Foxhound v Pointer

[Shrimpy]

My OH and I have decided to get another dog to accompany our 6 year old BT. BT loves the company of other dogs and is very patient and obedient and I'm not worried about introducing another dog at all.

What we can't decide is which breed. Whatever breed we chose would need to be able to walk a fair distance with us as we're regular mountain walkers and the BT keeps up fine.

What I'm after from the AAD people is the pros and cons of the two breeds in the title. We also have 2 children aged 8 and 6 to take into account.

I'm not looking for advice about whether we should consider a rescue dog or not, just what each breed is like to own.

Thanks in advance, I'll share my M&S brownies with you all.

 

[Bedlam]

Not convinced Foxhounds make great pets.

I have just lost my Pointer aged 16 and can vouch for their temperaments with children, but they really do run - a proper gallop. They naturally go a long way away from you before turning and charging back past you to go the same distance away on the other side. They need good stock proofing because of this especially if you're mountain walkers.

A friend has a Trailhound - that may suit you?

http://trailhoundwelfare.org.uk/

I know you said you didn't necessarily want a rescue, but these people rehome hounds that are young and impeccably trained to stock which I think is important in these breeds. My friend's dog is just wonderful and she came from these guys.

 

[Shrimpy]

Thanks Bedlam, I'm not convinced about the Foxhound either, it's the OH who'd like one.

Sorry, maybe I didn't explain myself well. We'd happily have a rescue dog but for the purposes of this thread I'm just interested in breed/temperament specifics.

I will look into the trail hound though thanks.

 

[tessybear]

We have a german shorthaired pointer, lovely dog but got to the point where we cannot let her off, if she sees something you will not be able to get her back whilst he is in "hunting mode" aunties Pointer is exactly the same.

Why not just look round some rescues see if any breed fits your bill

 

[PorkChop]

I've never owned either of these breeds, however I see a few pointer's when I'm out shooting.

The majority - bearing in mind that they have been fairly well trained - are very rangy and a little deaf to commands

I can't imagine a foxhound would make an ideal family pet, no more than I think that a beagle would be.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Pointer

Foxhounds have been breed to hunt as a pack and are happiest doing so, so leave them to it.

 

[Dobiegirl]

Ive known lots of foxhounds in my time but never known one as a pet, they are bred for a specific job and their nose will always take priority. There is someone on here who has one Craven ,if memory serves me correct she spent a whole day and night searching for it when it bombed off.

Galaxy on here has a pointer and she does agility and a lot of training with it and it sounds a lovely dog, you can train a foxhound till the cows come home and it wont make a scrap of difference if it gets a sniff of a quarry.

 

[Tillypup]

Pointer pointer pointer!!! I've got three and they are wonderful!

They are lovely in the house, ideally want to sit on your laps if they can! They do need a lot of free running to be really happy. As others have said they do like to range a fair bit (it's what they've been bred to do) and so it is very important to train them from an early age, the drop command is your best friend!!

They are great with all the members of my family, my six year old daughter spends a lot of time dressing up the dogs, turning them into racehorses and princesses!!

 

[Alec Swan]

Not convinced Foxhounds make great pets.

.......

I'm not certain that Pointers do, either. They CAN, but they do need a degree of understanding, as they can all so often be a work bred dog, taken in to a domestic environment.

What's a BT?

Alec.

As an edit, by Pointers, I mean the English variety, the Germans tend to be a little more amenable.

 

[quirky]

Pointer.

We have 2 GSP's and they are beautiful dogs, absolutely great with the kids. One of them can be snappy with other dogs if they annoy her but has never growled at a human.

As somebody else said, they do have a tendency to disappear over the horizon before charging back and heading off again.

We took ours for individual training with a gun dog trainer, which for us was invaluable.
He trained us and them to a different level that local dog trainers would have done.

 

[Rowreach]

I am sitting here with my Cavan foxhound cross something cross something else sprawled all over the sofa, and while I would have always said that hounds do not make great house pets, I don't regret having him for one minute. However, he is wilful, destructive, huge and selectively deaf, so not for the fainthearted. Not sure that foxhounds are that easy to come by as pets though, so maybe something else would be more readily available!

