American Foxhound Dogs for Adoption in Des Moines, IA

An American Foxhound is a tall, athletic scent hound developed in the United States to hunt foxes in packs. It has long legs, long hanging ears, a close hard coat in any color and a musical bay. Many are gentle, sociable and easygoing, but they are also independent, energetic and strongly driven by scent, which shapes life with one.

Yes, George Washington played a key role in developing the American Foxhound and is often called the father of the breed. He kept detailed records of his hounds at Mount Vernon and crossed them with English hounds and French hounds sent by the Marquis de Lafayette. Earlier colonists such as Robert Brooke had brought hounds to Maryland in 1650.

American Foxhounds can make good pets for active owners who enjoy outdoor time and can accept a vocal, independent dog. Many are affectionate, mellow indoors once exercised and friendly with other dogs. They are a harder fit for apartment dwellers, people wanting off-leash reliability or homes that cannot handle baying. Hounds from hunting kennels may need house-training.

Train an American Foxhound with patience, high-value food rewards and short sessions in low-distraction places. Their noses compete with your instructions, so build recall slowly on a long line and never rely on it in open areas. House-training, leash manners and a quiet cue are early priorities. Harsh corrections tend to make hounds shut down or ignore you.

Yes, American Foxhounds shed, though their short, hard coat makes it manageable. They drop hair year-round, with somewhat heavier shedding during seasonal changes. Weekly brushing with a rubber curry or hound glove removes loose hair and keeps the coat healthy. They rarely need baths unless they roll in something, which hounds enjoy doing.

American Foxhounds typically live about 10 to 13 years. They are generally considered a hardy breed, though individual health varies with genetics, care and history. Keeping a hound lean, checking its ears often and keeping up with routine veterinary care supports a long life. Senior hounds usually slow down but still enjoy daily sniffing walks.

American Foxhounds are large, lean dogs that usually stand about 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder, with the show standard allowing males up to 28 inches. Most weigh around 55 to 70 pounds, and field-bred hounds can be lighter. Females are generally smaller. Their long legs and narrow chest make them look taller and lighter than heavier breeds of similar height.

Yes, American Foxhounds are considered one of the rarest breeds in American Kennel Club registrations. Most are bred for hunting packs and field trials rather than registered as pets, though, so hounds of the type are not unusual in rural shelters, particularly in the South and East. Many dogs listed as foxhounds are field hounds or hound mixes.

Yes, American Foxhounds are hunting dogs, bred to follow the scent of foxes and coyotes, usually in packs. They are still used in mounted foxhunts, field trials and hound hunting traditions where hunters listen to the pack run. Those instincts stay strong in pet foxhounds, which explains their love of trailing, baying and roaming far if given the chance.

Many American Foxhounds are affectionate with their people, enjoying couch time and gentle attention once their exercise needs are met. Their affection is often calm rather than clingy, and some are a bit reserved with strangers at first. Hounds raised in kennels may take weeks to learn that petting and indoor life are pleasant, but most warm up steadily.

American Foxhounds are not generally aggressive. Bred to work in packs alongside other hounds and people, they tend to be tolerant and gentle. Food guarding can appear in some dogs that grew up competing in kennels, and any dog may react to fear or pain. Watch an individual hound's behavior with food, dogs and children.

American Foxhounds are not good guard dogs. They may bay loudly when someone arrives, which can serve as an alert, but most are friendly toward visitors and have little protective instinct. Their pack background makes them more likely to greet a stranger than confront one. Owners wanting a protection dog would be better served by a different type.

American Foxhounds are often loyal and attached to their family, though their loyalty looks different from that of a herding or guarding breed. They tend to bond with the household as a whole and may follow their nose rather than stay by your side outdoors. Indoors, many become devoted companions that enjoy routines and being close to their people.

Yes, American Foxhounds are smart, but their intelligence is built for working independently on a scent trail rather than following commands. They solve problems such as opening food containers or escaping yards readily. In training, they may seem stubborn because they weigh your request against whatever their nose finds. Food rewards and patience bring out their abilities.

Yes, a fit American Foxhound naturally looks lean, with a narrow waist and long legs, and a faint outline of the last ribs can be normal. Hips, spine or every rib standing out clearly is too thin, though. Hounds from hunting kennels sometimes arrive underweight and fill out with good food. A veterinarian can assess body condition and rule out parasites.

American Foxhounds can be quite vocal. Their deep, musical bay was bred to help hunters follow the pack, and many hounds bay or howl when excited, bored, left alone or hearing sirens. They are not always barking, and some are fairly quiet indoors. Plenty of exercise, scent games and company help, but expect some noise with this breed.

American Foxhounds can have a mild hound odor, partly from skin oils in their coat and partly from their long ears, which can trap moisture. They also love rolling in smelly things outdoors. Weekly brushing, regular ear checks and an occasional bath keep most of them pleasant. A strong or sudden smell often signals an ear or skin infection.

No precise, verified top speed exists for the American Foxhound, but it is a fast, athletic hound built for endurance as much as sprinting. Its long legs and deep chest let it run at a steady pace for hours across fields and woods. That combination of speed and stamina is why a loose foxhound can cover miles quickly, so secure fencing matters.

An American Foxhound is identified by its tall, lean build, long legs, narrow deep chest, long hanging ears and a tail carried up with a slight curve. The coat is short and hard, often tricolor with black, white and tan, though any color is allowed. Without papers, a dog's appearance only suggests foxhound ancestry; many hounds are mixes.

American Foxhounds were bred to hunt red and gray foxes, and in many areas they now also run coyotes. Traditional hunts follow the quarry by scent with the pack baying, and the goal in many hunts is the chase rather than the kill. Hounds are trained to ignore deer and other animals. Pet foxhounds keep the urge to trail wildlife.