Podenco Canario vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison

As 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.

The Podenco Canario comes from the Canary Islands (Spain) and is still used for hunting purposes to this day, although it is also becoming more of a companion dog.

It is believed that the dog descended from ancient dogs which were brought to the islands from Egypt and North Africa by early human settlers.

Given 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.

The Podenco Canario is a medium sized dog and stands at between 55 and 64cm and weighs between 20 and 25kg. This is a slender, muscular dog but still robust and sturdy. There are in fact 2 sizes of Podenco Canarios – one is the medium sized dog of up to 64cm and the other is a smaller size.

The coat of the dog is short and smooth and is a rich red color or even chocolate brown. There are dogs which can have some white markings. The dog's nose and skin should be a shade of red and these dogs are known to blush when they become animated. The neck of the dog is long with the head being long and slender too, with the large bat-like ears being erect.

Temperament:

This dog can become very attached to his human family and is somewhat reserved around strangers. He is smart and will be able to learn easily. Training and socialization will be necessary to him as it makes him balanced and obedient.

He will appreciate a firm, consistent, kind owner as he is a dog that is strong willed and stubborn. He is a gentle dog too and can play well with children who have been taught to treat dogs with respect. He is active and will require a good deal of daily exercise.

With 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.

The Podenco Canario is a quiet breed that isn’t going to cause you trouble as he just slots into your way of life.

He is easy going, gentle and smart and wants to please. He is also a low maintenance dog, easy to please if he benefits from a good dose of exercise and human interaction.

Early socialization and training is important, as with any other dog breed, and then he becomes an excellent pet and friend of the family.

The 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.

Your Podenco can live to be 10, 11 or 12 years of age if looked after well. Because he is a primitive breed, he is able to throw off some diseases that other dogs might battle with. Just like with other dogs however, he can battle with some health problems. One of two of the common dog illnesses to watch out for include -

Skin Problems:

Skin problems can create havoc for your dog. They can be frustrating, painful and itchy. Skin problems can come from parasites, allergies and skin infections. Common parasites that involve the skin include ticks and fleas and mites. Dogs themselves can also cause irritation of the skin by licking one area over and over again from sheer boredom and stress.

Gastric Torsion (Bloat:

To prevent this life threatening disease, try and feed your dog 2 meals a day instead of one so that he doesn't gobble his food up. This can contribute to bloat. The stomach fills with gas and the stomach can twist and bring death to the dog. Get your dog to the vet immediately if you see he is restless,drooling and has a swollen stomach.

Heartworm:

This is particularly worrisome if you live in an area where there are lots of mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be deadly for your dog. Speak to your vet about preventative treatment if you are traveling to an area known for its mosquito problems..

Feeding

Whether 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.

Exercise:

Provide your dog with a daily dose of exercise. He will love to have a walk with you every day but ball games will also be important for him.

Diet:

Your Podenco Canario is a medium-breed dog, with a slim, muscular build To keep him that way, ensure he has a high quality commercially manufactured dog food that is high in the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Dry kibble needs to be enhanced with some home-made food. Boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach are excellent when chopped up and added occasionally to the dry kibble. You can also include some raw meat into his food from time to time. Such nutritious food which is simple, can help your dog live a long, healthy, happy life.

Grooming:

Your dog has a short coat and a brush twice a week will keep it in tip top condition. Make use of these brushing sessions to check your dog’s coat for fleas and ticks. Also check him over for any new lumps. Cancer is an ever present threat with dogs.

Look inside his ears for any signs of redness, and try and look inside his mouth too for signs of bad teeth. His nails should also be kept short and trimmed. If they get too long they can hook onto things and rip the flesh open.