Trigg Hound

35-45 lbs
20-22"
United States
Trigg Foxhound, Hayden Trigg Hound

The American Foxhound, a blend of English, Irish, and French Foxhounds, was developed in the Kentucky region of the United States in the 1800s. There were several breeders in the 1800s that were working to develop a dog that was uniquely suited to hunt the long-legged Red Fox which had begun migrating west from Virginia. Each breeder’s strains differed slightly from the others either physically or behaviorally characteristics. The strain developed by Colonel Haiden C. Trigg is slightly on the smaller side with a longer muzzle and racier overall construction than other Foxhounds. These dogs are generally easy to groom, eager to please, and friendly, but they do require a great deal of exercise and attention.  

purpose Purpose
Hunting
history Date of Origin
1800s
ancestry Ancestry
American Foxhound Varieties

Trigg Hound Health

Average Size
Male Trigg Hound size stats
Height: 23-24 inches Weight: 45-55 lbs
Female Trigg Hound size stats
Height: 20-22 inches Weight: 35-45 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Deafness
  • Canine Hip Dysplasia (Chd)
Minor Concerns
  • Ear Infections
  • Pelger - Huet Syndrome
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Eye Problems
Occasional Tests
  • Brain Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
  • X-rays or other radiographic imaging
  • Eye and Ear Examination

Trigg Hound Breed History

In the mid to late 1800s the Red Fox was introduced into Kentucky when they migrated westward from Virginia, and the change of quarry from Gray Fox to Red caused trouble for the Foxhounds that had previously dominated the area. The Red Fox was larger than it’s cousin had been, and they ranged much further, making them more difficult to track than the smaller Grey Fox had been. Hunters and breeders of the foxhound sought a way to develop a faster hound, with a stronger prey drive. George Washington Maupin, Larry F. Birdsong, and John W. Walker each developed their own strains. Maupin and Walker, in particular, frequently utilized a rat-tailed Black and Tan Hound named Tennesee Lead as a stud dog for their lines. Nobody knew Tennesee Lead’s parentage, although it was clear he was some sort of fox hunting dog;  he had been acquired from a man by the name of Tom Harris, who located the animal during a deer hunt near the border of Kentucky, and he was a hard hunting hound. When Colonel Haiden C. Trigg decided to develop a faster breed of hound to chase the faster foxes, he chose dogs from all three of the other breeders and combined them to achieve his goals. The dogs that he developed were not considered to be particularly attractive, but they were exceptional hunters with endurance, courage, and a well-honed fox sense. These dogs gained a great deal of popularity with hunters after famed big-game hunter Paul J. Rainey returned from hunting with twenty-five of Triggs new strain and declared them to be “the best and most courageous hounds in the world.” 

Trigg Hound Breed Appearance

The Trigg strain of Foxhound tends to be a leaner animal, and they have a fairly racy form compared to other American Foxhounds, but still with substantial power. Like most strains or breeds of American Foxhound, they have very strong, straight legs designed to help them keep up with the long-legged red foxes over several types of ground as well as powerfully built hindquarters to help drive them forward. Their heads are full and strong, but should never be heavy or cloddish, and their muzzles are full, somewhat longer than average, and generally end in a wide black leathered nose. Their darkly colored eyes are more deeply set than the average dog, and they have long, pendulous ears that are set low on the head and hang down past the jawline. Although their short, stiff coat can come in any color, only the tricolored and bicolored are recognized by fanciers and breeders.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Trigg Hound eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Trigg Hound nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
white Trigg Hound coat
White
pied Trigg Hound coat
Pied
black Trigg Hound coat
Black
brown Trigg Hound coat
Brown
blue Trigg Hound coat
Blue
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Trigg Hound straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Trigg Hound Breed Maintenance

The coat of any American Foxhound strain is generally fairly weatherproof so overly frequent bathing should be avoided in order to prevent stripping the coat of their naturally protective oils. These dogs do shed in moderation, but this is usually easily managed by a thorough weekly brushing with a firm bristle brush, a slicker brush, or even a simple grooming glove. Like other dogs with pendulous, hanging ears, it is particularly important to ensure that the ears of the Trigg Hound remain clean, dry, and free of debris as they may be slightly more prone to infections of the ear than other breeds. 

Brushes for Trigg Hound
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Trigg Hound requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Trigg Hound Temperament

The Trigg Hound has the same intense drive to pursue that other American Foxhounds share, as well as their stamina and endurance. While they are particularly prone to pursuing other canids such as foxes and coyote, they are capable of keeping up with most any type of animal that doesn’t flee to the trees, including boar and bear. These dogs have a strong prey drive, making them inappropriate for households with multiple types of pets, but they work well with other dogs, and they are quite eager to learn new tricks. Training sessions are most effective if they are kept short and varied as these dogs have short attention spans and they may have some difficulty with the idea of housetraining. They are determined and hardworking in the field and highly playful and energetic at home. They love to be close to their people as often as possible, and if left on their own too often or for too long, they may end up developing separation anxiety, leading to distressing and even destructive behaviors. 

Trigg Hound Activity Requirements

The Trigg Hound is an extremely active breed that was designed with stamina and endurance in mind and as such, this dog requires a great deal of exercise in order to ensure that they remain happy and healthy throughout their lives. Hound dogs that are not offered enough physical activity during the day are more likely to develop issues like separation anxiety and depression, sometimes leading to vexing vocalizations and other bothersome and destructive behaviors. Due to both their somewhat natural tendency to vocalize and their high activity requirements, these dogs are not well-suited to apartment living and are typically happier in a larger home with a yard to run in. 

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
18 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Trigg Hound Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Trigg Hound Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Trigg Hound size stats at six months
Height: 20.5 inches Weight: 35.5 lbs
Female Trigg Hound size stats at six months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 28.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Trigg Hound size stats at 12 months
Height: 22.5 inches Weight: 45.5 lbs
Female Trigg Hound size stats at 12 months
Height: 20.0 inches Weight: 36.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Trigg Hound size stats at 18 months
Height: 23.5 inches Weight: 50.0 lbs
Female Trigg Hound size stats at 18 months
Height: 21.0 inches Weight: 40.0 lbs

Trigg Hound Owner Experiences

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