Whippet Foxhound Mix: A Complete Guide

A whippet foxhound mix can also be called a foxwhip. It’s an energetic and active dog with a loving and gentle personality, just like its whippet and foxhound parents.

It’ll need regular exercises during daytimes to satisfy its naturally energy levels and stay mentally stimulated.

If you want to adopt this dog as your next home companion, it would be best for you to understand its behaviours, health, and care requirements if you’re going to live with it comfortably.

So, how does this crossbreed dog truly look and behave? Like the whippet or foxhound?

Please keep reading to learn every crucial detail about the whippet foxhound mix to understand the best way to care for this dog and decide if it suits your lifestyle/home.

Table of Contents

What Is A Whippet Foxhound Mix?

A whippet foxhound mix (foxwhip) is a hybrid dog developed by interbreeding a purebred whippet and a foxhound.

Due to the many kinds of foxhounds available, the foxwhip usually has varying personalities and features based on the specific type of foxhound crossed with the whippet.

The main foxhound types are the American foxhound, English foxhound, welsh foxhound, and Dumfriesshire foxhound. However, the first two types are the most common foxhound species.

Both foxwhip parents were bred to be hunters. Therefore, this dog is going to be very predacious and highly vibrant.

But besides its bounciness and vigor, you’ll get a lovely, easy-going, gentle, friendly, and affectionate furry friend.

Usually, foxhound species have slightly varying looks and traits. Therefore, you’d want to select a foxwhip bred with the precise foxhound type you love to get a puppy with the characteristics or appearance you desire.

Whippet Foxhound Mix History

Like most mixed dogs, foxwhips are a relatively new breed. Hence, its history shallow.

Fortunately, their parents have rich and enthralling accounts that can help you know what type of designer dog you’re getting.

Here is short information about whippets and foxhounds to help you learn more about its mixes.

Whippets Background

The primary reason for breeding these swift, muscular, and energetic dogs was to hunt and race.

During the ancient times, whippets coursed in open fields to provide entertainment and an income source for their masters, making them acquire the nickname ‘the poor man’s racehorse.’

The whippets dawn was in England in the late 18th century, but some theories suggest they existed even before this time.

You can come across several skeletons and paintings of miniature greyhound-like canines in art pieces from the Ancient Egyptian era.

This dog breed excels as show dogs, family companions, and working dogs, thanks to their high adaptability, sweet personality, and muscly body.

Foxhound Background

Different kinds of foxhounds have varying origins, but they all belong to the hound dog breed.

The main reason for producing foxhounds was to hunt in big packs, and they were extremely good at it because of their great hunting instincts and sense of smell.

English foxhounds were created in England to help quest red fox, and they significantly contributed to the American foxhounds’ development.

The major difference between these dog breeds is their stoutness. The English foxhounds are usually more determined than their cousins.

American Foxhounds

Some European settlers who migrated to America decided to bring their hounds with them.

They crossed the hounds’ descendants with French, English, and Irish hounds to create the sleek American foxhound, which was taller, speedier, lighter, and keener than the English foxhound.

The four available foxhound types can be categorised into field trial, slow-trailing, pack, and drag/trail hounds.

These hounds are good at different tasks and can enjoy some activities more than others.

Generally, foxhounds are affectionate, friendly, and even-tempered canines that relate well with kids and other pets.

They’re also vibrant and strong pooches that thrive on regular and adequate daily practice to burn off additional energy their bodies possess.

Whippet Foxhound Mix Appearance

Crossbreed dogs usually have mixed features and personalities they inherit from both their parents.

For example, a foxwhip can take a 50-50 whippet-foxhound look or get more features from one parent with the most dominant genes.

Generally, a whippet foxhound mix will have the whippet’s slender, medium-sized body and sweet, narrow face, with the foxhound’s pendulous ears and hazel/brown eyes.

It will weigh about 20-70 pounds, standing approximately 20-24 inches in height when it fully matures.

Whippets and foxhounds usually come in different coat markings and shades. Therefore, your foxwhip can assume unique coat colours and patterns based on its parents’ actual appearance.

Whippets typically have fawn, blue, cream black, white, red, and brindle coat colours, while foxhounds usually come in brown, red, tan, white, blue, white and blue, black and tan, and tri-colours.

