Shepard Labrador vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison

Shepard Labrador vs American Foxhound - Breed ComparisonBoth American Foxhound and Shepard Labrador are originated from United States. Both American Foxhound and Shepard Labrador are having almost same height. Both American Foxhound and Shepard Labrador are having almost same weight. Both American Foxhound and Shepard Labrador has almost same life span. Both American Foxhound and Shepard Labrador has almost same litter size. Both American Foxhound and Shepard Labrador requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Companion dog
undefined
United States
United States
Height Male:
53 - 64 cm
20 - 26 inches
53 - 62 cm
20 - 25 inches
Height Female:
49 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
53 - 62 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
23 - 36 kg
50 - 80 pounds
Weight Female:
21 - 30 kg
46 - 67 pounds
23 - 36 kg
50 - 80 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 12
5 - 10
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Foxhound
Sheprador, Shepador
Colors Available:
red, tricolor, black and tan, blue
Cream, fawn - mix of colors, brown, tan
Coat:
short, hard
Short to medium length - thick
Shedding:
Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, 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.

shepard labradorThe Labrador/German Shepherd mix, known as the Shepard Labrador was no doubt first bred in the United States from two very popular dog breeds - the Labrador and the German Shepherd.

Breeders of this dog were looking to bring about a dog that could be an exceptional companion with characteristics from both breeds.

Also referred to as the Sheprador, the dog will surely have an amazing temperament.

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.

shepard labrador puppy - descriptionWith the Shepard Labrador, because the puppies come from two pure breeds – the Labrador and the German Shepherd, there is no really knowing how your pet will turn out. There is therefore no standard appearance.

Some will have floppy ears like the Labrador, some erect ears like the German Shepherd. The tail will always be long. The coat will always be thick and be short to medium in length. Some puppies will be born with a fawn shade and others will have the dark colors of the German Shepherd. Some will have a mix of colors.

They will be fairly large dogs standing at between 53 and 62m in height and weighing between 23 and 36kg.

Temperament:

Between two such splendid dog breeds, you’re guaranteed to get a wonderful temperament – after all, that's why the two breeds were brought together. Your Shepard Labrador will be friendly, playful, social,smart, courageous, loving, loyal and energetic, just loving to be around his human family.

These dogs get on well with children, and with training and socialization will get on well with other pets in the home. This dog really makes a splendid family pet.

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.

shepard labrador dog - characteristicsThere are studies that show that dogs provide us with so many good things – companionship, comfort and relaxation.They provide us with entertainment too because some of them are so amusing with their antics.

The Shepard Labrador is like that – he is social, friendly, loving and devoted and by bringing him into your home, you’re signing up for 10 – 14 years of sheer pleasure, less stress and superb companionship.

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.

shepard labrador puppies - health problemsThe Shepard Labrador is a healthy dog breed, and with the right nutrition and exercise can reach 10 to 14 years of age. There are always going to be those common dog illnesses that many dogs succumb to. Some of them are hip dysplasia, cancer, skin problems and parasites.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a condition where parts of the hip joints don’t fit properly together. This creates a situation where there is abnormal wear and tear on the joints. It can lead to arthritis even and pain for your dog.

Parasites – Tapeworm:

The tapeworm is a parasite spread to dogs but also to people, and it is through the ingestion of infected fleas. You can often detect this when you discover parts of the worm crawling in your dog’s bowel movements or they can be around the anus. You can suspect this when you see your pet losing weight and having diarrhea. Speak to your vet about how to control fleas with your dog.

Rabies:

This is a fatal disease where dogs are infected through bites from rabid animals. You’ll notice horrible behavioral changes in your dog. Unfortunately with this terrible disease, once symptoms appear, it is virtually too late for treatment.

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.

shepard labrador dogs - caring◆Brush the coat of your Shepard Labrador twice a week to rid the coat of loose hairs and to keep the coat shiny ad healthy. Many people add in the Omega 3/6 oils to the dog’s food to ensure a healthy skin and coat.

◆Check the ears and eyes for infection. Make sure there are no signs of redness and discharge.

◆Check the inside of your pet’s mouth He has no way of telling you that a rotten tooth in the mouth is causing hi tremendous pain and affecting the his health.

◆Feel for new and unusual lumps on your pet’s body.

◆Provide your pet with a warm, dry place to sleep. Make sure if he is outdoors that he has both sun and shade.

◆Keep your pet’s vaccines up to date to eliminate killer canine diseases.

◆Have your pet spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted puppies.

◆Feed your pet the best food there is. Your Shepard Labrador will no doubt be served commercially manufactured food. There are good and bad varieties. Make sure it is one of the better brands to ensure you don’t end up feeding your pet foods packed full of unhealthy ingredients such as colorants, preservative and fillers.

Try and include some home-made food to the diet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet as it won’t upset your dog’s digestive system.

Also try and include some raw meat into the diet as this can help in fighting off skin problems. Ensure your Shepard Labrador always has access to a bowl of fresh, cool water.

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. Shepard Labrador vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Shepard Labrador vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Shepard Labrador vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Shepard Labrador vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Shepard Labrador vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Shepard Labrador vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Shepard Labrador vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Shepard Labrador vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Shepard Labrador vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Shepard Labrador vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Shepard Labrador vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Shepard Labrador vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Shepard Labrador vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Shepard Labrador vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Shepard Labrador vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Shepard Labrador vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Shepard Labrador vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Shepard Labrador vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Shepard Labrador vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Shepard Labrador vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Shepard Labrador vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Shepard Labrador vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Shepard Labrador vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Shepard Labrador vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Shepard Labrador vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison