The foxhound was the first dog to be specifically bred in Great Britain. Their origins can be traced as far back as the 13th century. Although, there had been hounds of more ancient origin, such as the southern hound and the bloodhound, something different was wanted towards the end of the seventeenth century to hunt the wild deer that had become somewhat scattered after Cromwell's civil war. There was a need for a quicker hound. In 1650, when the English foxhound reach America, they began breeding them to be lighter, faster and taller.

The foxhound has a broad head which is not peaked like the bloodhound. It is long from the apex to the frontal bones, the eyebrows are very prominent, and their ears are set low. Their natural condition is thin and shapely, but not large. This beautiful breed had extremely bright eyes full of expression. The look of the foxhound is quite remarkable. Their coat is hard hair, but short and smooth, the texture is as stiff as bristles, but beautifully laid.

Although the foxhound is sweet, affectionate and gentle, they have not generally been bred to be family dogs. If raised from in a family situation, they adapt easily and are excellent with children and other dogs. Also, they do require a great deal of exercise and are not recommended for apartment living. They are prone to restlessness and destruction. They are a healthy breed without many genetic diseases, but tend to become easily obese when over fed. The average height is from 23 to 27 inches and the average weight is from 55 to 75 pounds.