Kunming Dog vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison

The English Foxhound was found in Great Britain as far back as the late 1700’s. They were bred to be scent hounds and hunt the fox by following his smell. It was a crossing of several different types of hounds that produced the English Foxhound. This included the Greyhound, the Bulldog and the Fox Terrier. It was perceived that there were not a lot of deer left in the United Kingdom to be hunted for both sport and food. So, a new dog would be needed instead for the Staghound and Deerhound.

The Foxhound was developed as a pack animal bred to chase the fox followed by hunters on horses. The Foxhound was bred with incredible stamina, a great ability to follow scents, track prey, and act as a watchdog as well. This breed are pack animals. They hunt in packs and prefer to live in packs. A solitary English Foxhound is probably not a happy Foxhound. The English Foxhound is stockier and slower than his cousin the American Foxhound. The English Foxhound is recognized by the AKC and UKC. In 2012 the International Foxhound Association was developed to promote the English Foxhound.

Known also as the Kunming Wolfdog, the Kunming Dog is similar in looks to the German Shepherd Dog, but the coat is recognizably shorter.

It’s an attractive looking wolf-like dog which comes from China. It isn’t quite clear which dog breeds were used in the gene pool for these Kunming wolfdogs. You can see though that the German Shepherd as well as other wolfdog-crosses have played a part in the breed's origin.

The dog was created in the early 1950s for military- and guard dog purposes. In 1988, the Chinese Public Security Bureau officially recognized the Kunming Dog as a breed. Today, the dog is still used in military and police services.

The English Foxhound is a superb athlete who can run for hours without a break. He has muscular, sturdy and straight legs with round paws. His chest is deep, and his back is level. Their head is wide, and the muzzle is long with 16 inches in the front of the ears. The nose is long, and those ears are set low. They can be many colors as long as it is a “hound” color of tan, tricolor, black and white, or red.

The Kunming is a large dog, athletic and muscular, standing at 60 – 68cm and weighing 30 – 38kg. They are dogs which fall under the Spitz type category.

The dog has a coat which is considered seasonal - double layered in the cooler months and shedding to a shorter coat in the hotter months. The thick coat can be a light tan color to white and he has a black saddle pattern, giving the dog an overall black and tan combination.

The bushy tail is long and its carried down and low except when the dog is excited and alert, then it lifts its tail. The ears are erect like that of the German Shepherd or Wolf.

Temperament:

He isn’t the best breed for a first time owner as he is very strong willed and can tend to become aggressive. It is why he has been used to perform tasks in the military.

These dogs are known for their alertness, and to keep him mentally balanced and amicable, he will need a strong, firm owner who is also fair, patient and consistent. Bored and frustrated, a Kunming can become unpredictable and a first time dog owner might not be able to cope with such an independent, strong-willed, determined, confident dog.

He is also energetic and intelligent, making a great family dog as he is loyal, loving and devoted. His intelligence allows him to learn easily too. Training and socialization will be required if you want him to be obedient.

He is adaptable and can adjust to life in the city or the countryside, but essentially he is better suited to a home with large grounds as he is a dog which is full of energy.

The English Foxhound gets along with other dogs and like people. He was bred to be a pack animal, not a loner. He will get along with most any other animal and children as well. However, they are not often kept as pets because their prey drive and pursuit drive are so strong that nothing else matters. The chase is what life is all about for this breed. They are hardwired for it. They are not easy to train because they are constantly distracted by smells and movements that could send them off on the chase.

Keep them on a lease when walking them so they don’t go wandering or running of. They love to run, and they love to talk – bay actually. They might slow down somewhere around 8-10 years old. They need a strong owner and a lot of exercise to be happy.

Your attractive Kunming dog is an energetic, lively dog who is going to require a good deal of exercise as he was developed to be a working dog.

They are loving towards their human families and even well behaved with other dogs in the family. He will however need socialization and training from a firm, fair, consistent owner.

Provide him with a loving environment, lots of exercise, wholesome food, a warm, dry place to sleep and lots of mental and physical stimulation, and you’ll have a wonderful, contended pet and companion.

Overall a healthy and hearty breed, they are prone to hip dysplasia and renal disease.

Hip Dysplasia

Degenerative and debilitating at worse. In mild forms cause lameness and arthritis.

Renal Disease

Kidney disease – for some reason the kidneys cannot clear out toxins like urea and creatine

Your Kunming can reach 12 to 14 years of age if he is loved, fed correctly and adequately exercised. Just as with any dog, he can be susceptible to some of the common dog illnesses. These include the likes of hip dysplasia, bloat, epilepsy, eye problems, ear infections, intestinal parasites, heart disease and skin problems.

Intestinal worms:

Worms are a chronic problem in dogs and the thing is, they can infect humans too. If you don’t treat worms in your dog, it can lead to your pet becoming seriously ill. You may notice loss of appetite, a dull, thinning coat, anemia and diarrhea.

The vet will be able to offer a treatment that can help with eradicating hook-, round- and tapeworms.

Skin infections:

This may sound like a mild dog disease but it can cause a lot of misery for your pet. You’ll notice your pet licking, scratching and biting at raw, red spots on his skin. With bacterial- or yeast infections, your pet can battle with itchiness, pain and discomfort. Luckily your vet can recommend treatments to effectively alleviate symptoms.

Feeding

The English Foxhound is a high energy dog that needs a high quality dog food. He should be fed about 2.5 -3 cups a day in two meals of dry food. Because he is a deep chested dog, beware of bloat and don’t feed large meals, particularly before or after strenuous exercise.

Health issues

In addition to the issues presented above, the English Foxhound is prone to:

Epilepsy

Seizures are caused by epilepsy, but they can be treated, and the dog can have a quality life.

Bloat

When the stomach becomes distended or twisted. Can result in death if not treated immediately.

Ears

The English Foxhound’s long, floppy ears are prone to infection and allergies. Inspect and clean them regularly.

Exercise and games

The English Foxhound is an easygoing canine, but he has an incredible energy level and needs a lot of exercise every day. In fact, if you are not going to hunt then don’t get a Foxhound. It is not fair to the dog. Of course, if you have acres of land and are into agility, tracking, coursing and rally then this might be the dog for you. But if the English Foxhound does not get enough daily exercise, he will not be a good house pet. This dog was bred to run for miles. You cant keep him cooped up in your house.

Grooming for the thick coat should be done regularly. The dog sheds quite a bit and seasonally and you'll want to brush him twice a week to rid the coat of those loose hairs.

Exercising:

The Kunming Dog is high energy and will therefore suit a family who is active and sporty. He is the kind of dog that you can include in all your activities – walks, hikes, running next to you when you go cycling and swimming.

Diet:

This is an active dog and you want the best food for him, packed with vitamins and minerals to keep him lively and energetic. Instead of giving him one large meal a day that he gulps down quickly, split his food into 2 smaller meals.

Your dog’s age, his breed and his energy levels will direct you as to how to feed him.

Remember, that although commercially manufactured dog foods need to comply with certain standards, it doesn't guarantee their goodness. It may not be digestible for your pet. If you want to use one of these foods, choose the best there is and try to mix in some wholesome home-made food from time to time.

Cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta and some raw or cooked vegetables can be excellent for him as well as adding in some raw meat occasionally.