Breed: English Foxhound is an old breed, but it's modern image as a perfect dog for hunting foxes, emerged only in the XIX century. Prior to that, ever since the Middle Ages, the main object of hunting with sighthounds and scenthounds in England was a deer. Large and rather slow scenthounds used to find and rise the beast, the sighthounds were catching him.

As time went on, the dense forests on the island were getting smaller, and the number of deers was significantly reduced. That had pushed the British hunters to go to the more common game - foxes. The new game, or rather, a new type of hunting very soon gained many fans, and no wonder, because the fox baiting is a very fast, athletic and exciting work, that is somewhat different from the traditional hunting with dogs, which was still practiced in some countries on the continent. However, it appeared that the old scenthounds were not well suited to the horse-hunting because of their slowness. That's when began the crossing of a scenthounds with sighthounds, and that's how was gradually obtained much more fast hound.

It should be noted that in the establishment of the English Foxhound, British never cared much about the appearance of the dogs. "Color can not be bad," they said. Disparate, spots and specks on the body, others purely aesthetic exterior blemishes were not considered here as a rough failure.

British breeders did not particularly care about the development of dog's deep chest or about the severity of their sense of smell - so important factors in terms of their counterparts on the continent. When breeding the English Foxhound people were more focused on the development and improvement of such a qualities as speed racing, endurance, psychological compatibility in the pack existence.

As a result, the packs, and they mostly consisted of a very large number of hounds, turned into a very smooth on the composition and very harmonious teams and were working well in most cases, however, those packs were extremely polytypic by exterior.

The English Foxhounds were quite noticeably different from each other depending on the region and the country. Thus, the dogs of Cheshire, Staffordshire and Lancashire were large, powerful animals, but more slow in running comparing to their counterparts from Berkshire, Bedfordshire and Worcestershire. The dogs of Northumberland and Yorkshire were considered to be the fastest. By the way, there were met the flocks of wire-haired Foxhounds, particularly in Wales.

Anyway, they all worked perfectly on the fox, and a well known expert Stonehenge stated that the English Foxhound is one of the most remarkable representatives of the animal world. We still have something to add to the famous expert's opinion: the dogs of this "perfect" race also deserve our attention because so many modern hounds in various countries, both in Europe and America, owe them their appearance. For example, the famous story about a trip of Duke Beaufort in April 1863 to France to hunt with a pack of 60 Foxhounds. Duke wanted to hunt wolves here, but left disappointed. But his dogs did their best.

After Duke left, near Poitou, where was the hunting, appeared a lot of litters of British-French hounds, which may ascend the roots of some modern breeds. At the end of the XIX century many breeders in Europe and in Russia quite consciously began to add the blood of English Foxhounds to the local hunting dogs. Today, the interest in using the English Foxhounds as a producers to create the new breeds is not the same high, and not at all insignificant role in this played the diverse nature of the exterior of this dogs.

English breeders still remain faithful to their principles, and almost reject the aesthetic category in breeding. For the matings until now there are used only first-class working dogs with impeccable pedigrees. The main emphasis is on the development of speed and endurance qualities of dogs, that's why only the fastest English Foxhounds are selected for mating.

English breeders are also very carefully choosing the well built dogs, but into account are taken only those features of the structure of the body that have at least some significance in the hunt. English Foxhound puppies are not recorded in the genealogical book of the English Kennel Club, they are all written, and we must say, with the very strict rules, in the book of English Foxhound Owners Association. In this book are written pedigrees only of those dogs, ??????whose ancestors for at least six generations had no impurities from the outside blood.

Modern English Foxhound is one of the medium-sized hounds, his height at the whithers is less than 60 cm, while in the representatives of many other hunting breeds this particular line is considered minimal. English Foxhound nevertheless is famous for his excellent health, a strong, well built body, physical strength and endurance, and amazing speed. While at home the English Foxhound is an expert on foxes, in other countries he is often used for hunting wild boar, coping well with this task. English Foxhound is well suited for hunting waterfowl as well. This is a very brave dog. English Foxhound never stops, does not retreat, and always gets his way. He has, however, some obscenities in flair. The breed is known around the world. There is even a kind of American Foxhound.

General Features: Head of an English Foxhound is medium-sized. Parietal part is wide and flat. The transition from forehead to the muzzle is not sharply pronounced. Muzzle is relatively long with large nostrils. Eyes are medium-sized, round shape. Hazel color.

Drooping ears of an english Foxhound are broad at the base, flat hanging.

The body of an English Foxhound is well built, slightly stretched. Suited for rapid and prolonged running. The neck is long but not thick. Shoulders must not be heavy. The chest is deep, with rounded edges. The back is broad. The loin is long enough.

Legs of the English Foxhound are long, with strong bones and good muscles. Feet are rounded, with a tightly clenched fingers. Tail is of a medium length, set on high.

The coat of an English foxhound is short, thick, hard nd shiny.

Color: tri-color - black and tan with white, or white with red markings.

Temperament: Foxhound has always been a gregarious dog, and even now he can hardly be seen as a family pet. For example, those few representatives of the English Foxhounds, found in Germany, live mainly in the packs. As the use of this gregarious dogs to hunt wild animals is prohibited, Foxhounds annually take part in the autumn sport hunting, working on an artificial track, accompanied by members of hunting, which are riding horses. The English Foxhound is extremely hardy, as in the past they had sometimes to chase foxes on the trail for several days.

They still remain a great need to move. Due to the fact that the English Foxhounds were always selected for independent work in the pack, as well as to their highly developed hunting instinct, it is not an easy task to teach the dogs of this breed basic obedience. But of course, it depends a lot on the owner. Despite their friendly nature, they are not exactly suited to the role of a companion dogs. The English Foxhound should be kept as far as possible in the pack or, at least in small groups, preferably in a large area where they could freely run.

This gregarious dogs would more enjoy life in the countryside or somewhere on the kennel yard. Living in the apartment for them is unacceptable. English Foxhound hates loneliness and inactivity.

Health problems: English Foxhound is generally a very healthy breed.

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