Whippet Foxhound Mix Temperament

A foxwhip has loving, relaxed, friendly, and caring nature. In addition, it has eccentric energy and a strong, muscular body that requires plenty of everyday exercise to stay fit and healthy.

With a hound background, a foxwhip can be stubborn and an independent thinker. But they can quickly get in line with firm leadership, consistency, and early training.

It can also be a good watchdog like the foxhound parent and bark at any stranger who approaches your home.

It’s advisable to check your pup’s parents to see if they have the traits you desire in a dog.

Doing this can help you gauge your puppy’s temperaments after it grows up. However, several other factors can affect your canine’s characteristics, especially socialisation and training level.

It would help if you socialised your pup at an early age by exposing them to new sounds, sights, environments, pets, and people to be an all-rounded furry friend.

Whippet Foxhound Mix Health

Hybrid dogs are usually healthy breeds, but they can be vulnerable to an array of health issues common in the gene pool of their parents. Whippet and foxhound dog breeds tend to suffer from several health problems.

Whippets can ail from arthritis, kidney problems, heart murmurs, anesthesia sensitivity, deafness, hypothyroidism, Addison’s and von Willebrand’s disease.

On the other hand, English foxhounds are susceptible to epilepsy, renal ailment, and hip dysplasia, while American foxhounds are at higher risk of getting only hypothyroidism.

Your foxwhip can be vulnerable to the above diseases and ear infections due to their drooping ears. However, procuring a well-bred pup from a reputable breeder can prevent chances of your foxwhip getting these ailments.

Timely vaccination and healthcare are also essential for your dog’s general wellbeing. It can live for around 11-15 years if you care and maintain your pet properly.

Caring For A Whippet Foxhound Mix

A foxwhip is a relatively easy breed to care for and maintain. With good food, sleep, water, ample exercise, grooming, training, early socialisation, and training, you’ll have the most fascinating and fun furry buddy for your home.

Grooming Requirements

This dog’s short-haired coat and none-minimal shedding tendency make its grooming a relatively straightforward process.

Weekly brushing and monthly baths can ensure its coat is combed and striking.

Besides washing and brushing, your dog will need regular dental care and hygiene, nail trimming, and control of pests to be comfortable and healthy.

Feeding Requirements

A foxwhips diet can vary with age, metabolism rate, health, activity level, and more.

Therefore, you should ensure you give your foxwhip sufficient food and a balanced diet. Overfeeding your pup could make it obese and more exposed to health problems.

Underfeeding your pet isn’t advisable either. This will make it malnourished, weak, and unhappy. If you’re unsure of the best food for your foxwhip, check out our best dog foods for whippets post as this food is viable for whippet mixes too.

Exercise Requirements

A foxwhip is a strong, energetic canine breed like its parents. It requires enough everyday exercise to aid in burning off its abundant energy.

It’s a swift and predacious pup that will chase after prey or moving things whenever it gets the chance.

Therefore, you should ensure your home is well fenced and has a spacious yard for your foxwhip to run in.

You should plan to take it on long runs, walks, and hikes to stimulate and exercise your dog.

It would help if you also procured several dog toys to keep your foxwhip entertained when you’re doing other house chores.

Training Requirements

With the hound’s background, this hybrid pup is usually an independent thinker and can assume the alpha position if it doesn’t get firm leadership. Its independent nature and high intelligence make it a somewhat tricky dog to train.

However, you manage to train your foxwhip if you use the correct training methods, be consistent, and use positive reinforcements during training sessions.

It’s best to divide these sessions into short, enjoyable, and engaging lessons to ensure your dog doesn’t get bored.

It’s best to start training your foxwhip when it’s young to grow to be a responsible, submissive, and disciplined canine.

Waiting until it’s older could make your foxwhip develop bad habits that will be hard to train. If some of your dog’s traits become hard to break, it’s best to look for a professional dog trainer to teach it.

Is A Whippet Foxhound Mix Suitable For You?

Foxwhips are good family dogs for out and about individuals or active households.

They’re loving, even-tempered, and affectionate pups that can keep you entertained and engages the whole day with their endless, dynamic energy.

They’re a wrong choice for tight-scheduled and inactive individuals who can’t provide them with the attention, company, and exercise they crave.