BT is Border Terrier I assume?? Had several of those over the years too

 

[galaxy]

Gosh DG I think H's head just exploded! Lol!

I have a GSP. They are very intelligent and therefore love to learn. I find the more training and teaching H things the better he is. Not saying he's super obedient but we try! I have a lot if great advise from people on here and trainers (he's my first dog). I don't have kids of my own but an around a lot of them and he is fab! I even let pony club kids borrow him for a "horse and hound" last year at camp.

We will definitely be getting another!!!

 

[competitiondiva]

I have a cross of 2 pointers, he's still only a pup (so things may change alot!), but has been the best and easiest pup to train (bar toilet!! but then he's a male!) he will wander if not kept occupied, but he hacks out with me and leaves other dogs to come with me, even leaves my older dog when she lags to keep with me. So so far so good. the yard owner has a pure GSP and he wanders as soon as your attention is not on him. Am sure my pups wandering will increase but have found in main, just to keep him occupied! Temperament wise he's also very very good and loves fuss and attention.

I'm another that isn't convinced of a foxhounds ability to be a 'pet' as in house dog without destruction etc? Maybe this is just because there aren't many people who have them with this in mind from pups. I know rehoming ex pack/working dogs into home environments has been tried and failed epically!

BT is bull terrier????

 

[Shrimpy]

Thanks for all the replies, personally I'm not massively bothered about a specific breed but OH would prefer a bigger dog. I wasn't convinced about the foxhound before I started this thread and I am less so now.

BT is a border terrier and is the best dog I've owned so far. He was a doddle to train and has a fabulous temperament. I do worry I won't ever find a dog as good as him.

 

[Pendlehog]

Definitely tell the OH to bog off over the foxhound idea! Personally I love GSPs so don't think you could go far wrong there. Have you considered weimeraners?

 

[EAST KENT]

Pointer definitely,will fit in with a border well,might need a raincoat on dreadful days;a foxhound..mm your life will get very busy and "intersting".It may involve a big searchlight for your night time hunting..of your missing hound.

 

[jessamess]

How about a Fenlander- Springer x Weimaraner????

They are absolutely gorgeous- look like mini pointers and have the best of the two breeds!

But I am a fan of cross breeds personally


But out of the two of your choices I would probably choose a Pointer over a Foxhound, I adore FH but wouldn't own one as a family pet....

 

[Springy]

Foxhounds make great pets we have one

foxhound welfare are struggling with the numbers coming in and need homes

Jackie Wallace who runs it can give you lots of info on them

https://www.facebook.com/dawn.hirst.3/photos_albums#!/groups/352320426763/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/dawn.hirst...s/Foxhound-Welfare-UK/153572418042328?fref=ts

http://foxhoundwelfareuk.jimdo.com/

Mad4foxhounds@hotmail.co.uk

Please dont dismiss them

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4114898548844&set=oa.10150996138611764&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4114947790075&set=oa.10150996138611764&type=1&theater

 

[Jojo_Pea4]

I have a gsp. Absoutley love them i think they are stunning when the run, mines loves hacking and can walk all day but like everyone said when they are in hunting mode u need have them trained. Never had an issue with other dogs. Mine doesnt like to be left but with correct training from a pup you would be fine.
Amazing with children but we have trained him on the yard as a guard dog and barks if someone comes onto the yard he doesnt know as soon as we say its fine he walks off.
And best of all they are affection and loyal.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Foxhounds are not gret 'pets' generally because it's not what they are bred for. They are bred to live in a pack, sound off, and hunt for hours on end. There may be exceptions to this rule.

Like people say huskies do not make great pets, yes, some people might have a lovely pet husky but they were bred to run. And run. And run. And howl. And dig a hole to sleep in at night after running and howling all day.

Pointers are also hunting dogs but they tend to be slightly more domesticated than foxhounds. I know someone with a 'rescue' foxhound, I would not take it as a gift and I think it would be better PTS. Severely dog aggressive and can never be let off the lead.

People need to think a wee tiny bit less about looks and think a wee bit more about purpose, especially with working breeds.

 

[stargirl88]

We have a foxhound mix, and she does confirm what otyers have said - nose takes priority! Gorgeous temperament, but I wouldnt choose one over a pointe!

