Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound

		Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound

The Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound is a fragrant dog bred primarily for fox hunting. However, they can also be wonderful pets and watchdogs. They're big, gentle dogs, but they also need plenty of exercise and space to run around. As a responsible pet parent, you should only consider adopting one of these dogs if you have a large enough home with a yard. They shouldn't be left alone indoors for too long, as they can become bored and develop destructive behavior. These dogs are friendly to strangers and get on well with other dogs as long as they are properly trained and socialized as puppies.

History of the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound

The Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound is one of four types of American Foxhound. The other types are the Drag hound, Slow Trailing hound and the Field Trial hound. The Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound was bred as a hunting dog and was mainly used for fox hunting. It is documented that this breed was crossed with the Bloodhound in the 18th century, leading to the creation of the Black and Tan Coonhound. They originated in Virginia, USA, and were selected as the official state breed in 1966. Their ancestry is thought to include French, Irish and English dogs. Robert Brooke brought several hunting dogs to America in 1650, and they remained in the family for over 300 years. These dogs would later lead to the creation of a variety of American dogs, including the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound. This breed wouldn't be here either without the crossing of George Washington's French Foxhounds, given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette, with Brooke's hunting dogs. At this stage, they are a rare and unrecognized breed.

Appearance of the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound

The Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound is a large dog with a broad, flat head. The ears are pendulous and floppy, framing the face. These dogs have friendly, intelligent eyes that are large and wide apart. They have a moderate to high set tail that curves slightly upward. As indicated in the breed name, these dogs have a black and tan coat on a white base. Their coat is hard, coarse and fairly short. The front legs of the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound are straight and long. Males and females can reach between 13.5 and 16 kilograms, and with a height of around 58.5 to 69 centimeters. Most pure Black and Tan Virginia Foxhounds possess these basic physical characteristics.

Temperament of the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound

The Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound is an energetic but gentle dog, and although they are large, these dogs are just friends and will make wonderful, loyal companions. Since these dogs have been bred to hunt in packs, any form of aggression or violent temperament has been completely eliminated from the breed. This also means that the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound will get on well with other dogs as long as they are properly socialized. Start training your Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound as a puppy and introduce it to other dogs to make it a success. These dogs are trainable because of their high level of intelligence, and their loyal, protective temperament makes them good watchdogs. They are gentle dogs who will behave and show affection around their owners as well as strangers. Although born hunters, these dogs are equally suited to life as a pet in a loving family.

Needs and activities of the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound

Because these dogs are so large, they are not best suited to apartments, as they need space to run around. This breed would be happiest living in a home that has access to a yard. They are very active dogs that need to be exercised for at least 45 to 60 minutes a day. They can easily become bored and will try to find a way to entertain themselves. This can lead to destructive behavior, so you may not want to keep them stuck indoors alone for too long. You may need to limit the amount of food you feed your dog, as the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound is known to be an easy keeper who will put on weight easily. An obese dog is unhealthy and can lead to health problems.

Maintenance of the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound

As with all dog breeds, the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound has certain needs and requires maintenance to keep it happy and healthy. When these dogs are younger, they need to be fed more often. A puppy between 8 and 12 weeks old needs to be fed four times a day, and three times a day if he's between 3 and 6 months old. A dog aged between 6 months and a year should be fed twice a day, and once he's a year old, he'll only need to be fed once, although two lighter meals will also work. Your dog will love other treats such as cheese, fruit and vegetables or boiled eggs, but these should be given in moderation. Make sure your dog always has fresh water available, and that he is brushed regularly and checked for fleas and ticks. They will need to be brushed more often during shedding seasons, but should only be bathed a few times a year. Like all dogs, they should also let their teeth be brushed as often as possible to maintain their dental health, and should also have their ears cleaned to prevent infections.

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 09 March 2024; Hits: 470

Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound