foxhound: see American foxhound; English foxhound.

English foxhound, breed of medium-sized, swift hound perfected in England in the 17th and 18th cent. It stands from 21 to 25 in. (53.3-63.5 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 60 to 70 lb (27.2-31.8 kg). Its short, dense coat is glossy and usually black, tan, and white in color. The English foxhound, whose origins probably go back to French hounds of the 14th cent., was first used in packs to hunt foxes in the mid-17th cent. This sport, a favorite of the aristocracy, whose practice it was to follow the hounds on horseback, encouraged the careful breeding of the foxhound. By 1800 stud books had been published recording the lineages of all English foxhounds. The slightly smaller American foxhound was developed from it, as were many present-day varieties of coonhound. Still used in foxhunting, the English foxhound can be trained to hunt almost any ground game. See dog.

American foxhound, breed of sturdy, medium-sized hound developed in America over 300 years ago. It stands about 23 in. (58 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs between 60 and 70 lb (27-32 kg). The smooth, hard, "hound-marked" coat is usually black, tan, and white. The American foxhound, with its great endurance and keen sense of smell, was once widely used in packs of as many as 15 or 20 dogs to hunt fox and other small game. Today, however, it is more commonly bred for field trial competition. See dog.

Either of two breeds of dogs traditionally kept in packs for fox hunting. The English foxhound stands 21–25 in. (53–64 cm) high and weighs 60–70 lbs (27–32 kg). It has a short coat, which is usually a combination of black, tan, and white. The American foxhound resembles the English breed in appearance and size but is more lightly built. It is the oldest breed of sporting dog in the U.S., developed from English foxhounds imported beginning in 1650. Both breeds have been bred for strength, speed, and versatility; they are rarely kept as house pets.

Learn more about foxhound with a free trial on Britannica.com.