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American Foxhound Dogs for Adoption in Seattle, WA

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

American Foxhounds suit Seattle's long walking days, since most are happy to trot for hours in drizzle. A house in Lake City or Wedgwood with a tall, dig-proof fence gives a hound room to stretch, and the Burke-Gilman Trail makes a good long-leash outing. They're also loud, with a baying voice that carries through apartment walls, so think about your neighbors first. Indoors, most are mellow and sweet, and a Saturday loop at Magnuson Park will wear one out nicely.

169 American Foxhounds available in Seattle and nationwide

Find your forever American Foxhound

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

American Foxhounds Available for Adoption Near Seattle

About the American Foxhound breed

The American Foxhound was developed in colonial Maryland and Virginia from English and French hounds. It's a tall, rangy scent hound with long legs, a short, hard coat in any color and long, soft ears. It was built to follow a trail for hours, so most adults look lean and athletic rather than stocky.

In a city like Seattle, the stamina and the nose matter more than the looks. Many are sweet, easygoing and good with other dogs, but they're also independent, food-driven and ruled by scent, so a hound that catches a squirrel's trail in a greenbelt may stop listening. Dogs from hunting kennels sometimes need time to learn couches, stairs and house training. Plan on patient training, leash walks and secure fencing.

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 Seattle

Having an American Foxhound in Seattle

American Foxhounds pair stamina with a powerful nose and a big voice. In Seattle, that points toward a household with time for long outings, a secure yard or tolerant walls, and patience for a hound that follows scent first.

Temperament

Most American Foxhounds are gentle, friendly and easygoing, and many enjoy other dogs. They're also independent and may tune you out once a smell grabs them. Baying is common when bored or excited, which matters in Seattle's close-set neighborhoods. A hound from a hunting kennel may be shy indoors at first, and each dog adjusts at its own pace.

Exercise Needs

Plan on a substantial daily outing, such as a long walk, hike or jog, plus scent games at home. Seattle requires leashes outside designated off-leash areas, and recall can fail once a hound finds a trail, so a sturdy leash on the Green Lake loop or Burke-Gilman Trail is safer than free running.

Health Considerations

American Foxhounds are generally hardy, but reported issues include a platelet disorder called thrombocytopathy, occasional hip dysplasia and ear infections from their long, hanging ears. Seattle's damp months make weekly ear checks and thorough drying worthwhile. Mention any bleeding tendency to a veterinarian before surgery, and keep your hound lean to protect its joints.

Living Space

A house with a tall, dig-proof fence suits an American Foxhound best, such as the single-family streets of Wedgwood or Beacon Hill. Apartment life works only with a committed owner who provides long daily outings and accepts that baying may reach the neighbors. Keep food off counters, since hounds are rarely deterred.

What it costs to own an American Foxhound in Seattle

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*$520 to $1,295 per year$520 to $1,295
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$2,090 to $4,435

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

* The $45 Seattle dog license for a spayed or neutered dog, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and bedding, and minimal grooming for a short coat.

Adopt an American Foxhound in Seattle.

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

Rescues and Shelters in or near Seattle

Seattle's shelters and rescues care for dogs of every size, and the groups below list their adoptable pets here. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Seattle area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Foxhound is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

An American Foxhound can live in a Seattle apartment, but it's a harder fit than a house. Baying carries through shared walls, and the breed needs long daily outings. Look for a ground-floor unit near a trail like the Burke-Gilman, and plan a long walk every day, even in drizzle. If you can't commit to that, a house with a tall, dig-proof fence is the better match.

Yes, you can own an American Foxhound in Seattle. The city has no breed bans, and Washington law limits breed-based rules statewide. You'll need a rabies vaccination for your dog. Washington's tethering rules also restrict leaving a dog tied outside, so plan on a secure fence rather than a tether, since a scent-driven hound will follow its nose.

The Burke-Gilman Trail, Lincoln Park's 4.6 miles of paths and Carkeek Park's roughly 6 miles of forested trails all work for long leashed walks. Green Lake's loop allows a leash of five feet at most. Beaches are off-limits to dogs, including Carkeek's, and a Foxhound's weak recall makes leashes the safer choice almost everywhere.

Yes, most American Foxhounds handle Seattle winters well, since they're cool and damp but rarely frozen. The bigger issues are wet fur, muddy paws and ear infections, so towel-dry after walks and check ears weekly. A thin-coated hound may like a coat. Rare snow or ice can make hilly streets hard to walk, so have an indoor exercise plan.

Metro buses allow dogs, but larger dogs ride on the floor with a paid fare, at the driver's discretion, and can't take a seat. An American Foxhound is too big for a lap. Sound Transit is piloting leashed dogs on Link through spring 2027, and the Water Taxi and state ferries also take leashed dogs, though not in galleys.

Sometimes. Washington's food code lets dogs join you on patios only when the restaurant has a health-department-approved plan, and indoor dining rooms generally don't allow pet dogs. Because American Foxhounds are food-driven and may bay, practice a calm down-stay at home first, bring a mat and keep your hound leashed beside your chair.

Very little. An American Foxhound's short, hard coat needs a weekly brushing and a bath only when it's muddy. In Seattle's rain, the real routine is towel-drying, wiping paws and checking ears weekly. Most owners can skip professional grooming apart from nail trims, and any salon visits fall within the Other costs in the cost table.

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.

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.

Expect roughly $2,100 to $4,400 a year for an American Foxhound in Seattle. Food runs $55 to $110 a month, insurance $55 to $110 a month, routine vet care $250 to $500 a year, and other costs such as the license, parasite prevention and dental care $520 to $1,295 a year. Grooming is minimal.

Explore Other Breeds in Seattle

Looking for a different breed? Browse other dogs available for adoption in Seattle.