Grooming
While you could take your American Foxhound to the groomer for a pro bath and blow out, these are low-maintenance dogs, so don’t be afraid to DIY.
Thanks to their short coats, American Foxhound grooming is simple. These dogs shed less than other breeds and have “wash-and-go” coats that require minimal care. Brush them once a week with a bristle brush or grooming mitt to remove excess hair and lather them up in the bath a few times a year to remove dirt and oil from their coats (or more often if they spend a lot of time hiking in the woods, swimming or rolling in pungent places). While you’re giving your pup the once-over with a brush, be sure to check their ears for signs of infection (redness, swelling) and alert your vet if you notice anything unusual. Your vet my recommend you clean their ears as needed.
Trim their nails about once a month. You’ll know it’s time for a trim when you hear them clacking on hard surfaces.
Dental care is also important. American Foxhounds, like all breeds, benefit from an at-home routine that includes dental chews and rinses and brushing their teeth daily. The earlier you start, the easier it’ll be to make oral health a habit. And don’t forget to schedule an annual professional dental cleaning with your vet.
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Training
Although American Foxhounds have great qualities, including sweet temperaments, a strong-willed streak is one of their well-known traits. Like other scent hounds, American Foxhounds have high levels of intelligence but like to follow their noses and can be easily distracted by their environment.
To succeed in training, break down skills into smaller steps and offer rewards like treats, toys or praise for accomplishing each step. American Foxhounds have high energy levels, and keeping training fast-paced can keep them from becoming bored.
Signing up for obedience training and practicing recall (come when called) is also important. Obedience training teaches your American Foxhound puppy important skills like sit, stay and come and how to walk nicely on a leash. Keeping them on a leash or in fenced areas prevents them from following a scent and not coming back. It’s important to realize that, even if you teach them to come when called, they may not come back if they catch an interesting scent and are off-leash. (These dogs were born to hunt by scent and are known for their speed.)
And don’t forget socialization! Even though this pup is very friendly, you want to make sure they have lots of positive experiences with people and other dogs while they’re puppies. (It’ll help bring out the best of their bubbly personalities as they get older.) Enroll them in puppy preschool, where they’ll learn to play nicely with other pups and get to meet other pup parents all in one location.
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Diet
Like all breeds, American Foxhounds benefit from being fed well-balanced commercial dog food designed for their life stage (puppy, adult, senior). Ask your vet for information about choosing a formula for active breeds to ensure your high-energy dog gets the calories they need for optimal health.
Foxhounds are enthusiastic eaters and may eat too much (and gain weight) if they are allowed to graze all day; measure out their kibble and feed them one to two meals every day to keep their weight in check. Your veterinarian can create a feeding chart to help you determine how much to feed your American Foxhound.
Even though these pups are very active, obesity can still be a concern if they eat too much. Remember to limit treats to no more than 10 percent of their daily calories to prevent weight gain. (Those calories count, too!) If you notice your pup’s getting a little portly, chat with your vet. They can help you balance mealtimes, snacks and exercise to help your pup shed the weight and get the nutrition they need.
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Exercise
If American Foxhounds could write their dating profiles, the first line would read, “No couch potatoes allowed.”
These dogs were bred to follow the scent of a fox, traveling across difficult terrain for long distances and, even if there are no foxes to hunt, American Foxhounds are not lapdogs. They’re an active breed who requires lots of exercise, like hiking, swimming or competitive dog sports (think: agility, obedience and tracking). Plan on at least an hour (if not more) every day. It’s important to keep them on a leash or in fenced areas to prevent these scent hounds from following their nose and running off. And remember, if their exercise needs aren’t met, the Foxhound breed can become bored and destructive. Pro tip: A tired Foxhound is a well-behaved Foxhound.
Mental stimulation is important, too. Teach them new tricks, provide lots of opportunities to sniff during walks and give them food puzzles to solve when inside to keep them entertained.
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Environment
American Foxhounds need active families. This easygoing, good-natured breed gets along well with children and other dogs and even loves strangers, especially if those interactions involve running, jumping, wrestling, fetch, tug-of-war or other fast-paced activities.
Although they are medium-sized dogs, their go-go-go personalities might be too much for families with very small children who could get knocked down by an exuberant American Foxhound.
Their ideal home has a fenced backyard with neighbors who don’t mind being serenaded by bays and howls on a regular basis. They’re a vocal breed with a lot to say, so a living situation with shared walls may not be a great fit.
With outgoing personalities and a desire to be on the go, these social butterflies will make sure you meet all of your neighbors (and the mail carrier, local shopkeepers and other dog parents at the park). The more social interactions and physical activities in their lives, the happier they’ll be.
The Foxhound breed also needs boundaries. The breed has an independent streak and may resist training, so expect to spend time teaching them good manners using positive, rewards-based training.
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