American Foxeagle Dog Breed

The American Foxhound and Beagle mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group--but since both parent breeds are in the Hound group in most clubs, these hybrids would fit nicely in that category. Neither does any info exist about the Foxeagle's specific origin; while a Foxhound mix with Beagle has likely existed naturally for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. Regardless, these energetic, friendly hybrids make terrific hunting companions, and they can also be good pets--but they're much more suited for living in rural areas.

A few facts about the Beagle and American Foxhound mix: they're medium-sized, averaging 18 inches at the shoulders in height and 40 pounds in weight; they have short, dense coats that shed moderately; and they're extremely energetic and will need a lot of exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Foxhound x Beagle:

Some important Beagle-Foxhound mix info: these hybrids are the offspring of two celebrated hunting breeds. Both the Foxhound and the Beagle have historically hunted in packs, so your Foxeagle will likely share that "pack mentality" too. These dogs' coats come in typical "hound colors": black, white, and various shades of brown, usually in multi-colored patterns.

Personality-wise, these dogs are friendly and enthusiastic--and they can also be quite hard-headed, which may make training them a challenge. As pack animals, though, Foxeagles normally get along great with their family "pack." They make great playmates for kids, and they generally socialize well with other household pets (although their high prey drives mean they might instinctively chase cats, birds, or rodents). They have pretty good watchdog skills too--mainly because of their loud barking or baying. While not the most aggressive of breeds, Foxeagles are sure to sound an unmistakable vocal alarm is they detect an unknown sight or sound.

The loud barking, however, means these hybrids will do much better living in a rural setting. They'll also need lots of space for outdoor exercise, which they'll require on a daily basis.

The American Foxeagle, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, and various eye issues (the most serious of which is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA). Potential Foxeagle owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for these hybrids is 11-14 years.