English Foxhound

By Sophie Kininmonth · 30 Dec 2025 (updated 21 Jul 2026) ·6 min read

The English Foxhound is a tall, hardy scent hound bred to run for hours in a pack, and that job left it with two of its best traits: a friendly, even temper and an easy sociability with other dogs.^{1, 2} Well-exercised, it is a gentle, companionable dog that settles nicely at home. It is also a serious commitment. This is an endurance animal that needs long daily walks, secure fencing, and a household that enjoys being outdoors, and its nose can override obedience in an instant. Get the exercise right and most of the challenges take care of themselves.

History and Origin

The English Foxhound was developed to follow a trail over long distances, in a pack, with steady determination. That history still sits under the skin. Many are happiest when they can move for a long time, use their nose, and spend time around other dogs.^{1, 4} It is also why recall is so often the make-or-break issue. When scent takes over, the world narrows. Training can improve reliability, but the instinct to follow a smell is not something you train out.^{3, 4}

Appearance and Physical Characteristics

English Foxhounds are athletic hounds with a strong, balanced frame and plenty of leg. In the Australian breed standard, height is listed at about 58 to 64 cm (23 to 25 inches) at the shoulder.¹ The coat is short, dense and weatherproof, built for weather and hard ground rather than softness, and it sheds in a practical, year-round way.¹

Height: approx. 58 to 64 cm at the shoulder¹
Coat: short, dense, weatherproof¹
Colour: any recognised hound colour and markings¹

Temperament and Personality

Well-bred English Foxhounds are generally described as friendly and not aggressive. As traditional pack hounds, many are naturally comfortable around other dogs and can be very social when introduced appropriately.^{1, 2} The pattern at home is simple: calm when their needs are met, unsettled when they are not. Without enough daily movement and sniffing time, a Foxhound can become noisy, restless, or determinedly destructive. That is less naughtiness than a body built for endurance with nothing to do.^{3, 4}

Is an English Foxhound Right for You?

This is not a small backyard and a short walk dog. English Foxhounds generally suit households that can offer space, time outdoors, and a steady routine, often in quieter suburban or rural settings where long walks are easy to do well rather than squeezed in at the end of the day.³ They can live happily as part of a family, but they do best when the adults are realistic about the work: daily exercise, scent-driven enrichment, and secure boundaries. In return you typically get a sociable, even-tempered hound who settles once body and brain have had enough to do.^{1, 4}

Good match if: you enjoy long daily walks, like training in small doses, and can provide secure fencing and calm structure.
Think twice if: you need reliable off-lead recall in unfenced areas, you are away for long hours most days, or noise would be a serious problem.

Training and Exercise

These dogs were built for long, steady work, and a quick lap around the block will not touch the sides. The UK Kennel Club's breed guidance describes exercise needs as more than 2 hours per day for adults, and needs vary by age and individual.³ The most useful outlets tend to be the quiet, practical ones:

Long, varied walks where the dog can sniff and investigate (on lead if recall is not rock-solid).
Scent games at home: scattered kibble in the grass, simple find-it trails, food puzzles.
Secure running space. Fencing matters, because scent hounds can travel surprisingly far with little hesitation.^{3, 4}

Puppies and adolescents need a lighter touch: plenty of training and enrichment, with age-appropriate exercise that builds fitness without overloading growing joints. English Foxhounds can learn manners and routines well, but many are independent thinkers and scent can override polite obedience. Training works best when it is steady, reward-based, and built into everyday life, with short sessions, frequent pay-offs, and clear boundaries.⁴ Two practical priorities: recall and lead skills (including a long line) before you gamble on off-lead freedom, and early socialisation with people, dogs, vehicles, surfaces, and the calm routines of home life.

Health and Lifespan

No breed is rarely affected by health problems; they simply have patterns. For English Foxhounds it is sensible to keep an eye on joints, ears, and weight, especially in a dog that loves food and can be less self-regulating when exercise drops.

Hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis

Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition where the hip joint does not form as it should, leading to joint laxity and, over time, degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). It is most common in larger dogs, and signs may include stiffness, reduced range of motion, and lameness that worsens after exercise.^{5, 6} If you are buying a puppy, ask what hip screening the parents have had and what scheme was used. If you already have a dog, weight control and structured, joint-friendly exercise are the quiet levers that often make the biggest difference.⁵

Ear infections (otitis externa)

Dogs with pendant (floppy) ears can be more prone to ear infections, because the ear canal can stay warm and moist. Head shaking, scratching, redness, odour, or discharge are common warning signs.^{1, 7}

Obesity

Extra weight does not just change how a dog looks. It increases strain on joints and can worsen mobility problems over time. For an endurance hound, staying lean is part of staying comfortable.

Grooming and Care

The coat is straightforward. A weekly brush usually keeps shedding under control and helps you check for ticks, grass seeds, and small skin problems. Bathing is occasional, when the dog is truly dirty or starting to smell like yesterday's adventure.³

Ears: check weekly and act early if there is smell, redness, or discharge.⁷
Nails: trim as needed. Active dogs still often need help, especially if they are mostly on grass.
Teeth: brushing is the gold standard for home care, and consistency matters more than intensity. Look for products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council if you are using dental chews or rinses.⁸

A Few Things Worth Knowing

Are they good family dogs? Many are friendly and social and can do well with families, especially with enough daily exercise and supervision. Their size and energy suit active households.^{1, 4}
How much exercise? Often more than 2 hours a day for adults, plus time to sniff and explore. Needs vary by age and individual.³
Do they shed a lot? They have a short, dense coat and they do shed. Weekly brushing keeps it manageable.^{1, 3}
Easy to train? They can learn well, but scent drive and independence mean training works best with calm consistency, rewards, and good management, especially around recall.⁴

The Bottom Line

The English Foxhound is a purpose-built animal: tall, hardy, social, and engineered for stamina. When their needs are met, their temperament is often gentle and companionable. When they are under-walked or under-stimulated, they can feel like a dog with too much engine and nowhere to put it. If you can commit to the daily walks, the enrichment, and the secure fencing, the rest tends to fall into place.^{1, 3, 4}

References

Sophie Kininmonth

Dog lover and writer at My Pets Australia, sharing practical breed guides and care advice for Australian pet owners.