A thoroughbred hunter

Smooth appearance, floppy ears, soft easy-care coat and average size: an American Foxhound is often seen by laymen as a loyal companion for everyone – from the pensioner to a family with children. But the original hunting dog is stubborn and is demanding. Fans of this breed should therefore inform themselves well before purchasing this purebred dog. Here you can learn a thing or two about this breed unknown in Europe.

This is what a dog with endurance looks like

The American Foxhound was made for hunting and long walks – beauty does not play an important role in the selection of breeding stock. However, this cannot be seen in dogs. It’s about fitness and speed. This can be seen in the physique: the dog is sinewy muscled with a large chest with room for a large lung capacity. The hard coat is tight and all colors are allowed. The American Foxhound has floppy ears that hang forward. Compared to its close relative, the English Foxhound, the American is slightly taller and more graceful. The weight varies between 30 and 34 kilograms with a height of 53-63 cm. However, there are some show animals that are larger and heavier: Male dogs can reach a height of up to 74 cm.

Origin with many facets

The blood of hunting dogs from different countries flows through the veins of the American Foxhound. In 1650, the Briton Robert Brooke sailed with some English dogs to Maryland in the United States. Back then, hunting was still a fun activity for the nobility. Many hunting dogs descend from these “English Hounds”, it is believed that they were actually black and tan Irish Kerry Beagles. The nobility in the US soon used the dog for fox hunting. The importation of faster red foxes from Europe created a need for faster Foxhounds again, so crossbreeding took place. This breed is one of the oldest bred breeds in America – some dog experts even believe it to be “the oldest American breed”. George Washington, the first president of the United States (1789-1797), As a fox hunter and dog lover, he was also active as a breeder and made a major contribution to the breed. He gave his four-legged friends emotional names such as „Sweet Lips“, „True Love“ or „Vulcan“.

In 1785 he received some French hunting dogs as a gift from General La Fayette. He crossed these with Foxhounds. Faster Irish hunting dogs were crossed around 1830. Over the years, crosses between British, French, Irish hunting dogs and also German scent hounds resulted in the American hunting dog. In 1886, the American Kennel Club recognized the breed. Since 1966, the American Foxhound has held a special position in the land of unlimited possibilities: It is one of the “state dogs” representing the state of Virginia. In total, eleven states have a “State Dog”, ie a breed that is historically very closely associated with the area in question. The American Foxhound today also has many facets: There are different types of the breed, such as the Trigg or Walker. Although they all look different, they all belong to the American Foxhound. The number is estimated at about 100,000 animals worldwide.

Use: passionate hunting dog

Like its close relatives, the English Foxhound, the American Foxhound is a tracking dog. He is an excellent hunter, especially suited to hunting in packs. It is his job to chase the foxes during the hunt until they are exhausted. He can’t kill them. When hunters brought the red fox to the US, hoping for exciting hunts, it also had a positive effect on breeding, eventually creating the American Foxhound. Originally there were only gray foxes, which are a bit slower than red foxes, but can climb trees. Hunting dogs were especially popular during the feudal period, when the nobility had whole landscapes set up as hunting grounds. They then went hunting on horseback with many hunting dogs. The American Foxhound therefore also gets along well with riders and horses. Although these extravagant hunts ended with the decline of the nobility, hunting is still practiced in some countries. For example in France. In Germany and Great Britain hunting foxes in the pack is prohibited – dogs follow artificial tracks during the hunt. While his British family is still active in hunting – especially fox hunting – the American Foxhound is now used as a show dog. He can often be found at exhibitions. Because of his hunting instinct and his great urge to move, he is not very suitable as a companion dog. While his British family is still active in hunting – especially fox hunting – the American Foxhound is now used as a show dog. He can often be found at exhibitions. Because of his hunting instinct and his great urge to move, he is not very suitable as a companion dog. While his British family is still active in hunting – especially fox hunting – the American Foxhound is now used as a show dog. He can often be found at exhibitions. Because of his hunting instinct and his great urge to move, he is not very suitable as a companion dog.

Character: stubborn and cozy

As a hunting dog, an American Foxhound is generally quite stubborn: the animals are bred to walk independently at a distance from the hunter and still maintain contact with the hunter. That is why this breed is less human-oriented. He does listen to normal directions, though he does so without much enthusiasm. They feel like a fish in water in the company of other dogs. The American Foxhound is often friendly towards strangers, but some show their guarded side when encountering strangers. Incidentally, American Foxhounds have a special feature that allows their owner to recognize them even in the dark at a great distance: the breed is known for its characteristic barking. It sounds more like singing. Due to the volume – which can be heard miles away – an American Foxhound is not suitable for noise-sensitive environments. The hunting dogs like to eat small animals – this should be considered when purchasing, because adult animals are difficult to keep in combination with smaller pets the size of prey.

Enough movement

Too many calories in combination with little exercise can quickly lead to obesity in the American Foxhound. The dog must be sufficiently challenged and the choice of food is also very important. Adjusting the feed amounts can make a lot of difference. The breed has a genetic predisposition to the disease thrombocytopenia, a lack of platelets in the blood, so even minor injuries can lead to heavy bleeding. Some dogs are predisposed to hip dysplasia – when purchasing a puppy, make sure you educate yourself on preliminary testing from the parents. The four-legged friends have an average life expectancy of 11 to 13 years.

A dog for hunters

The American Foxhound is an excellent hunter and a good companion dog with reservations. Some experts advise against keeping the dog as a companion unless a professional hunter in the family can take him to work every day. Incidentally, the same applies to his close family, the English Foxhound, who also feels most comfortable when his owner is a hunter. The reason for this is its extreme urge to move and the great hunting instinct of the breed. Hunting training is required to steer this in the right direction. Only an American Foxhound that is sufficiently challenged is a nice companion in everyday life. There are few that can satisfy his hunger for exercise. Fans of the breed should inform the breeder about the different types within the breed. In terms of the urge to exercise, the show dogs are generally somewhat less demanding than other types. Nevertheless, one should also think carefully about the purchase of a hunting dog. As charming as he is, it’s still quite a task to keep him the right way. There are plenty of breeds that can be kept as companion dogs. If you are not a hunter and are looking for a dog, there are plenty of alternatives. This breed prefers to live with other dogs – there should be at least one other dog, but preferably more. The American Foxhound is generally nice to children. But living together with cats and other pets in a relaxed way is generally never possible. The American Foxhound is not suitable for a city home. Despite trips into the woods, the dogs know a garden, in which they can frolic and from which they cannot escape, very much to be appreciated. Purchasing a dog of this breed should also consider the long term: think about holiday care, regular expenses (pet food, vet) basic necessities (line ,basket ,bowls , blanket, brushes, etc.) and any additional expenses in case of illness. Also think about how much time you need for this four-legged friend and be realistic.

Easy to care for

Grooming an American Foxhound is child’s play: once a weekbrushing is enough. To ensure that less hair ends up in the living room, it makes sense to brush daily briefly, especially during the moult.

Education: best with hunting training

From the start it is best if the American Foxhound becomesraised by people who know about it, because peculiarities of the breed must be observed during the education. It is more difficult to teach obedience to a dog of this breed if he spent more time in his litter than with people as a puppy. All four-legged friends of this breed need a lot of attention, training and time to get used to life as a family dog. An American Foxhound is stubborn and also has a strong hunting instinct. Living together works best if the dog receives real hunting training. Patience is needed for training because the breed is quite stubborn – especially if the animals follow a trail.

Activity for the sociable „working animal“

An American Foxhound belongs to the so-called “tracker dogs”. It is a dog that needs a lot of exercise. He must have exercise for several hours a day. During the hunt, the dog can easily last five to six hours at a pace. Dogs of this breed like to go jogging. This is usually not even enough to give him enough exercise. It is a problem that this passionate hunter cannot go off leash due to his great hunting instinct. An American Foxhound that does not have enough challenge and exercise will become restless and nervous. In many cases, obedience training is recommended for representatives of this breed.

Where can I find an American Foxhound?

American Foxhounds are not common in Europe. This has to do with the fact that the breed mainly belongs in hunter’s hands. There are few private dog owners who can properly keep the demanding dog and meet all the requirements. It can be difficult to find an American Foxhound breeder as there are not many in Europe. It is best to go to a dog breeder association in your area. They can often help you further. You can also make a trip to America, the country of origin, because the dogs are much more common there. Of course you can also search for a breeder on the internet. Then make sure that the breeder is affiliated with an association and that they consider the health care of the parents of paramount importance. Serious breeders have nothing to hide – you can usually get to know both the puppy and the parents during a visit. You can also ask the breeder questions. He’ll also have some questions for you to make sure his puppy is in good hands. Of course he wants to know if you can meet the high demands of the dog. In general, they only give the American Foxhound to people who will use it for hunting. You will receive the vaccination certificate, health certificate and papers during transfer. If it can also be an adult dog, it is best to search the Internet. For example, there are associations that focus on selling hunting dogs. They occasionally have an American Foxhound or family thereof. If you are not a hunter but a fan of the breed, you can look around shelters – there are often crosses here that resemble the American Foxhound. These dogs are often better suited as family dogs.

Your dog or cat is much more than an animal: it is a family member. Other family members celebrate their birthdays every year, so why not our pets? With fun snacks, cheerful activities, and visitors on the floor, you can organize a real party for your party animal!

Gifts for your dog or cat
A birthday is a perfect time to buy that beautiful scratching post or beautiful collar. Or surprise the furry birthday girl with fun toys. Check out this blog why that’s a good idea anyway!

