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Foxhound, American
The American Foxhound is a
sleeker and somewhat faster version of its English cousin.
History:
The Foxhound was originally
developed in Britain sometime during the thirteenth century.
The Foxhound was formed from several Hound breeds including
Staghounds, Greyhounds and perhaps even Bulldogs and Terriers.
The English Foxhound was taken to the USA and bred to Irish
and French Hounds to produce the distinctive American
Foxhound, which is faster and lighter.
Physical
characteristics:
A medium-sized, athletic dog.
Height: not specified, but usually around 23 in (58 cm).
Weight: not specified, but usually around 60 lb (27 kg). The
head is tapered, with a broad skull and negligible stop. The
nose is black and long. The eyes are large, round and brown.
The ears are short, set low, and hang into the cheeks. The
body has a large chest with deep ribs and a wide, level back
below well-sloped shoulders. The tail is long, set high, and
carried gaily. The forequarters are straight and lightly
muscular, the hindquarters strong and solid with straight
stifles. The coat of the American Foxhound is short-haired,
dense and shiny. The coat color is any Hound color: tan and
white with black markings; tan and black with white legs,
throat and tail; or lemon and white pied mixtures.
Behavior:
The American Foxhound is a
sleeker version of the English Foxhound, yet has a similar
temperament. The American Foxhound is a very sociable dog and
seems to really appreciate the company of other dogs. This dog
is very determined in the chase and works very well with
members of its pack. Once on the scent, they operate a as tag
system, with one or two dogs rapidly pursuing the quarry and
then others later taking over at the front. If individuals are
kept as companion animals, they quickly assimilate into the
family. To gain maximum enjoyment from these dogs as companion
animals, they should be given a lot of attention and brought
into the everyday activities of the family.
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