Prepare for unexpected vet bills
As one of the main hunting breeds of dogs around, the English Foxhound certainly has a strong personality which loves (of course) to hunt! These dogs were originally used to hunt foxes which makes them very aptly named! These days, the English foxhound is typically a household pet rather than part of a dog pack chasing wild foxes. This doesn't mean that your English Foxhound will be happy just to sit around at home though - they want activities to keep them busy! Here are a few that are perfect.
An English Foxhound is a scent dog which means that their sense of smell is amazing. They can track animals, treats and other scents from miles away! This is actually why they were used to hunt foxes for so many years. Tracking is still ingrained in your dog's nature which means that they will love any game involving using their nose which will lead them to a reward. While you may not have foxes hidden in your yard that you'd like your dog to chase, there are plenty of things that they can sniff and track that you probably already have in your home!
English Foxhounds love exercise and need to get out and go a few times a day. When not properly exercised, this breed can go stir crazy which can lead to unwanted behaviors - you don't want that! What can you do with your dog to give them a good amount of exercise despite being stuck inside due to bad weather? This game, called over, under, through is the perfect solution to indoor exercise. It is also a game that you can switch up, keeping it exciting, fresh and new. A little bit of creativity and you and your English Foxhound will be having a ton of fun!Â
Your English Foxhound is lucky enough to have a fantastic sense of smell and also be extremely smart. Due to this, they would make a perfect search and rescue dog. Search and rescue dogs are used whenever there is a tragedy that requires a pup's help to find a missing person or person in distress. While there are many dogs who do search and rescue as their full time job, you can also train your dog to be a part time worker, helping only when more dogs are needed than available to rescue crews. The training is also a fun way to engage your dog's sense of smell and love of tracking.
This quick game is fun when you need something small to do to entertain your dog. Hold a treat in one hand and show your dog both hands, closed. See if your pup picks the correct hand with their nose!
English Foxhounds are very friendly and social pups. This breed used to hunt as a dog pack so they will enjoy playing with other dogs in a relaxed setting like a dog park.
English Foxhounds are fantastic pets that definitely benefit from a good game or activity set up by you. Scent games are key with this breed and will always be winners since your English Foxhound loves to smell and track. Activities that keep them moving is the other sure fire way to make your pup happy. No matter what you play, if you are there, engaging your dog, they will be excited. Make sure to run, play and train your English Foxhound every day!