Latvian Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison

Latvian Hound vs American Foxhound - Breed ComparisonAmerican Foxhound is originated from United States but Latvian Hound is originated from Russia. American Foxhound may grow 16 cm / 7 inches higher than Latvian Hound. American Foxhound may weigh 12 kg / 27 pounds more than Latvian Hound. Both American Foxhound and Latvian Hound has almost same life span. Both American Foxhound and Latvian Hound has same litter size. Both American Foxhound and Latvian Hound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
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United States
Russia
Height Male:
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Height Female:
49 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
21 - 30 kg
46 - 67 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 12
6 - 12
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Foxhound
Latvijas Dzinejsuns
Colors Available:
red, tricolor, black and tan, blue
Black, tan, brown
Coat:
short, hard
Short and dense
Shedding:
Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Hard
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

american foxhoundAs a cousin of the English Foxhound, the American Foxhound is a scent hound and bred for hunting. Robert Brooke brought the first hunting dogs to the colonies in 1650. These dogs were the starting point for several American hound breeds including the American Foxhound.

For almost 300 years the Brooke family owned and bred dogs from this bloodline.

At the same time that Brooke was hunting with and breeding his hounds, George Washington was given French Foxhounds. These were crossed with the Brooke’s dogs to create the American Foxhound. This breed is said to have been originally bred in Virginia and Maryland.

They are the state dog of Virginia. After Red Foxes were imported or migrated, Irish Foxhounds were brought to American and added into the line, increasing the stamina and speed that today’s dog’s still display.

The American Foxhound was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1886. Today’s American Foxhound presents in many different lines but are all considered the same breed even though some ay look very different. These strains include the Trigg, Walker, Penn-Marydel, Goodman, July and Calhoun.

latvian houndThe Latvian Hound is a medium sized Russian or Latvian hunting hound. The dog was bred in Latvia, Russia.

He was developed from a number of English and Polish dogs as well as Lucernese breeds.

It is by no means a new breed and records of it go way back to the 1600s. A certain Duke Courland developed the dog so that it was also known as the Courland Hound. In 1922 the Latvian Association of Hunters' Associations was formed.

It was in 1971 that the Latvian Hound was was approved with it's name and a new standard was developed and approved. It isn't recognized by the AKC or the FCI.

Description

american foxhound puppy - descriptionGiven the variety of bloodlines and strains mentioned above, there can be many differences in the American Foxhounds. Because of this most American Foxhounds bred to show are Walkers as they most closely fit the AKC Breed Standard.

In general, the American Foxhound has long, straight legs and is taller than the English Foxhound. They have a narrow chest and domed skull with a long muzzle.

They have low, wide set eyes that should be dark – brown or hazel, never blue. They have feet like a fox and laid-back shoulders with a curved tail. Athletic and muscled, the American Foxhound is bred to run. They are one of the rarest breeds in the United States.

latvian hound puppy - descriptionThe Latvian Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 40 to 48cm in height and weighing about 15 to 20kg.

He has a deep chest, fairly long, floppy ears, a long tail with strong legs. The coat is double and is short, shiny and dense. He is an average shedder. He is essentially black with tan markings, with tan spots above the eyes. The eyes are dark brown and the nose is black.

Temperament:

The Latvian Hound may well be an exceptional hunter but he also makes a great family pet. He is looked upon as being a friendly, amicable, sweet dog.

Because he has been a working dog, he likes to be busy and will happily join in with all your hikes and swimming. He will also run with you while you cycle.

It’s a dog that doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time, being inclined to suffer with separation anxiety. He doesn’t take kindly to strangers either, but a dog which has been socialized and trained becomes more amicable.

Your Latvian is intelligent so you won’t have any trouble teaching him some simply commands. He is a friendly, lively dog and just having him in your home brings in a joyous atmosphere. He is an easy-going dog, but even so, if you don’t have a fair sized garden and you don’t have the time to exercise him, he is better off living on a farm or where there is a fair sized garden.

Characteristics

american foxhound dog - characteristicsWith a reputation as a docile, sweet dog, the American Foxhound is great with kids and animals. They are gentle and often very shy with strangers. They are strong willed and stubborn especially when training them, so they are not a good first dog. They need an owner who has handled dogs before and knows how to be the pack leader without being angry or mean.

