Plate 135 · British Isles
English Foxhound
英国猎狐犬
“The hound of the English hunt.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- England
- Country of origin
- An English breed; the sources name no single place, so the marker is the United Kingdom's reference point.
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- 17th century; studbooks from before 1800
- Today
- Pack hound · Hunting dog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
England
A sturdy pack hound bred for the English fox hunt, with studbooks going back to the 18th century.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunting fox in packs ahead of mounted riders.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
As forests and deer declined, the English gentry turned to fox hunting from the 1600s, and masters of hounds bred hounds for nose, stamina and speed. Hound studbooks were kept from the 18th century. English Foxhounds were also sent to India for jackal hunting.
04 · Today
Pack hound · Hunting dog
Still mainly a pack hound; rarely kept as a pet.
Personality
- Sociable
- Affectionate
- Gentle
- Vocal
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Needs a lot of exercise and space; not suited to city or apartment life.
- Grooming
- Minimal: a weekly brush.
- Training
- Independent: consistent, patient training.
Living with one
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 10–13 years
- Coat
- Short, dense, hard and glossy coat in hound colours: black, tan and white, or any combination of them
Field note
The first English Foxhound registered by the AKC, in 1909, was named Auditor.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Hound Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 6, standard 159), The Kennel Club (UK, as Foxhound)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Hound Group, recognized 1909.
A pack hound bred for the traditional British foxhunt. AKC registrations: ranked 187 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- English Foxhound — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/english-foxhound/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- English Foxhound — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Foxhound
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Studbooks from the 18th century, relationship with the American Foxhound, jackal hunting in India.
- English Foxhound — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/ENGLISH-FOXHOUND-159.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Great Britain; Group 6, section "Scent hounds"; accepted 1955.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: An English breed; the sources name no single place, so the marker is the United Kingdom's reference point.