Party with theme
With a theme party, you really go all out. Is your dog a tomboy who prefers to run across the field all day long? Then celebrate the party on the dog walking field. If your cat loves to cuddle, place pillows everywhere and enjoy a relaxed diaper party.

Save the date
The next step is the invitations. If you have a dog, you can invite all of his canine friends. Cats find visits from their peers less pleasant. Is your dog or cat not so fond of visitors? Then keep the party small or private.

Festive dog snacks and cat treats
Especially on his birthday, you want the best dog snacks or cat treats for the birthday boy. But if you really want to go all out, spoil your dog with a delicious dog pie! You can spoil your cat with delicious chocolates or by making a festive cake from a tub of wet food. A chew bone for the dog or kitten treats is also a good idea!

Create a small studio with fun props (plus some dog biscuits and cat snacks to distract the furry friends for a few seconds) and click away! Read photography tips for your pet here.

Animal-friendly games for everyone
Your dog or cat won’t sit still all afternoon to chat. It’s much more fun to play games. Play candy hide and seek with your dog or cat or play fetch or frisbee with the dog pack.

Quality post-party time
Once everyone is out, it’s time for some extra quality time. First, give your dog or cat the best dog food or the best cat food, and go play or cuddle with him for an hour. Take the dog for a brisk walk or let your cat go wild with some catnip. This is how you close the festive day with an (animal-friendly) ‘bang’

It is possible that at some point you have seen yourself in a situation where your dog ignores you and disobeys your orders. This situation can become very frustrating and desperate. Disobedience can have different levels and appear in different contexts. To help you solve this problem, we show you how to get your dog to listen to you.

Why doesn’t your dog listen to you?

The education and training of dogs in their early stages of life are very important since they will largely prevent behavior problems in the future. On many occasions, dogs disobey orders and behave badly, becoming a frustrating situation for the owners. At this point, it is normal for you to ask yourself: “why does my dog ​​not listen to me?” Here are some of the possible reasons:

Lack of training or education: sometimes, inexperience or ignorance means that proper behavior patterns are not established in dogs. Difficult situations may arise during learning: reinforcement of unwanted behaviors, trying to go faster than the animal can assimilate, lack of patience, etc. Therefore, you must train and prepare for these moments.

Age: it is important to take this factor into account because you do not learn in the same way at all stages of development, nor can you demand the same level from all dogs.

Problems interpreting commands: dogs often ignore commands because they don’t interpret them as such. It is important that your verbal and non-verbal language reflects the same message and that it is consistent with the order you want to convey.

Problems in the affective bond: having a dog at home as a companion is much more than covering its basic needs. You have to establish a solid and trusting affective bond if you want your dog to listen to you.

Use of punishment: dogs, as they grow, learn to relate to the environment around them. It is common for them to do things they don’t like and make mistakes because they are learning. In these situations, it is normal for you to raise your voice and scold him. However, punishment cannot be the basis of learning.  It is much more effective and rewarding to use positive reinforcement.

Very demanding standards: one must not forget that dogs are very different from people, they learn and process differently. It is important to understand this and accept that they also have their needs and need a certain level of freedom. Just like when a person sees something that they like or catches their attention, they stop to look at it, a dog needs to stop to sniff, play, run around, etc.

You don’t like the reinforcements used: the reinforcements are very stimulating to increase the appropriate behaviors. However, it is important to use a booster that the animal likes. Find what he likes the most: sausages, trinkets, etc.

An environment with many distractions: if there are many distracting elements in the environment, the animal’s ability to obey decreases.

How to make your dog listen to you? keys

become a leader

Dogs are pack animals and need a leader. You must become their leader with respect and trust. You must show him that he can trust you and that you can protect him and resolve complicated situations.

In this way, he will trust that the decisions you make and the things you ask of him are the best for him, and your dog is much more likely to listen to you.

grab their attention

For your dog to obey you, it is important that you first have his attention. To do this, you can teach him a command that shows him that it is time to direct his attention to you. Try picking up a treat, putting it in your hand, and holding it close to your eyes while giving the command. It can be: “look!”, “pay attention!”, or the one you like the most.

Improve communication

Dogs do not innately understand the words you use but are guided by the tone of voice and nonverbal behavior. Therefore, you must take care of these factors when showing an order.

On the other hand, it is convenient that you do not use his name to scold him or indicate that the game or the walk is over, because it will associate it with something negative and you will not get your dog to pay attention to you.

Set clear rules

Choose the rules and regulations you want your friend to learn and then show them the commands clearly and consistently. You must maintain coherent guidelines about his behavior so that learning is consolidated.

You can apply different exercises and turn the training into games to make it more stimulating. This step takes time and should be practiced daily. Sometimes you have to spend weeks or months on it.