The American Foxhound is a scent hound and once he is on the scent it is close to impossible to distract him from it. They have a tendency to ignore commands when they are in this state. A strong owner/leader is needed for this reason. Don’t let him off leash in an unfenced area.

latvian hound dog - characteristicsThe Latvian Hound is an outgoing, fun dog to have around and a great dog for first-time dog owners too. He has always been a working dog, so he has developed skills such as being focused and tenacious.

As a companion and family dog, you will have a true friend as he is sweet, loving and loyal and thrives on the attention of his human family. He is a playful dog, feisty and energetic, and will be protective too. Bring him into your home and you'll see what a bright place it becomes just having him there as pet and friend.

Health Problems

american foxhound puppies - health problemsThe American Foxhound, like most hunting dogs does not carry a lot of genetic disorders. But they can easily become overweight and this can cause major problems. Dysplasia of any type had been mostly unknown in this breed, but due to obesity it is cropping up on occasion. Breeders have not, and do not usually screed for any genetic diseases.

The most devastating health issue the American Foxhound faces is thrombocytopathy. We will go into more detail on this in the Care for Pet section. This is a disease of the blood system, namely the platelets.

latvian hound puppies - health problemsThe life span of the Latvian Hound is 12 to 14 years, and while there are no reported major health issues, all dogs face some kind of medical issues during their lives. The Latvian Hound can face things like hip dysplasia, eye problems, bloat and ear infections.

Vaccinations:

Vaccines can protect your dog from contracting some illnesses which can be fatal.

There is controversy over pet vaccines but the problem is more about HOW the dog is vaccinated.

There was a time when puppies were vaccinated many times, but newer guidelines were updated in 2017, stating that core vaccines be given to adult dogs in intervals of 3 years or more, rather than every year.

Puppy vaccines still need to be done about every 3 weeks between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks against the likes of parvovirus and distemper. Get yourself a good vet who is skilled and safe with vaccines.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

american foxhound dogs - caringWhether feeding a pup, or an adult American Foxhound, you need to be sure the food is high quality and that you don’t overfeed. The Foxhound is happy to eat as much as you give him. They like to eat. Make sure you measure and don’t free feed. Control what they are eating.

For a puppy feed twice, a day – 2 to 3 cups of high quality puppy food. When he becomes an adult feed him once a day with 2 cups of adult food.

Health issues

As mentioned previously, the American English Foxhound, like most of the hound breeds is a very healthy dog. They do not have many genetic health issues. They do have a risk for thrombocytopathy. This risk is slight, but all owners of American English Foxhounds should be aware of it.

Thrombocytopathy

This disease is a circulatory system disease with poorly or non-functioning platelets. Platelets are designed to assist in the control of bleeding and without functioning ones the dog can bleed excessively from just a minor cut or bleed internally from a minor injury. The disease can be treated but you have to notice it first. Depending on how severe the disease is, the treatment will vary. Some dogs will have to be given platelets.

Exercise and games

This is a high energy breed that is very active and needs a lot of exercise. They are not good for the first-time owner as they are stubborn and hard to train. They need room to run and get frustrated and out of sorts if they don’t have it. They can live in the suburbs but only with a large fenced yard, an even larger dog park and regular walks. This dog needs a lot of exercise. The simplest thing to do is take him hunting.

Grooming:

latvian hound dogs - caringThe Latvian Hound has a short coat that is easy to groom. He is a moderate shedder and brushing him twice a week will take care of all that loose hair. He’ll thrive on the attention this grooming session gives him and its the time to check him over for ticks and fleas too.

Check the inside of his ears. Without even realizing it, dirt and wax can build up and result in an ear infection. His ear may be red and you’ll notice him shaking his head and scratching at his ears. Be very careful about cleaning his ears as going to deep can damage the ear.

Any grooming of your dog that you can’t manage can be attended to by professional dog groomers.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. American Foxhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. American Foxhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. American Foxhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. American Foxhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. American Foxhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. American Foxhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. American Foxhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. American Foxhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. American Foxhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. American Foxhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. American Foxhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. American Foxhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. American Foxhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. American Foxhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. American Foxhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. American Foxhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. American Foxhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. American Foxhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. American Foxhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. American Foxhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. American Foxhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. American Foxhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. American Foxhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. American Foxhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. American Foxhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Latvian Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Latvian Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Latvian Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Latvian Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Latvian Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Latvian Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Latvian Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Latvian Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Latvian Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Latvian Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Latvian Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Latvian Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Latvian Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Latvian Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Latvian Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Latvian Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Latvian Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Latvian Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Latvian Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Latvian Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Latvian Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Latvian Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Latvian Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Latvian Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Latvian Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison