The English Foxhound is the epitome of what serious dog breeders strive for: beauty, balance, and utility. The long legs are straight as a gatepost, and just as sturdy. The back is perfectly level. And the chest is very deep, “girthing” as much as 31 inches on a hound measuring 24 inches at the shoulder, ensuring plenty of lung power for a grueling day’s hunt. “Next to an old Greek statue,” a poet wrote, “there are few such combinations of grace and strength as in a fine Foxhound.”
- The English Foxhound’s roots in Great Britain date back before 1800, with the English stud books published by the Masters of Foxhounds Association.
- The breeding of Foxhounds in England has always been in the hands of the master of the hounds, who kept the most careful records of their breeding operations. These hounds have always been used for foxhunting as followed in the English fashion of riding to hounds.
- There have been over 250 packs of hounds in Great Britain, all of which used English Hounds. In America we have over a hundred packs, of which not over ten percent use hounds which would be eligible for the English Foxhound Stud Book.
- In America, the earliest entries in the English Foxhound Stud Book of America date back to 1890, but there are records which would indicate that there were many earlier importations. Certainly the blood of the Genesee Valley pack must date at least twenty years before that time, records having been kept of it with fair accuracy ever since.
- In appearance the English Hound is far stouter than his American cousin. Still used in foxhunting, the English Foxhound is a versatile dog that can be trained to hunt almost any ground game. His stamina, good nose and determination make him a prized companion in the field.
The above text and image © 2017 American Kennel Club.