approximately 58 to 64 centimetres.
Alongside meeting other dogs, a puppy should become familiar with people, gentle handling and household life. Short outings followed by sleep allow more manageable introductions than constant new experiences. An adult dog moving from a different living arrangement also needs a considered welcome. Familiar carers, a quiet sleeping area and simple recurring routines can help it get to know the new home.
From puppy to senior: caring for your dog through every life stage ↗
Health
Before taking on a dog, you should ask for its veterinary records and details of known illnesses. For a puppy, this includes the parents’ examination results and the health history of close relatives. The Royal Kennel Club highlights genetic diversity for the Foxhound, which means considering how closely related breeding dogs are as part of their selection.
An initial veterinary appointment allows you to discuss preventive care and any concerns. Even a dog keen to run can be in pain. Limping, unusual tiredness or difficulty getting up should be described to the vet and assessed. Notes about the length of outings and behaviour before and afterwards help you explain when the symptoms occur during the appointment.
Could this breed fit your life?
Could work well if …
- A Foxhound suits experienced people who can make time for long outings, training and suitable company each day.
- If a dog has lived in a working pack, household routines, canine company and care during your absence should be discussed thoroughly before adoption.
- Life with cats should be assessed through the dog’s actual experience. Small pets should remain reliably separated from it.
What to consider
- The breed was developed for long hunts alongside other dogs. Its exercise and activity needs should carry real weight in your decision.
- Fences and gates should be secure. Outside, a lead should prevent the dog from following a wildlife trail and running off.
Similar needs, different dogs.
Selected by shared size, activity, grooming and training characteristics.
Lean sighthound from the Sahel with close bonds to familiar people
Azawakh
Long legs, a narrow body and a remarkably short coat give the Azawakh its distinctive appearance. This sighthound from the Sahel can be deeply attached to familiar people while keeping its distance from strangers at first. A suitable home offers shared exercise, secure space to run and people willing to let introductions develop gradually.
Italian pointing dog with a distinctive head and ground covering trot
Bracco Italiano
The Bracco Italiano is a large Italian hunting dog with long ears, a powerful body and an expressive head. It enjoys searching by scent and working with its handler. At home it can be a gentle companion when exercise, purposeful tasks and time together are dependable parts of daily life.
Athletic Italian guardian with considerable strength and a need for shared activities
Cane Corso
The Cane Corso combines a powerful body with considerable agility. Developed in Italy to guard homes, families and livestock, this breed suits people who enjoy shared exercise and training and can guide an alert guardian safely through everyday life.
Sources and photograph credit
- Teaching your dog to be left alone
Used in this profile for: Staying home alone
- English Foxhound breed standard
Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Could this breed fit your life?
- English Foxhound
Used in this profile for: Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Health, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Healthcare for your dog
Used in this profile for: Day-to-day care, Health
- Dental disease in dogs
Used in this profile for: Day-to-day care
- How to give your pet a health check at home
Used in this profile for: Day-to-day care, Health
- Caring for your puppy
Used in this profile for: Size and build
- Train your dog to come when called
Used in this profile for: Everyday life, Size and build, Could this breed fit your life?
Photo credits
Side view · Englanninkettu2.jpg · Canarian · CC BY 4.0 · Edited
Coat and features · English Foxhound portrait.jpg · Flickr user Thowra_uk · CC BY 2.0 · Edited
Coat and features · Englanninkettu1.jpg · Canarian · CC BY 4.0 · Edited
Everyday life · English Foxhounds, Cheshire Game and Country Fair 2014 1.jpg · Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Edited
