Exmoor Emperor A champion modern English Foxhound from the Beaufort Hunt.       Courtesy Hunting Magazine” In France, the USA and some  other countries, hounds (including some breeds  related to foxhounds) are used to hunt foxes,  deer, wild boar, coyote  and/or several other  mammals. Breeds  Foxhunts have a record of the exact breeding of every hound going back some 200 years-"The Stud Book". There are several different breeds and it is quite common to cross breed. Indeed, this is how many distinct breeds were created. Breeds include:-   UK and Ireland OLD ENGLISH- Sturdy and steady with great persistence at working  a faint scent slowly. FELL- Lighter and more agile which cast freely and rapidly. Bred to cope with steep hills. WELSH- Tough and rough coated to resist gorse and thorns. MODERN ENGLISH- Bred from a mix of the above, lighter weight than  Old English and, hopefully, combining the best features of all of them.  DUMFRIESSHIRE- A black and tan breed unique in the UK to this hunt  in the rugged hills of the Scottish Borders. They have French blood. KERRY BEAGLE- A smallish tough black and tan breed of the Ryan family  hunt, The Scarteen in County Tipperary, Ireland.   USA and Canada Several packs of Foxhounds also hunt Coyote (a Jackal like predator). AMERICAN- middleweight with a strong voice "cry". Well suited to  the woodland, which covers much of the Eastern USA and Canada. ENGLISH- see above. CROSSBRED- usually a cross of American and English but to help cope also with coyotes a little French staghound blood is used sometimes. Many hunts have long dry periods ,which produce poor scenting conditions. For this some "coonhound", e.g. July or Walker Hound, blood is added in a few hunts. PMD (Penmaridel- Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware) a type true  Crossbred originating in and used by several hunts in these States.   France There are a large number of distinct breeds, too many to cover here.  English hounds are also used for hunting and "out-crossing" with French breeds.  Rest of the world Australia, New Zealand (hares) and many other countries normally use English and/or American Foxhounds. French breeds are used in some  other Continental European Countries.  THE PACK Hounds are pack animals, they are miserable when alone. In kennels  the pack of some 70 (35 couple) is divided into,say,three"lodges". Pups are born in early spring. They are soon named (coded to indicate  breeding). At about 10 weeks they are boarded out to supporters of the hunt-  "Puppy Walkers". Their instinct is to chase anything that moves. They wreak no little destruction on the gardens and property of their noble but temporary  leaders, who teach them the names given by the kennels. In about March of the next year they are returned to kennels after  9 months of relative freedom. They are then about one year old and ready to learn their job.  First they must be introduced to the discipline of the pack.On exercise around the kennels they are "coupled" to older hounds by two leather  collars and a chain. They soon learn to follow the example of their couple. Once they learn to respond to their names and simple commands they  are let off the couple and they exercise locally with the pack. Exercise distance is increased gradually. In high summer it starts at about 5AM to avoid heat, hot tar on roads etc. Hunt Staff start on foot but as distances increase switch to bicycles and sometimes to Hunt Horses being got fit. From late summer some of the "young entry" are mixed with older hounds each time they go out hunting foxes-"Autumn Hunting". Their instinct is to hunt, but the Huntsman and Whippers-In now teach them what NOT to hunt by scolding and threats with the whip, which is only rarely  actually applied to them for grievous misbehaviour such as chasing a  cat. They copy the older hounds and soon learn to distinguish the exciting smell of a fox and to respond by "giving tongue". Foxhunting requires great stamina. They cover up to 50 miles a day  often at a brisk pace. After 7 or 8 seasons their distress is obvious.  They would pine if taken out of the pack to a retirement home, so they are put down gently and painlessly by their Huntsman, their leader whom they trust. A great sadness for him but a kindness to the hound.