The English foxhound is a hunting dog that has been around for many years because of crossbreeding between the Bulldog, Greyhound and Fox Terrier. The English wanted this dog to be the perfect combination of everything they needed for foxhunting.
The first English foxhound to be registered was a dog named "Auditor". The English foxhound is a rare breed of dog, with only 32 registered in 1995. Not only is it a rare breed, but it is the rarest breed in the United States according to the AKC. Even today, the American Kennel Club only has a small number registered. The latest count with the AKC was under twenty. There have been some Champion English foxhounds since their first registration. From 1993 to 1995, 28 English foxhounds earned Championship titles.
There are many surprising facts regarding the English foxhound that many are not aware of. One fact is that many British hunters would put their foxhounds down after they reached 6 or 7 years of age, the age when they felt they were no longer effective hunters. Today many English foxhounds are "retired" at this time and put in rescue or retirement homes where they will, hopefully, find a new home.
Did you know the most difficult command to teach the English foxhound is "come"? This is because they have such a high drive to seek prey as well as an excellent sense of smell and are always ready to chase after something. Because of this they get very easily distracted. This is why basic obedience should be taught at as young an age as possible.
When the English foxhound was originally bred, it had to work in what was called "the Quorn", which was the name of the pack of foxhounds that were trained to scent, track and stop the fox. They had a very loud booming voice that could be heard by their owners for a long distance.
Did you know that there are stores that sell many kinds of merchandise for the English foxhound lover? Whether it's clothing like t-shirts or hats, coffee mugs or towels, you can get your dog's picture on many items of merchandise. They make great gifts for that special someone that can't get enough of their English foxhound.
Another interesting fact is that the English foxhound is probably one of the best dogs for people with allergies. They are very light shedders and if they are rubbed down with a wet cloth, the hair will be picked up by the cloth, thus minimizing shedding.
The English foxhound gained a lot of popularity after the famous movie, "The Fox and the Hound". Many young kids suddenly wanted their parents to get a hound dog for their pet.
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