The Foxhound Dog

Foxhounds were the first of the dog races in the United Kingdom to be dominated by scientific breeding. There had been dogs of more ancient provenance, such as the Southern Hound and the Bloodhound, but something new was needed to hunt the wild deer that had become dispersed during Cromwell’s civil war at the close of the seventeenth century. As a result, there was a desire for a faster hound than those previously available, and those who were passionate about hunting began to breed it.

• Head: Broad, not peaked like a Bloodhound, but long from the apex to the frontal bones, prominent eyebrows, cheeks cut clean from the eye to the nostril, ears set low and in their natural condition thin and shapely, but not large, nose large, jaw strong and level, and small dewlaps, expression fierce, and with the best often repellent.
• Eyes: They’re brilliant and deep set, determined, and have a very steady expression. The Foxhound has a striking appearance.
• The neck should be completely free of any skin ruffles. The length of one’s neck is important for stooping and projecting grandeur.
• Shoulders: The blades should be deep into the back and slant, otherwise they should be wide and robust, meeting the long and muscular arms.
• Legs and feet: From the arm down, the bone should be absolutely straight and descend in the same degree of size to the ankles. The knee should be nearly flat and level, with no curvature until the toes, which should be powerful, round, and cat-shaped, with each toe neatly set as it were.
• Coat: The coat is made up of strong hair that is short and silky with a texture that is stiff like bristles yet nicely placed.
• Colour: Belvoir tan is a brown and black tan with white patterns of various shapes and sizes that are nicely intermixed. The white should be opaque and transparent. Black and white with brown stifles and head markings. Badger pieds are grey and white in color. Lemon, light yellow, and white pied. A deeper yellow and white hare pied.
• Height: Dogs from 23-1/2 to 24 inches; bitches from 22 to 22-1/2 inches.