English Hunting Breeds

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English Hunting Breeds

The English Foxhound - An Extremely Active Dog

The English Foxhound is a dog breed whose origins date back somewhere before the 1800s and are to be found in Great Britain. It has been developed by means of crossing the Bulldog, the Greyhound and the Fox Terrier with a variety of hounds. It was bred to become a pack hunting-dog, one that would chase foxes while led by hunters on horseback. There are two types of Foxhounds, those that are trained for hunting, the field lines, and those that are meant to attend conformation shows, the bench lines.

This dog?s build is powerful and its bones are large and heavy. Its body-cast favors stamina over speed. It has a wide skull and its muzzle is long. The nose has wide open nostrils, and its large brown eyes are endowed with certain sweetness. Its hanging ears are sometimes surgically adjusted to become round. The tail is long and set high. Its short and hard coat can be tri-colored (white, black and tan) or bi-colored, with a white background.

The English Foxhound has great stamina, being able to run for hours, but it is a little slower than its American cousin. This English dog is a talented hunter, with a well developed sense of smell, it is good at tracking and has wonderful agility. It was originally accustomed to be a pack hound and, as a house dog, it appreciates the companionship of humans or other pets. It is great with people and friendly with children; however, it will always prefer the company of other dogs. Although it can be a good family dog, it is not one that will adjust easily to city life, and living in an apartment is not recommended for this breed. It is a very active dog and it enjoys running for long periods of time without many breaks. Actually, it can run as long as five or six hours without the need to stop. Leadership is something that English Foxhounds react well to, but patience is needed while training them, as they can be obedient, but less responsive than other dog breeds. They need calm owners who can display firm authority at the same time. It is best that they are given rules to follow, but they also appreciate affection.

Where taking care of this dog is concerned, it is very important that it is provided with good opportunities to exercise. Both the working lines and the show ones are very active. They can become destructive if they don?t exercise enough, so it is best that their owners are good joggers or enthusiastic bikers. This way, they can consume energy together. Also it should be said that these dogs best be taught to walk or run behind their owners or by their side, so that they properly understand who has the role of the leader. They are generally healthy, so health issues should not be a worry in their case. Their coat should be brushed and shampooed only when necessary.

The English Foxhound is a very active dog, one that will fit best next to an owner who is also very energetic and willing to exercise a lot.

The English Coonhound ? Athletic and Alert, an Energetic Dog to Take Out for Long Walks and Jogs

The English Coonhound is a dog with powerful hunting instincts, as it was originally bred to hunt foxes at day time and raccoons during the night. It still participates in outdoor activities today, but it has also adapted to the comfortable life of a family dog. It is not a dog that will accommodate easily to apartment life though, so a house with a yard is better for it and its need to stay active.

This type of dog has a lean, muscular frame, it is medium-sized and it is covered with a short and hard coat. Its usual color will be red and white ticked, blue and white ticked or a mix of three colors with ticking. Also, it can present a red and white or white and black coat, but if the red or the black are excessive, this will be considered a fault in the show ring. The head is broad and rounded, the muzzle is square-shaped and the ears are thin and hanging low. The body and neck are muscular and the tail is tapered, of medium length and carried high. It has an athletic figure and it looks alert and tough. When it barks, it will make a hound-bawl like sound.

Although it has powerful hunting instincts, the English Coonhound proves to be quite gentle as a house pet. It can be very loving and it will enjoy pleasing its owners. Also, it is patient with children and playful with them, but it behaves best around older children who are also considerate. It can also be friendly with people who are new to it, but it will be an alert protector of the home when necessary.

This dog breed is energetic, active and also intelligent. Since the Coonhound was bred for hunting purposes, it has great senses to support it in chasing the game. This is why it should not be let off the leash in unsafe areas, as it can suddenly take off to follow a scent that appears to be interesting. It is also an extremely fast runner.

It is a good thing to be aware of the fact that this type of dog needs to be shown firm and consistent authority and to be taught that its human master is its leader. Without proper training and the proper attitude towards it, the dog may develop some behavior issues. Once it is trained appropriately and exposed to socialization while young, it will become a well-behaved dog, one that is trustworthy and loyal.

This dog breed is known to live up to the age of 12. It is generally healthy, but there are some health issues that this dog is more prone to developing. Common coonhound problems are hip dysplasia, eyesight issues and hypothyroidism. Grooming is relatively easy in this dog?s case. Occasional brushing is necessary and weekly checks for ear infections are recommended. The coonhound needs to be involved in mental and physical exercises so that it does not become high strung or destructive. It is a dog that needs extensive daily running so that it can stay happy. While taking it for a long walk or for a jog, its human master should hold the lead, staying beside or in front of the dog.

The English Coonhound is a nice, energetic companion, a dog for an active and authoritative owner.

The English Pointer ? A Great Hunter and Great Companion for Active People

The English Pointer is an English gun dog, meaning that it has been bred for hunting, a dog with a history of 300 years. This athletic and graceful dog was primarily used to catch birds and rabbits. Its task in the game is to catch a scent and point the right direction to the hunter. It can also flush out birds. It is not expected to retrieve the game.

The first impression given by this dog is that of a compact-build, powerful and alert dog. Its head, feet and tail have characteristics that especially distinguish it from other breeds. Its head measures in width just about the same as the muzzle measures in length. Its feet are oval, well cushioned and they have arched toes. Larger at the root, the tail becomes tapered to a point. This dog has a long neck, deep muzzle and a black or brown nose associated with darker coats or flesh-colored nose, if the coat is lighter. It has round dark eyes and teeth that meet in a scissors bite. The ears are hanging and their end has a somewhat pointed shape. The short, dense coat can be colored in white with markings of liver, black, lemon or orange, and it can also be solid-colored or speckled. Tri-colored dogs can also be found.

Temperamentally, the English Pointer is a dog with high levels of energy and it is enthusiastic as a hunter. It is intelligent and loyal to its owners. It is a loving dog, affectionate with its adopting family, children and other pets included. It is also a dog that can easily adapt to new situations, but it can be reserved around new people.

It is recommended that the Pointer be encouraged to socialize from early ages. Just like other gun dogs (bird dogs), it needs lots of exercise, both mental and physical, in order to be happy and calm while staying indoors. If not given the chance to exercise enough, this dog will become high-strung and develop a destructive temper. This is why apartment life is not appropriate for it.

It is a great jogging companion and it will enjoy running beside its owner while he is cycling. In other words, it needs an owner who is just as active as it is. It also needs an owner that is mentally strong and not prone to being tense and nervous. The dog will feel the emotions of its owner and can become just as nervous as the human it accompanies is. Also, the human needs to become the alpha-male in the perception of this dog. If the owner is not just as strong-minded as the Pointer is, the dog will tend to take the role of the leader, which it should not normally be allowed to do. When hearing dubious noises, this dog will start barking. However, it is not a watchdog.

When it comes to its health, it is prone to hip dysplasia, just like other hunting dogs are. Also, it can be affected by skin conditions, thyroid problems and dwarfism. Its life expectancy is of 13 or 14 years.

The English Pointer is one of those dogs who fit best in active families, where its human companions are just as energetic as it is.

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