Running Walker Foxhound

		Running Walker Foxhound
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Running Walker Foxhound

The Running Walker Foxhound is one of several strains of Foxhound that were developed under the name American Foxhound in the mid-to-late 1800's. They are highly motivated to hunt animals such as foxes, rabbits and coyotes, but lack the tree-hunting instincts of their Coonhound cousins. They tend to have short attention spans, making them moderately difficult to train despite their fairly high intelligence. These dogs are friendly and even-tempered in most cases, but when their physical and mental stimulation is neglected, they can become noisy, depressed and even destructive.

History of the Running Walker Foxhound

The Running Walker Foxhound breed was developed in Kentucky in the mid-to-late 1800s to track and hunt red foxes that had recently migrated west from the Virginia area. A breeder by the name of George Washington Maupin found that, although his Foxhounds were considered the best in the region for hunting the native gray fox, they tended to lose track of the larger, more distant red foxes. Maupin tried using both Virginia hounds and English Foxhounds to develop a dog with the temperament and skills to hunt red foxes, but his hounds were still unable to put the fox down. In 1952, Maupin found the key to his new hounds in a black and tan rat-tailed dog of undetermined parentage. The dog, nicknamed Tennessee Lead, was acquired from a man named Tom Harris, who, according to the story, found the dog on a deer hunt near the Kentucky border and took it home before selling it to Maupin. Tennessee Lead was a talented hunting dog in general, and was exceptionally good at hunting the red foxes that had given other types of hounds so much trouble. The Tennessee Lead was widely used as a stud dog, crossed with English and Virginia Foxhounds as well as other hound breeds. This mixture led to or contributed to the development of several different dog breeds, including the Black and Tan Coonhound, the Treeing Walker Coonhound, the Trigg hound and, of course, the Running Walker Foxhound. Although the Running Walker is similar in appearance to other Tennessee Lead hounds, its hunting style is different from many others. While many other hounds specialize in chasing and accosting tree-climbing prey for safety, the Running Walker Foxhound prefers to follow trails that stay on the ground, and has the tenacity to follow its prey over longer distances.

Appearance of the Running Walker Foxhound

This strain of American Foxhound is a solidly built dog with a body slightly longer than it is tall, and although it is not heavy, it has a well-muscled back and neck. His legs are strong and straight, and his hindquarters are also well muscled, enabling him to keep up with long-legged red foxes. The tail is moderately long, and can be straight, saber-shaped or slightly curved. Its head is of medium size, with a flat or slightly arched skull, and a strong, straight muzzle, both broad and deep, without wrinkles and with well-fitting lips. Its eyes can be of any color or shape, but the rims are always close-fitting and darkly pigmented. Their rounded, pendulous ears are generally set low and hang close to the sides of the head. They have a short, hard coat, lying close to the body, and can come in many colors, including orange and white, lemon and white, brown and white, black and tan, and tricolor.

Temperament of the Running Walker Foxhound

The Running Walker Foxhound is a tenacious dog with a strong instinctive urge to hunt and stalk, and is particularly good at tracking foxes and coyotes. He is dynamic and athletic in the field and can be a little too active and determined for some families, but he tends to be friendly, enthusiastic and even-tempered. He's generally people-oriented and eager to please, but he's difficult to house-train and has a short attention span, so short, varied training sessions are more effective. Interesting smells are often irresistible to Foxhounds, which can also hinder training efforts in some cases. Although generally agreeable with other dogs, their exceptionally high hunting instinct can make them unsuitable for multi-pet households, unless early socialization takes place. Without sufficient physical and mental activity, these dogs are prone to depression and may develop harmful or destructive behaviors, such as obsessive howling or chewing your property.

Needs and activities of the Running Walker Foxhound

These high-energy, tracker-type hounds need plenty of exercise to keep them fit and mentally stable. Hounds, especially active and working breeds, are prone to destructive bouts of depression when they haven't had enough exercise and mental stimulation. Long walks and runs are always appreciated and, in addition to fox and coyote hunting, the Running Walker Foxhound is also very good at tracking competitions. This is not a dog that will be comfortable or practical in an apartment, as its high activity level and distinctive howl can disturb other apartment dwellers.

Maintenance of the Running Walker Foxhound

The Running Walker Foxhound's coat is naturally weather-resistant and should only be bathed when necessary, as over-frequent bathing can rob the coat of its natural protective oils. Weekly brushing with a long-hair brush, stiff bristle brush or grooming glove will remove dirt and debris, control shedding and keep the coat healthy and shiny. Dogs with hanging ears, like most Foxes and Coonhounds, are more prone to ear infections than other dogs. So it's important to check them regularly to make sure they're clean, dry and odor-free.