Overview
The English Foxhound has been bred for centuries by hunts to run in a pack, follow a line of scent at speed and keep going from first light until the hounds are boxed up. Almost all of them live in hunt kennels, and the few that reach pet homes are usually retired or failed hounds rehomed by a pack.
They are amiable, tolerant and very good with other dogs, having spent their lives in a crowd of them. House manners can be thin and recall is an idea they have never needed. Patience and a good lead get you a long way.
Exercise and walking needs
Two hours is a modest day for a hound bred to cover thirty miles. A pet Foxhound will settle for less, but a short walk twice a day leaves a dog that paces and bays.
Running beside a bike, long lead walks over fields and a secure paddock to open up in are the practical options. A canal towpath with no exits is a useful compromise.
On the walk
- Recall: Essentially absent. Once the head drops onto a line of scent the hound goes, and it will not hear you. Keep it on a line in open country.
- Pulling: Strong and constant with a scent ahead. A padded harness and two hands. Do not attach a Foxhound to anything you cannot hold.
- Other dogs: The best part of the breed. They greet other dogs with easy, well-practised manners and love company.
- Voice: Baying is loud, carries a long way and happens when excited. Pick routes away from housing where you can.
Tips for professional walkers
- Walk with another steady dog if you can; Foxhounds are calmer in company.
- Expect scavenging. Pack hounds eat fast and anything, so watch the verges.
- Get the dog used to the car and the house routine; many ex-kennel hounds have never seen stairs.
What to ask the owner
- Did the hound come from a kennel, and how long has it lived in a house?
- Does it have any recall at all, and does the owner ever let it off?
- Does it have a habit of eating things on walks, and has that ever caused a problem?