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Hound breeds: American Foxhound
Origin
 The first mention of the importation of the English Foxhound to the United States is in the diary of one of DeSoto's men. It is also known that a pack was brought to America in 1650 with Robert Brooke. George Washington imported hounds from England and in 1785 received some French Foxhounds from Lafayette. These importations formed the basis of the current American Foxhound. In 1830, Foxhounds from Ireland were imported and added to the strain.
Foxhounds in the United States are used for four primary purposes, and these have dictated the varying styles that have been seen over the years: the field trial hound, the personal fox-hunting (with a gun) hound, the trail or "drag" hounds used for racing, and the pack hunting hounds used by hunt clubs and farmers. In recent years, the American Foxhound Club and the Masters of Foxhounds Association have made great strides in standardizing the breed type.
General description
Height: 21-25 inches
Weight: 65-70 pounds
Color: Any color is acceptable.
Grooming requirements
Grooming this breed requires little more than a curry brush, spray conditioner and some time. Regular ear cleaning and nail clipping are necessary.
Health considerations
The American Foxhound can have a problem with deafness.
Breed characteristics and personality
The Foxhound requires a lot of exercise and is not suited for city living. To keep the dog, a fenced yard is a requirement. This breed does best kenneled. This breed is generally not considered as a family pet, but is very gentle with children.
The Foxhound is a warrior in the hunt field but sweet and affectionate when not at work. His bark is so melodious that it has been used in songs.
Uses
Today this breed is used for hunting wild animals. He is efficient and untiring, able to run from sunup to sundown without tiring and come back again the next day for more.
Web links
AKC American Foxhound page
American Foxhound Club
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