Dog ownership is a wonderful and rewarding experience, but one that should not be taken lightly. It requires more than just petting the dog and feeding the dog. Dogs need exercise to live a happy normal life and the English foxhound is no exception.
The English foxhound is a dog that has a very high energy level and needs to be exercised on a daily basis. As I've said, the dog can survive in apartment living, but this is not the recommended living arrangements. The English foxhound cannot be left at home all day while the owners work. They are not the type of dog that will be content waiting at home. Without the proper amount of exercise, they become bored and very destructive. When they are being destructive, they can do a lot of chewing, digging and other damage.
The English foxhound will do best in a home where there is a large yard for them to run around, play in and exercise in general. They love going for walks or runs and this is great exercise for them. They love being around the children of the family so the children may be the perfect choice to give them daily exercise. It is important that the English foxhound be given some kind of basic obedience training, as this will make the exercise and walking a lot easier. It may cut down on some of the destructive behavior due to boredom as well. Although it is important to realize that if the dog is being destructive, it's probably more a sign of boredom than poor behavior. Many dogs are labeled as disobedient when it's more the owner's fault. Don't make this mistake with your English foxhound.
Another reason why regular exercise is required for your English foxhound is that he will probably be used for hunting. If you are like most dog owners, you work during the week and go out hunting with your dog on the weekends. If the foxhound has not been receiving regular daily exercise during the week, you may have problems with him on the weekend. Not only will he have a lot of pent up energy waiting to be released, but also he may be out of shape and not up to the strenuous regimen of hunting. This is why dogs that are used strictly for hunting are given workouts for months before their hunting seasons actually begin. Your English foxhound may be a family pet, but he still needs regular exercise to keep him fit, happy, and healthy.
Many owners of the English foxhound have their dog compete in agility events and hunting trials. These are a great way for your dog to not only get the exercise they need, but also a way for them to socialize with other people and dogs.
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