Where the American Foxhound came from
The American Foxhound is a scent hound bred to hunt foxes by following their trail. In 1650 Robert Brooke sailed from England to Maryland with his pack of hunting dogs, which became the root of several American hound strains.
The AKC calls George Washington the Father of the American Foxhound. Washington loved fox hunting and bred hounds at Mount Vernon in the 1700s. He is said to have received French hounds from the Marquis de Lafayette. Later, Irish Foxhounds were added to some lines for speed and stamina.
The AKC recognized the American Foxhound in 1886. Today there are several strains, such as Walker, Calhoun, July and Penn-Marydel. The breed is the state dog of Virginia. Most are still hunting hounds, and they need lots of exercise.
- 1650 Robert Brooke sails to Maryland with a pack of hunting dogs that become the root of several American hound strains
- 1700s George Washington breeds foxhounds in Virginia
- 1886 AKC recognizes the American Foxhound
- 1976 P & R Ginger Jo R wins both the United States Open and the National Field Trial Championship in the same year
The job an American Foxhound was bred for
A pack hound that followed a fox's scent for miles at a steady speed, and gave tongue so riders and hunters could follow. That is why many American Foxhounds follow their nose, bay, and run off when a good scent hits the air. They are usually friendly with other dogs, since they were bred to work in packs.
What you may see at home
Friendly with other dogs, follows its nose, bays, wanders off, needs lots of daily exercise.
Give them: Sniff walks, scent work, tracking, a long line in open areas, and a quiet cue.
Sports that fit an American Foxhound
- Scent work. Gives a nose-driven hound a focused job
- Tracking. A trail they were built to follow
- Fast CAT. A timed sprint for an athletic, high-energy hound
- Hiking. Long, steady walks match their stamina, on leash or long line
- Field trials. Hound field trials test their natural trailing and stamina
Training tips for an American Foxhound
- Use tasty food and keep it short. Hounds will not work for a boring reward.
- Teach a recall with a long line. A scent can pull them away fast.
- Reward quiet, since baying is part of the breed and neighbors may not love it.
- Give daily sniff walks and scent games so they burn off mental energy.
Body and health
Lean, athletic and tough. Deep chest, so bloat is a concern. Check and clean the long, hanging ears, and keep up exercise so they do not get bored and loud.
Fun fact. The American Foxhound is the state dog of Virginia, and the AKC credits George Washington as the Father of the American Foxhound.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your American Foxhound is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.