The Foxhound

By Roger D. Williams

This vintage book contains a complete guide to the foxhound, with instructions and tips for breeding, training, housing, treating diseases, and more. Including a wealth of useful and timeless information, this is a volume that is highly recommended for modern hunting enthusiasts, and one that would make for a worthy addition to collections of allied literature. Contents include: "The Foxhound", "Breeding and Training Hounds", "Training and Hunting", "Feeding", "Kennels", "Diseases and Remedies", "The Bench Show", "Don'ts", "Glossary of Technical Terms", and "Foxhound Field Trail". Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction the foxhound.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Country Books
• Release date: Aug 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781473349803

Book preview

THE

FOXHOUND

BY

ROGER D. WILLIAMS

AUTHOR OF HORSE AND HOUND, THE BLOODHOUND, ETC.

Number 38

Copyright © 2013 Read Books Ltd.

This book is copyright and may not be reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

THE FOXHOUND

Hounds form a very large section of the dog family, as the term embraces all dogs which follow game either by sight or by scent. Of the hounds that follow quarry by scent we have the bloodhound, foxhound, harrier, beagle and basset. The bloodhound will hunt various quarry – able to hunt and track deer, boar and even human beings. The latter three hounds hunt mainly hares. The foxhound is used (unsurprisingly!) primarily for the pursuit of foxes.

A foxhound is a type of large hunting hound bred for its strong hunting instincts, great energy, and, like all scent hounds, a keen sense of smell. There are different breeds of foxhound, each often called simply Foxhound in their native countries: the American Foxhound, the English Foxhound, the Dumfriesshire Foxhound, the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound, and the Welsh Hound. At what period the foxhound got its distinctive title in England is unclear, for as late as 1735 there is no such word in the Sportsman’s Dictionary. Breeding to type had been in progress for some time at the beginning of the nineteenth century though, and packs kept entirely for fox hunting became numerous throughout England and a few other countries. Individual dogs suitable for stud, or stallions as they are called in the case of hounds or beagles, were also eagerly sought after and the annual draft was sorted so as to preserve uniformity of size, speed and, in many cases, uniformity of colouring was sought for as far as possible.

In this way, the character and conformation which stamps out the English foxhound as a breed – was formed. Type in head, perfection in legs and feet, good shoulders and good bodies are all points where a single standard governs. The differences between various packs of foxhounds so far as appearance goes is little more than a difference of height, some masters preferring a larger hound, others a medium one, and some better suited with hounds an inch or so smaller.

Although speed and endurance may be considered the chief characteristics of the modern foxhound (having elbowed 'nose' from first or even second place), it must not be supposed that every strain is bred on the same lines or with the same object. Still, allowing to the fullest extent for the different sort of hound required to meet the needs of a different sort of hunting country, the English foxhound should in make and shape follow closely certain well defined lines.

The head should be of fair size and well balanced; good length of skull and muzzle, which should be broad with wide nostrils; the eye should have a bold, keen, determined look, and the whole head denote power. The neck should be long, clean, and muscular, quite free from dewlap, except when such is characteristic of a particular strain. The shoulders should be nicely sloped. To ensure speed, the elbows should be perfectly straight in a line with the body. The chest should be deep, ribs coming down well, giving a certain appearance of squareness. The back and loins should be very strong and disclose to the touch any amount of muscle. The legs should be straight and the bone great. These legs have to carry a heavy hound for many miles at a great pace over rough country. The feet should be round and compact with a hard, firm pad and strong nails. The stern should be thick at the root and carried well up. The coat should be short, dense and rather hard in texture.

The foxhound has always enjoyed enthusiastic, skilled, and often wealthy owners; he has not been dependent upon the whims and fancies of hobby breeders. On the contrary foxhound stud books have been carefully preserved for generations. The history of every important strain is carefully recorded. Foxhound breeders have thus for many years had an ideal opportunity, and have taken full advantage of it.

This text has been reprinted for its historical and its cultural significance – making for a practically useful, as well as intriguing read. We hope the reader enjoys this book.

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

Champion Scrape—English Foxhound, Galliard

Typical American Foxhound

Plan of Kennels and Yard

FOREWORD

FOXHUNTING is not only a recreation and amusement, but the science of an art in which but few obtain proficiency. It is one of the few sports that is not more or less tainted with professionalism. My experiences in the field and saddle during a quarter of a century of breeding and hunting hounds are given herein, and I trust may prove of benefit to the rapidly increasing devotees of a sport that eminently encourages companionable qualities in man, is conducive to good health, and is frequently the means of cementing lifelong friendships.

This book is written more for the benefit of the country gentlemen of moderate means who rides to hunt than for the fashionable anglomaniac with money who hunts to ride and thinks foxhunting a most fascinating and enviable pursuit in the abstract.

THE FOXHOUND

CHAPTER I

THE FOXHOUND

THE character, sensibilities, and intellectual faculties of the Foxhound are but little known; they are, unfortunately, considered rather stupid and uninteresting than otherwise by the majority of the people in this country, especially those unacquainted with the mysteries of hound lore. In England for hundreds of years they have been held in the highest esteem for their splendid intelligence, their inexhaustible courage, and unequaled endurance, qualities that are indispensable in adding to the pleasure of her sportsmen, and there is no gainsaying the fact that the popularity of the hound has rapidly increased in this country during the past quarter of a century.

The origin of the breed is clouded somewhat in mystery. Being lost in remote antiquity, it has been the subject of debate and deep research among sportsmen from time immemorial. However, it is generally conceded to be the result of judicious crossing between the Bloodhound and the ancient Greyhound. This undoubtedly is true, as a first cross of the same breeds to-day will produce a hound with many of the characteristics and qualities of the Foxhound. As to the antiquity of the Foxhound, if the writings of Gervase Markham in 1631 are to relied upon, hounds were used in the chase of the fox as early as 1613.

Our old time native Foxhounds were undoubtedly degenerated Bloodhounds, and to the infusion of English, Irish, and French blood are we indebted for the vast improvement, especially in conformation, size, and some of the better qualities. It is generally understood that they were imported from England, but exactly when and by whom we have no authentic record. While believing that they are largely descended from the English hound, there is no doubt in my mind that the French hound plays equally as important a part in their origin. Lafayette sent over a large pack of French hounds, this being the first pack of hounds we have any record of as having been imported into the United States as a pack,