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American Foxhound Dogs for Adoption in Philadelphia, PA

Your guide to finding and caring for an American Foxhound in Philly

American Foxhounds suit Philly best when a long leashed walk is waiting every day. A twin with a fenced yard in Mount Airy or Fox Chase gives a hound room to burn energy, and Pennypack Park's soft trails give that nose plenty to follow. Foxhounds are sweet and easygoing at home, but they bay, and shared rowhouse walls carry the sound. Expect a dog that wants company, a routine and a tall, secure fence.

169 American Foxhounds available in Philadelphia and nationwide

Find your forever American Foxhound

While we don't have enough dogs near Philadelphia, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.

American Foxhounds Available for Adoption Near Philadelphia

About the American Foxhound breed

The American Foxhound was developed in colonial Maryland and Virginia from English and French hounds, and it remains one of the more uncommon breeds. It's a tall, rangy scent hound, usually 55 to 70 pounds, with long legs, a close, hard coat in any color and long, soft ears. It was built to follow fox and coyote for hours across rough country.

Most are sweet, easygoing and comfortable around other dogs, a trait from working in packs. They're also independent and food-driven, and they follow their noses with a loud, musical bay. Plan on leash walks, a tall fence if you have a yard, and patient training. Many hounds come out of hunting kennels, so some need help learning house manners, and each dog's personality differs.

Weight
55–70 lbs
Height
21–26 in
Lifespan
10–13 yrs
Temperament
Easygoing, Gentle, Independent, Vocal
Group
Hound
Shedding
Moderate

Owning an American Foxhound in Philadelphia

Having an American Foxhound in Philly

Foxhounds pair pack-dog sociability with real stamina and a nose that can override everything else. Their exercise needs, independence, voice and easy-care coat decide whether one fits your routine and your block.

Temperament

Foxhounds tend to be gentle, friendly and tolerant, and many get along with other dogs and polite kids. They're independent, so they listen when it suits them, especially once a scent grabs them. Many bay when bored or excited, which matters on a rowhouse block. Dogs from kennels may be shy indoors at first.

Exercise Needs

Plan on long daily walks, jogging or hikes. Every Philly park requires a six-foot leash outside the dog runs, which suits a breed whose recall fades once it finds a trail. Scent games at home give the nose a job, and a tall, secure fence or a dog run allows safer off-leash play.

Health Considerations

Foxhounds are generally hardy, but watch for a platelet disorder called thrombocytopathy, occasional hip dysplasia and ear infections from those long ears. Check ears weekly and keep weight lean. Philly's tick season runs into fall, so daily tick checks and preventive medication matter. Mention any bleeding tendency to a vet before surgery.

Living Space

Most Philly homes are rowhouses with small or no yards, which can be a hard fit for a baying hound that needs space. A house with a tall, dig-proof fence is ideal. An apartment can work for a committed owner who provides long outings, but shared walls carry the bay, and narrow stairs get harder with age.

What it costs to own an American Foxhound in Philadelphia

ExpenseTypical costPer year
Food$55 to $110 per month$660 to $1,320
Pet insurance$55 to $110 per month$660 to $1,320
Routine vet care$250 to $500 per year$250 to $500
Other*$490 to $1,290 per year$490 to $1,290
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$2,060 to $4,430

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* The Philadelphia dog license ($16 if spayed or neutered, $40 if not), flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and bedding, and minimal grooming for a short coat.

Adopt an American Foxhound in Philadelphia.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have dogs available in and near Philadelphia.

Rescues and Shelters in or near Philadelphia

Philly's rescue community is large, and hounds and hound mixes can turn up among the dogs these groups list. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Philly area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Foxhound is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Philadelphia has no breed bans, and Pennsylvania law bars local rules aimed at a specific breed, so a Foxhound is treated like any other dog. You'll need a city license and a rabies vaccination, and a landlord can still set its own breed or size limits in a lease, so read yours first.

The Wissahickon's Forbidden Drive and Pennypack Park's soft trails give a Foxhound long, scent-rich leashed walks, and Kelly Drive offers flat miles beside the Schuylkill. All require a six-foot leash, which suits a hound whose recall fades on a trail. For off-leash time, the Pretzel Park dog run in Manayunk is one of about eight volunteer-run options.

It can, but it's a stretch. A Foxhound's bay carries through shared walls, and many Philly rowhouses are split into apartments. Make sure the lease allows a 55-to-70-pound dog. Plan on long walks morning and evening plus scent games, since a well-exercised hound is usually much quieter indoors.

Yes, with care. Philly averages about 30 days a year at 90°F or higher, and a lean, short-coated hound can overheat like any dog. Walk at dawn or dusk, bring water and avoid hot pavement. Foxhounds have the stamina to push on past comfortable, so end outings early when it's humid.

Almost certainly not. SEPTA allows pets only in a standard, sturdy carrier that doesn't obstruct others, and the animal can't be disruptive. A 55-to-70-pound Foxhound won't fit in a practical carrier, so plan on walking or driving. Service animals can ride leashed, but emotional support animals count as pets.

It can be, if you have time and patience. Philly has long leashed trails, and Foxhounds are friendly and usually good with other dogs. The tradeoffs are a loud bay, a nose that ignores recall and a need for hours of activity. People home often, with a fenced yard or a flexible schedule, tend to do best.

Sometimes, on patios. Some Philly restaurants and beer gardens welcome dogs outside at their discretion, but only service animals go indoors. Bring a mat, water and a short leash. A Foxhound's nose will find every crumb under the table, so practice settling quietly on walks before you try a busy patio.

Very little. A weekly brushing handles moderate shedding, and baths are only occasional. In Philly, the bigger job is checking for ticks after wooded walks, plus weekly ear checks and regular nail trims. Most owners do this at home, so grooming adds little to the yearly Other costs.

Yes, the American Foxhound is Virginia's official state dog, adopted in 1966. The choice reflects the breed's colonial history in Virginia and Maryland and its link to George Washington, who bred foxhounds at Mount Vernon. Foxhunting with hound packs remains a tradition in parts of Virginia, and the breed is still closely associated with the state.

Food runs about $55 to $110 a month and insurance $55 to $110 a month. Routine vet care adds $250 to $500 a year, and other costs such as parasite prevention, dental care, the license and supplies run $490 to $1,290. Together that's roughly $2,060 to $4,430 a year, before any emergencies.

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