Hanover Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison

Sometimes referred to as a Hanoverian Hound, this dog dates way back to the 17th century in Germany.

This dog breed continues to be fairly rare today and has always been used as a hunting and tracking dog. It is believed the dog comes from bloodhounds dating back to medieval times. The dog isn’t recognized by the AKC but he is a member of the Scenthound group.

As a cousin of the English Foxhound, the American Foxhound is a scent hound and bred for hunting. Robert Brooke brought the first hunting dogs to the colonies in 1650. These dogs were the starting point for several American hound breeds including the American Foxhound.

For almost 300 years the Brooke family owned and bred dogs from this bloodline.

At the same time that Brooke was hunting with and breeding his hounds, George Washington was given French Foxhounds. These were crossed with the Brooke’s dogs to create the American Foxhound. This breed is said to have been originally bred in Virginia and Maryland.

They are the state dog of Virginia. After Red Foxes were imported or migrated, Irish Foxhounds were brought to American and added into the line, increasing the stamina and speed that today’s dog’s still display.

The American Foxhound was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1886. Today’s American Foxhound presents in many different lines but are all considered the same breed even though some ay look very different. These strains include the Trigg, Walker, Penn-Marydel, Goodman, July and Calhoun.

This is a sturdy, well built dog with a short, smooth, dense coat which is a reddish-brown color with brindling.

He is a well built, deep chested dog standing at about 50 – 55cm in height and weighing 48-53cm. He has the typical dark brown, soulful eyes of the Hound dog with long, broad, floppy ears.They usually have black noses, he has a deep chest, strong, straight legs and long, tapering tail.

Temperament:

Calm and gentle, the Hanover Hound is a loyal dog who bonds closely with his human family. When you socialize him he gets along well with children.

He is a hunting dog and loves nothing more than to be following some scent. You can call out his name, but he will not likely take notice, so determined is he to track down his prey, being known for his superb sense of smell.

His hunting instincts are strong and this means that you won't often find him being kept essentially as just a pet – they are first hunting dogs and then pets. Nonetheless, as already suggested, the Hanover Hound is more than capable of forming a strong bond with his human family, making a good family pet.

He is aloof and wary with strangers and this makes him a good watchdog. It is important to have him trained and socialized as then he becomes obedient and amicable when you need him to be like that around friends and family.

Given the variety of bloodlines and strains mentioned above, there can be many differences in the American Foxhounds. Because of this most American Foxhounds bred to show are Walkers as they most closely fit the AKC Breed Standard.

In general, the American Foxhound has long, straight legs and is taller than the English Foxhound. They have a narrow chest and domed skull with a long muzzle.

They have low, wide set eyes that should be dark – brown or hazel, never blue. They have feet like a fox and laid-back shoulders with a curved tail. Athletic and muscled, the American Foxhound is bred to run. They are one of the rarest breeds in the United States.

The Hanover Hound is an intelligent dog breed that responds well to training and socialization. They are dedicated hunting dogs but they are loyal and loving to their human family.

He will require an owner who is active and on the go while being firm and consistent with his treatment of him.

When socialized, he makes a good friend of children too. Keep him busy, exercise him, provide him with good food and consistent love and attention and he'll make you a devoted hunting companion and friend.

With a reputation as a docile, sweet dog, the American Foxhound is great with kids and animals. They are gentle and often very shy with strangers. They are strong willed and stubborn especially when training them, so they are not a good first dog. They need an owner who has handled dogs before and knows how to be the pack leader without being angry or mean.

The American Foxhound is a scent hound and once he is on the scent it is close to impossible to distract him from it. They have a tendency to ignore commands when they are in this state. A strong owner/leader is needed for this reason. Don’t let him off leash in an unfenced area.

Capable of living to between 10 and 14 years of age, the Hanover Hound, like many other dogs, may well be prone to some of the more common dog illnesses there are.

Ear Infections:

Because of his long, floppy ears, he will typically be more prone to developing otitis externa. This is why it is important to be checking your long, floppy-eared dog regularly and cleaning his ears to avoid wax- and dirt build-up and infection. Chronic ear infections will have to be treated by your vet.

You'll recognize the illness when you see your pet shaking his head often and scratching at his ears.

Hip Dyplasia:

This is a genetic orthopedic disorder that affects many dogs and will eventually cause lameness. Hip dysplasia is due to malformed hip joints.

Entropion & Ectropion:

Eye diseases and problems with the eyelid can cause your pet a lot of discomfort as this is when an eyelid rolls in and then rubs against the eye.

The American Foxhound, like most hunting dogs does not carry a lot of genetic disorders. But they can easily become overweight and this can cause major problems. Dysplasia of any type had been mostly unknown in this breed, but due to obesity it is cropping up on occasion. Breeders have not, and do not usually screed for any genetic diseases.

The most devastating health issue the American Foxhound faces is thrombocytopathy. We will go into more detail on this in the Care for Pet section. This is a disease of the blood system, namely the platelets.

Exercise:

The Hanover Hound is a hunting breed so he won’t easily adapt to life in the city with a tiny garden. He will need a large garden or a farm to run around in.

He is a hunting dog that loves to put his nose to the ground and to follow a scent. This is a dog breed which will need to be provided with a good amount of exercise every day to ensure his happiness and health.

Diet:

As a large dog breed, you want to be sure to be feeding him a high quality food. It is always a good idea to add in some home-made food to his kibble. Read the packaging carefully of commercial manufactured dog foods and make sure you get food that is geared towards large, active breed dogs.

Add in cooked food such as cooked chicken, vegetables or brown rice and pasta and remember to include some raw meat into his diet from time to time.

Before dogs were domesticated they would eat raw meat as opposed to harmful grain based commercial dog foods of today. Benefits of adding in some raw meat from time to time include healthier skin, more energy and shinier coats and eyes. Make sure your pet has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Feeding

Whether feeding a pup, or an adult American Foxhound, you need to be sure the food is high quality and that you don’t overfeed. The Foxhound is happy to eat as much as you give him. They like to eat. Make sure you measure and don’t free feed. Control what they are eating.

For a puppy feed twice, a day – 2 to 3 cups of high quality puppy food. When he becomes an adult feed him once a day with 2 cups of adult food.

Health issues

As mentioned previously, the American English Foxhound, like most of the hound breeds is a very healthy dog. They do not have many genetic health issues. They do have a risk for thrombocytopathy. This risk is slight, but all owners of American English Foxhounds should be aware of it.

Thrombocytopathy

This disease is a circulatory system disease with poorly or non-functioning platelets. Platelets are designed to assist in the control of bleeding and without functioning ones the dog can bleed excessively from just a minor cut or bleed internally from a minor injury. The disease can be treated but you have to notice it first. Depending on how severe the disease is, the treatment will vary. Some dogs will have to be given platelets.

Exercise and games

This is a high energy breed that is very active and needs a lot of exercise. They are not good for the first-time owner as they are stubborn and hard to train. They need room to run and get frustrated and out of sorts if they don’t have it. They can live in the suburbs but only with a large fenced yard, an even larger dog park and regular walks. This dog needs a lot of exercise. The simplest thing to do is take him hunting.