Foxhound (English)
A tall, sociable English pack hound with huge stamina, built to hunt in packs over long distances.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 58–64 cm · Females 56–62 cm
- Weight
- Males 29–34 kg · Females 25–31 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–13 years
- Exercise
- 120–180 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Tricolour, Bicolour, White, Tan
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 159 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 1/5 – Very low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with being alone | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- have a lot of time and space for exercise
- already have dogs and like a pack
- enjoy long country walks
Think twice if you …
- live in a town or flat
- want reliable off-lead behaviour
- have neighbours close by
Care
Temperament
Friendly, gentle and very sociable, especially with other dogs. Independent and single-minded once hunting.
Exercise
Needs several hours of activity daily; long runs, hiking and scent work on a long line suit it best.
Grooming
Short, hard coat; a weekly brush is enough, with moderate shedding.
Training
Bred to work with a pack rather than for one person, so obedience takes patience; recall is a lifelong project.
Health
A generally hardy breed bred mainly for working packs; hip dysplasia is occasionally reported. Ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The English Foxhound was developed in Britain from the 16th century onwards for mounted fox hunting, and packs kept careful breeding records for generations. It was bred to run for hours across open country together with many other hounds.
Today most Foxhounds still live in hunt kennels and drag-hunting packs, and few are kept as pets. As a companion it is good-natured and gentle, and usually loves other dogs, but it has very high exercise needs, a loud voice and a strong urge to follow scent. It does best with experienced hound people and plenty of space.
Did you know?
Foxhounds are traditionally counted in couples, so a pack of 40 hounds is described as 20 couple.