Foxhound Breed Origins and Caracteristics
At the beginning of the 17th century, hunting with pack of hounds was in fashion in England, following the example of France. Henry IV gave the King of England, John I, horses and dogs selected for this purpose. In England the given dogs were crossed with the Talbot breed, which has now disappeared, and with dogs, which according to the available data were called Southern Hounds and Northern Hounds. In order to increase the speed for racing, they were crossed with the greyhounds. Naturally, they evolved differently depending on the owner of the pack of hounds, but later the type was standardized. In the heart of the pack, this breed runs with great speed but it feels an insuperable aversion for the bushes and the difficult-access places. Therefore the packs of Foxhounds are accompanied or completed with different terrier species that help with hunting in inaccessible places or burrows.
The first Foxhounds were introduced in America in the 13th century. As the imports multiplied, the dogs coming from England, Ireland and France were crossed and a more adequate type was created with the American conditions. But the selective breeding base of the Foxhound lacked of homogeneity and the owner of the different packs did not strive to standardize said breeding.
The Foxhound feels happy in the heart of the pack. It is not appropriate for an apartment.
Foxhound: Size: 60-69 cm. Weight: 35 kg approximately. Colors: all the combinations of black, brown-tan or white or these combined colors (reddish brown, brown gray, etc). The tricolor dogs (1) have patches in bright colors or a big dark layer that covers the back totally. The pack of Foxhounds follows the hunt with loud barking, which in hunting terms is called "giving the voice". The barking must sound loud in the surroundings, that is why the owners of the pack look for dogs which voice would always allows them to differentiate the animal from the other members of the pack.
American Foxhound (2). Size: 54-64 cm; the female is a bit smaller than the male. Weight: 30-35 kg. All the colors are authorized. The hair is bit longer than the Foxhounds. Unlike the first, the American Foxhound is used especially to follow he hunt and the trails of blood.
