English Foxhound
SociableActiveGentle
England · 10–13 years
About the English Foxhound
The English Foxhound is the quintessential pack hound, developed in England over centuries for mounted fox hunting. They are the ancestors of many American hound breeds and represent the ideal of the traditional foxhound — athletic, tireless, and built for stamina over speed. English Foxhounds are friendly, sociable, and remarkably gentle, but they are almost exclusively kept as pack dogs in hunting kennels rather than as individual pets. Their strong pack mentality, immense exercise needs, and powerful baying make them challenging companions for most households, but breed enthusiasts treasure their noble temperament and classic hound beauty.
Breed stats
- Height
- 24–25 in
- Weight
- 60–75 lbs
- Lifespan
- 10–13 years
- Group
- Hound
- Coat
- Short, dense, hard, glossy
- Origin
- England
Coat colors
- Tricolor
- Lemon and White
- Tan and White
- Any hound color
Temperament & ratings
Compatibility
Exercise & feeding
Daily exercise
90–120 min
per day recommended
Daily food
2.5–3 cups
high-quality dry food
Common health issues
- Hip dysplasia
- Renal disease
- Epilepsy
- Ear infections
- Bloat
Not every English Foxhound will develop these conditions, but awareness helps with early detection. Regular veterinary checkups and choosing a responsible breeder who health-tests their dogs are the best preventive measures.
Can English Foxhounds eat...
- Can dogs eat blueberries?Safe
- Can dogs eat grapes?Toxic
- Can dogs eat bananas?Safe
- Can dogs eat chocolate?Toxic
- Can dogs eat watermelon?Safe
- Can dogs eat cheese?Caution
- Can dogs eat almonds?Caution
- Can dogs eat apples?Safe
Frequently Asked Questions
- English Foxhounds are rarely kept as individual pets — they are overwhelmingly pack dogs kept in hunting kennels. Their extreme exercise needs (90-120 minutes of vigorous activity daily), powerful baying, and strong pack instinct make them very challenging as typical household pets. They can become depressed without canine company and destructive without sufficient exercise. However, for very active, rural families who understand hound behavior and can provide companionship of other dogs, they can be gentle, loyal pets. They are the rarest AKC breed in terms of individual pet registrations.
- English Foxhounds are the rarest AKC breed for pet registrations because they are purpose-bred pack hunting dogs. Most live in organized hunting kennels as working hounds, not in individual homes. Their breeding has focused on pack temperament, stamina, and hunting ability rather than pet suitability. They need extreme exercise, constant canine companionship, and have a loud, carrying bay unsuitable for residential areas. They are not independent enough to thrive as single dogs, and their hunting drive makes off-leash freedom risky. As a result, almost no one acquires them as typical family pets.
- English Foxhounds need 90 to 120 minutes of vigorous exercise daily — they are among the most demanding breeds for exercise. They were bred to run alongside horses for hours during fox hunts and have seemingly limitless stamina. Without sufficient exercise, they become destructive, noisy, and deeply unhappy. Long runs, extensive hikes, and free-running in secure areas are necessary. A few walks around the block will not come close to meeting their needs. This extreme exercise requirement is a primary reason they are unsuitable for most households and remain primarily pack hunting dogs.
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