The English foxhound has a short and hard coat. Hard in that it lies flat and close to the body making it water repellent. The English foxhound is one of the lowest maintenance dogs you can own.

Regular brushing is one of the most important things you can do to make your pet healthy and happy.

Brushing:

. Removes dirt and debris
. Invigorates skin
. Spreads oils to moisturize skin and keep a shiny coat
. Prevents mats and tangles which are irritating painful and can harbor bacteria, fungus, other infection
. Keeps your house much cleaner especially during shedding seasons
. Bonding, massaging, loving interaction
. Early detection of fleas, tics, eczema, infection and smells that signify sickness

Your English foxhound only needs a good brushing once a week with a firm bristle brush. A rubber curry comb and chamois rub down will give it gloss and remove more loose hair.

Eyes: Check your dog's eyes daily.

Debris is flushed to the corners and daily wiping with a wet cloth or paper towel can keep that bacterial breeding ground from building up.

Ears: Check ears once a week.

They should be pink and healthy inside. If not, don't do anything to them until you see a vet. Keeping ears clean minimizes odor, removes dirt, bacteria and mites trapped in wax. Never use a cotton swab on the inner ear.

Tools: Cotton balls or soft cloth and ear solution.

There is a solution made specifically for dogs but substitutes include: hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, mineral oil, witch hazel, and tea tree oil.

Place a few drops of ear solution in the ear and rub and massage to loosen wax. Swab out with a cotton ball or cloth.

Teeth: Regularly.

Brush your English foxhound's teeth? Yes. 80% of 3 year old dogs have periodontal disease. Cavities and gum disease are painful for your dog; they diminish its pleasure and ability to eat. Bacteria that develops can infect the heart, kidney, liver and brain. Really bad breath is usually a sign of gum disease.

Tools: Toothbrush/finger cap/cloth, doggie toothpaste, tooth scraper

Never use human toothpaste. It is not edible.

Starting this dog out with this practice takes patience. Reward them constantly.

Start out getting them used to their mouth being handled, then progress to touching the teeth with your finger.

Get some meat-seasoned toothpaste and apply it with your finger.

Then introduce the brush. Clean a few teeth at a time, and soon you will have a routine that takes just minutes. Brush in a circular motion and get under the gum line.

If you don't want to brush everyday, use a tooth scraper to get rid of the plaque buildup once or twice a month. Most accumulation is on the outside of the teeth and on the back molars. This won't be so much fun for your dog or you though.

Lots of bones and hard, crunchy foods can minimize plaque but not to a truly effective degree.


Nails: Every two weeks.

Nail care is very important for your English foxhound. Nails that aren't trimmed can splinter and infect the quick or grow and curl into the flesh. This can be painful for your dog to walk on. It will affect its gait, posture, and eventually it's skeletal and ligament health. Nails should never touch the ground. When your dog is standing, its nails should rest above the ground. If you hear clicking on the kitchen floor, clipping is past due.

Tools: Doggie Nail Clippers (scissors, pliers, guillotine), Dremel or file, Styptic or Kwikstop.

Introducing your dog to nail clipping should start out by getting it used to its paws being handled. Stroke, touch and manipulate your English Foxhounds paws whenever you are giving it affection.

Getting it used to the Dremel is your best bet to avoid clipping altogether.

Sit beside your dog and put your arm around its shoulders if you can so that you are clipping from underneath and at the right angle. Lift the paw and press on it to expose the claw.

If it has a clear nail you should be able to see the quick: a dark bundle of nerves and blood vessels.

Clip from underneath, close to the quick but do not cut into it. If you do, your dog will let you know immediately. Use a Styptic pencil or Kwikstop to staunch the bleeding.

Buff the ragged edge with a file or Dremel. Some dogs can handle their nails being buffed by the Dremel regularly rather than clipping at all.

If your dog has a dark nail, clip just under the curve of the nail and then you'll be able to look inside and see the quick if you are close enough. Clip tiny snips at a time.

Don't forget to check for dewclaws: an extra claw dogs may have farther up on the leg that works like a thumb.

It is better to clip your dog's nails more frequently than not as this causes the quick to recede farther away from the tip.

Paws: Check daily

It is very important to check between dog pads for foreign objects that may have wedged there and to check the pads themselves for cuts, scrapes and infection.

Hygienic trimming: 2 to 4 weeks.

Tools: Blunt-nosed scissors or Electric clippers

Trimming under the tail and around the privates' keeps your dog feeling better as well as keeping them and your house cleaner.

Expressing Glands: Every 2 to 4 weeks

This is a task normally done when you take your dog in for professional grooming. Your dog uses scent glands in the anus to mark its territory.

These glands also excrete when your dog defecates. At times, they may get impacted. Signs of this include: increased doggie odor, excessive licking and chewing of the behind, and worst of all, scooting. That's when your dog drags its butt along your carpet.

There is no risk of overly expressing these glands so it's a good habit to become accustomed to. It will lesson dog odor.

Tools: Warm cloth

Lift the dog's tail and hold the cloth against it's behind. Place your fingers at 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock. Press inward and squeeze to expel.

Bathing: As needed

English Foxhounds do not need regular bathing. This can strip their skin and coat of the natural oils that keep it healthy. A rubdown with a damp towel will usually suffice. With regular brushing, ear cleaning and gland expression, dog odor will remain at a minimum. Bathing a few times a year is usually adequate. Exceptions to this are when your dog manages to get into something messy or during its shedding season. A bath can help to remove a large amount of shedding hair.

Tools: Non-slip mat, sprayer hose, dog shampoo, leash, towels.

Choose a place where you can close off escape routes and expect 1-3 water-spraying shakes.

A leash tied to a higher point than your dog's head will keep it standing and deter escape. This is highly recommended as it's really hard to stop a slippery dog.

Never bathe your dog in standing water and never use human shampoo.

If you choose to bathe your English foxhound outside, attach the hose to your kitchen sink for warm water. Grooming salons often offer self-service use of their well-equipped facilities.

Wet your dog using your hand to massage it. Avoid getting water into the eyes, nose and ears. Cotton can be stuffed into the ear canal to deter water.

Massage shampoo into lather. Rinse thoroughly as leftover shampoo can severely dry out and irritate your pet's skin.

Siphon off excess water by running your hands along its body and pressing, followed by a towel dry.