 

[Venevidivici]

We're on our 3rd GSP. Never had any dog or people aggression probs with any,they bark like billy-o if anyone comes to the gate/door/rings the bell (then are quiet when told),are fantastic fun on walks (bound for miles,love water and games) and brilliant family dogs(I have 2kids,9&7yrs) as are soppy&affectionate. They have fairly self-cleaning coats(mud just drops off&water dries quick) and few breed-related problems(make sure parents hip,eye (and possibly,heart) tested) if you buying a pup. We rescued a 5yr old bitch-was a bit worried at first,cos kids fairly little at the time but she soon revealed a temperament as kind and good as the other GSPs we knew. Good luck!

 

[Alec Swan]

Foxhounds are not gret 'pets' generally because it's not what they are bred for. They are bred to live in a pack, sound off, and hunt for hours on end. There may be exceptions to this rule.

Like people say huskies do not make great pets, yes, some people might have a lovely pet husky but they were bred to run. And run. And run. And howl. And dig a hole to sleep in at night after running and howling all day.

Pointers are also hunting dogs but they tend to be slightly more domesticated than foxhounds. I know someone with a 'rescue' foxhound, I would not take it as a gift and I think it would be better PTS. Severely dog aggressive and can never be let off the lead.

People need to think a wee tiny bit less about looks and think a wee bit more about purpose, especially with working breeds.

Logical and realistic. Not a word to few, or to many.

Alec.

 

[Tillypup]

We're on our 3rd GSP. Never had any dog or people aggression probs with any,they bark like billy-o if anyone comes to the gate/door/rings the bell (then are quiet when told),are fantastic fun on walks (bound for miles,love water and games) and brilliant family dogs(I have 2kids,9&7yrs) as are soppy&affectionate. They have fairly self-cleaning coats(mud just drops off&water dries quick) and few breed-related problems(make sure parents hip,eye (and possibly,heart) tested) if you buying a pup. We rescued a 5yr old bitch-was a bit worried at first,cos kids fairly little at the time but she soon revealed a temperament as kind and good as the other GSPs we knew. Good luck!

Just remember a Pointer is different from a GSP, and any HPR really.

 

[Goldenstar]

Foxhounds are not pets IMO.
Pointers are lovely lovely dogs but they do go off .
There are loads of dogs who would enjoy your lifestyle so will put in in a dig for my Favorite the ladrador who would make a great front man for a BT.

 

[competitiondiva]

Just remember a Pointer is different from a GSP, and any HPR really.

?? "pointer" is a group of various different breeds bred for the same purpose and with very similar characteristics. I'm not sure if one has more or less of a tendancy to 'wander' or not, as said my lad is a cross of 2 different pointer breeds. (and a lovely cross at that GSP x Hungarian Vizsla!)

 

[s4sugar]

?? "pointer" is a group of various different breeds bred for the same purpose and with very similar characteristics. I'm not sure if one has more or less of a tendancy to 'wander' or not, as said my lad is a cross of 2 different pointer breeds. (and a lovely cross at that GSP x Hungarian Vizsla!)

Pointer is a breed. It differs from The HPR breeds that you have a cross of.

I agree with the above that it is a better choice than a foxhound for the op but there are other breeds that would fit in better still.

 

[competitiondiva]

Pointer is a breed. It differs from The HPR breeds that you have a cross of.

I agree with the above that it is a better choice than a foxhound for the op but there are other breeds that would fit in better still.

ahhh sorry you class a "pointer" as the english pointer breed rather than the group of pointer bred dogs such as the GSP, GWP, vizsla etc?

 

[s4sugar]

ahhh sorry you class a "pointer" as the english pointer breed rather than the group of pointer bred dogs such as the GSP, GWP, vizsla etc?

The breed name is Pointer....Like the Bulldog it should not need a country adding.

 

[competitiondiva]

The breed name is Pointer....Like the Bulldog it should not need a country adding.

Without giving it's full title, how is one supposed to know which you are talking about then? you say it shouldn't need a country adding, but an english/british bulldog is very different from a french bulldog or american bulldog, by just saying bulldog, how should I know which you are talking about?