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American Foxhound Dog Breed Best Information And Tips

The American Foxhound is loving, sweet and kind. They can be good with children and other dogs but they are hunters so do not trust them with other pets. They do not do well in apartments but can make a good family pet, they can adapt if started at an early age. They do need lots of exercise, socialization with people and other pets, and obedience training.

They are a bit independent. They were bred to run and love to track scents. In fact, unless they were raised indoors, they are an outdoor type dog needing lots of fenced in space to exercise and proper shelter. They are slender, muscular and built to run.

*Approximate Adult Size. Males will run 22 to 25 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and females will run 21 to 24 inches to the withers. Either sex can weigh from 65 to 75 pounds.

*Special Health Considerations. No breed genetic disorders have been isolated yet. Canine hip dysphasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness) is an occasional problem, as well as chronic ear problems and platelet disease or thrombocytopathy.

*Grooming. The coat is medium length, and considered hard. They shed an average amount and need a firm bristle brush. Bathe sparingly. Their teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs.
Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious diseases.
*Life Span. The life span with proper care and food is 11 to 13 years.

*History. Some early settlers to America brought their hounds with them. They were quite valuable as they helped hunt game starting almost 200 years ago. Much breeding and cross breeding between French, English and Irish hounds resulted in the American Foxhound. There are different strains today, still known as American Foxhounds. The walker strain is most popular and then there is Goodman, Hudspeth, Calhoun, Trigg, and July. These dogs were once used in packs to hunt game.

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS

Very good with children.

Generally get along well with other dogs.

With proper socialization, will get along with cats and other pets.

The state animal of Virginia.

Very popular in the US south.

Like to hunt in packs.

Good guard dog.

He has an excellent nose, scent wise.

Reliable hunter.

Great sense of smell.

Can run for miles.

*SPECIAL BAD POINTS

Will run if given a chance. A fence or leash a must.

Should attend obedience class.

Can be independent and stubborn.

Would prefer you to keep a extra hound or two for company.

Can gain weight easily from over feeding.

Can be a chore to housebreak.

Rarely used as a family pet.

Some are not very affectionate.

About the Author

For more information on the American Foxhound or a full list of dog breeds take a look at this Dog Training website.

the doctor told me the cough i’ve had for 5 months is caused by allergies, what am i allergic to?

it started in July after I had the flu, I had a chronic and persistent cough that got worse whenever I would run or walk quickly or do alot of labor like work that required me to breath harder or quicker. I saw a doctor about it after almost 5 months and he told me I had allergies, and perscribe Flonase to me, the meds help but is there a way to find out what I’m allergic to? it’s winter now so I can’t imagine it’s plant related, we have cats and dogs but we’ve always had cats and dogs, and I’ve never been allergic to them, in the spring and fall of this year I had minor allergies to, i guess, plants and pollen..itchy eyes, sneezing, ect. but now it’s just the cough

Ask your doctor to refer you to an allergist so you can have allergy testing done and find out exactly what you are allergic to. That way if it is allergies, you can avoid those things, and if it’s not, then you have proof that it’s not and your doctor will have to start looking elsewhere for the cause of your cough.

An allergist will perform a skin scratch test, which sounds painful but isn’t. They mark the skin on your back with about 40 pen marks, then take small plastic lancets dipped in serum from different allergens and scratch your skin lightly with them. It feels like a little scratch, like if you ran your fingernail over your skin with light to medium pressure, nothing more. Doesn’t hurt at all. They do this with dozens of different allergens – plants, animals, foods, etc. – and then wait for 15-20 minutes for your skin to react. They rate the reaction on a 0-4 scale, 0 being no reaction and 4 being a full-blown allergic response. The more severe the reaction, the more severe your allergy.

If the scratch test doesn’t reveal much, they may also (or alternatively) do an injection test. It is similar except they usually use the skin on your upper arm for this. They mark your skin in pen the same way, then inject a small amount of the serum with a hypodermic needle just underneath the top layer of your skin, forming a tiny bubble, maybe half the size of an eraser head. The idea is the same, to gauge your allergic response to each allergen, only this is a more direct contact because the serum itself is being injected under the skin rather than being introduced on top of the skin with the scratch of a lancet.

If you do have allergies, this test should uncover them. If you don’t, then you can work with your doctor to find out what is actually causing this persistent cough. Good luck!

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