Do American Foxhounds Shed? (What You Need to Know)

American Foxhounds are described by the American Kennel Club as good-natured, easy-going dogs that get on well with other animals and children. They’re also known for their speed and enduring work ethic, which no doubt served them well during their fox hunting days.

Do they shed? Yes, American Foxhounds do shed, but not very heavily. And they’re very easy to groom, so managing the molting is a simple matter of brushing them once or twice a week with a bristle brush or rubber hound glove.

Read on to learn more about how much they shed and what’s needed to maintain their coat, so you can keep your home as free from dog hair as possible!

American Foxhound Shedding

American Foxhounds are a moderate shedding breed.

What exactly does “moderate” shedding looking like? This means you’ll likely notice some fur gathering on your floors and furniture, but it’s generally not very difficult to control through things like proper diet and grooming.

How much fur do they drop compared with other breeds?

Overall, they shed a similar amount of hair as a Beagle and Greyhound. Which are also average shedding hounds. But thankfully they don’t normally shed as much as breeds like the Bloodhound and German Shepherd. So it could be a lot worse!

Either way, if you’re someone who wants a super low shedding breed or a hypoallergenic dog (meaning one that is generally more suitable for allergy sufferers), then there are better alternatives, like the Italian Greyhound for example.

Keep in mind though, that there’s really no such thing as a completely “non-shedding” or “hypoallergenic” dog anyway. All dogs with hair shed (or molt) at least something. So no matter which dog you get, unless they are completely hairless, you are going to notice some hair dropping off of their coat at times. This is normal and part of the natural hair growth cycle.

Related: Why Do Dogs Shed Hair?

And there’s no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog, either. All dogs have the potential to cause an allergic reaction in some people, because all dogs produce dander (dead skin), sweat, saliva and urine – which is what actually causes pet related allergies.

Related: What is a Hypoallergenic Dog?

Of course there are dogs that shed almost nothing and those that are a lot less likely to cause problems for people with allergies than others. So, at the end of the day, it really comes down to how fussy you are about seeing loose hairs on your floor, whether or not you’re allergic to dogs, and how consistent you are with managing the shedding.

And managing shedding mostly comes down to these:

• Firstly, making sure your dog is as healthy as possible and that their diet is optimal, which is something your veterinarian should be able to help you with. Sometimes shedding can be caused by things like stress, fleas, poor diet, or an underlying health issue. So by making sure your dog is happy and healthy, and that you’re feeding him a high quality dog food, you can reduce the chances of him shedding excessively.
• Second, brushing him properly and routinely is one of the best ways to remove the dead hair before it drops onto your floors, and it massages his skin and helps distribute his skin oils. Which in turn can lead to a healthier, stronger coat that molts less overall.

There are some other great ways to control shedding but these are the main things to consider. And by simply getting these right, you will likely notice a big difference in the amount of fur floating around and how much time you need to spend vacuuming it up.

Grooming Your Foxhound

American Foxhounds have a low-maintenance coat, they’re very easy to brush and groom.

In fact, they’re among the easiest dogs to care for in dogdom which is thanks to their hard, close lying coat.

Generally speaking, all they really need is a quick brush once or twice a week with a bristle brush or hound glove (rubber brush) to keep their coat in top shape and remove any old, dead fur.

Like most dogs, however, Foxhounds can shed more during spring and fall as the seasons are changing. So you may want to brush a little more frequently if you’re noticing an uptick in molting during these times.

The occasional bath with a good quality dog shampoo can help maintain his coat too. They’re generally not very smelly dogs, and they’re not known for drooling heavily either, so they don’t need constant bathing. And it’s important not to bath too often, as this can actually dry out his skin which in turn can increase the molting.

Aside from weekly brushing and the occasional bath, things like nail trimming and cleaning their teeth and ears are important too, as with most dogs.

Bottom Line

American Foxhounds are good-natured, easy-going dogs that make excellent family companions. And while they do shed some hair, they more than make up for this with how easy they are to groom – they’re about as low-maintenance as it gets!

This is something they share with other great breeds, like the Beagle and English Foxhound which is a dog they’re often mistaken for. Although it’s easy enough to spot the difference, American Foxhounds have longer legs and they tend to run faster.

On the flip side, they are known to howl and they do need lots of exercise and stimulation, otherwise they can get a little destructive. So they’re probably not the best breed for people who are away a lot or for those who live in an apartment. So if you’re looking for a quieter, lower shedding dog, the Whippet may be a good alternative.

Either way, American Foxhounds are an excellent dog with a winning personality. And with simple things like proper diet and grooming, you’ll wonder if he even sheds at all.