Breeds / Large
English Foxhound puppies
Sociable, tolerant and bred to live in a pack, the English Foxhound is a gentle, easygoing dog indoors and a tireless runner outside.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 27.2 to 34 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 60 to 75 lb
- Adult height 61 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short double
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 10 to 13 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the English Foxhound
The English Foxhound was built by British hunts to run in a pack behind a fox, and everything about them follows from that: straight legs, a deep chest, a short hard coat and a very large voice. This is a level headed, sociable dog, bred over centuries to work shoulder to shoulder with dozens of other hounds and to accept handling from anyone. That makes them easy in company, top rated with children and other pets, and remarkably relaxed indoors once they have been worked.
Be ready for the running: Foxhounds were made to cover miles and are poorly suited to a flat or a small garden. Give one a rural home, long brisk walks or a jogging partner, and a fence that holds. Grooming is a weekly hound glove and regular ear cleaning. Two things surprise new owners: the volume of the bay, which carries across fields, and the fact that a hound on a scent stops hearing you, so keep them on a lead outside secure ground.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a English Foxhound puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs, so owners should learn the signs
- Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
- Ear infections in the low hanging ears, caught by regular ear checks
- Foot and pad injuries from hard running, found by checking the feet after exercise
Your English Foxhound puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a English Foxhound.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 27.2 to 34 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 42 inch (42 x 28 x 30 in, 107 x 71 x 76 cm) for an adult of up to 34 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the English Foxhound
Previous: English Cocker Spaniel · Next: English Setter
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from English Foxhound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/english-foxhound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.