Virginia’s Dog
The American Foxhound was developed in the United States and is a close relative to the English Foxhound. They are a very popular dog in the southern states, however very few are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), simply because they are a working and hunting breed, most are valued for their abilities, rather than their show quality. The American Foxhound is also Virginia's state animal.
The origins of the American Foxhound can be traced back to the arrival of Robert Burke in the American Colonies in 1650. He brought with him a pack of hunting dogs that became the ancestors for many American Hounds. These dogs remained in the Brooke family for almost 300 years, but were not the only source of the blood of the American Foxhound. George Washington received French Foxhounds as a gift, and he had others that had descended from Brooke's, the crossing of the two were the beginnings of the American Foxhound.
American Foxhounds are quite similar to their English cousins, however they have been developed to be lighter and taller. They have a keener sense of smell and tend to be faster in the chase. They have short coats that may be any color, however the most common coat for an American Foxhound is the tricolor, black, brown, and white are the most common.
The American Foxhound is an affectionate breed, and lovable at home, but they are brave and fearless while on the hunt. They get along well with children, and because of their pack mentality do very good with other dogs, but tend to want to chase any other pets.
American Foxhounds need to have room to run and do not always do well as purely house pets.
Generally the American Foxhound is a healthy breed, as they are not prone to any genetic diseases. Care must be given not to overfeed them, as they do have a tendency to put on weight, especially if they are not properly exercise. The life span of the American Foxhound is normally 10-12 years.
