American Foxhound Prices Australia

The American Foxhound is a lively and affectionate breed that is perfect for a family home, but before you bring one into your life, it’s really important you fully understand the costs involved with owning one. We’re not just talking about the price of buying an American Foxhound, but the costs of their ongoing expenses, like food, vet care, grooming, and those essential items they need for a happy life. Don’t panic – we’re here to help! Below, we’ve covered the average costs of everything involved with keeping your American Foxhound happy and healthy, helping you decide whether you’re able to meet the financial commitment of owning this wonderful breed.

How Much Does an American Foxhound Cost in Australia?

You’ve got two options when it comes to buying an American Foxhound in Australia, and both come with their own price range. Your first is to go through a registered breeder, who will charge an average of $1,500 to $3,000 per puppy, depending on some factors we’ll explore later. Your other option is to adopt, and this is usually much cheaper, with the average adoption fees ranging between $300 and $600.

You might spot some American Foxhound puppies being sold cheaper than this, but these are likely from unregistered breeders and buying through these is a very risky move. Often, unregistered breeders will skip health checks and not follow the best breeding practices which, in short, means you could have a puppy with serious genetic health problems. So, to cover yourself and to keep a dog’s best interests at heart, always buy from either a registered breeder or adopt through a proper rescue organisation.

Average Price of an American Foxhound When Buying Through a Registered American Foxhound Breeder in Australia 

Purchasing an American Foxhound from a registered breeder means your puppy will come from a loving home and will have had proper health screenings and opportunities for socialisation. The price of all of this is reflected in the cost of the puppy, and you can expect to between $1,500 and $3,000. Other factors will also influence the costs, and we’ll take a closer look at these in a moment.

Average Price of an American Foxhound When Buying Through an Adoption Shelter in Australia 

Adopting an American Foxhound from a rescue shelter is usually more affordable than buying through a registered breeder, with fees ranging from $300 to $600. Also, this fee isn’t really a purchase price, but it covers the cost of any necessary veterinary procedures before the dog can go home with you, such as vaccinations, desexing, and microchipping. One thing to keep in mind when adopting, however, is that purebred American Foxhounds aren’t very common in shelters because they’re so sought-after, but you might be able to find a mixed breed with Foxhound traits as a good alternative.

Factors Influencing the Cost of an American Foxhound

Obviously, $1,500 to $3,000 is quite a wide price range. So, what exactly determines how much a puppy costs within this? Well, there are actually a few factors that influence the cost, including:

Breeder Reputation

A breeder who has invested time and money into breeding high-quality American Foxhounds will usually charge more for their puppies. For example, puppies who have been screened for genetic issues like ear infections or hip dysplasia (both of which can be common issues with American Foxhounds), will be priced at the higher end of the scale because the tests themselves are expensive for the breeder. However, it does mean you’ll be getting a puppy with a clean bill of health who is likely to cost less in vet care throughout their life.

Lineage

Another thing that will influence the cost is the puppy’s bloodline and lineage. If the puppy comes from a family of champion dogs for showing or working purposes, the price will be higher as they’ll meet the breed standards outlined by Dogs Australia, which basically means they’ll stand a better chance of continuing that legacy themselves. American Foxhounds that don’t have such a prestigious bloodline and are bred purely as family pets will usually be priced lower.

Coat Colour

There are also coat colour variations that can influence how much an American Foxhound is priced at, and some breeders may charge more for puppies with rarer or more desirable coats with unique markings. There also aren’t strict rules with coat colours when you’re showing an American Foxhound either, and as any hound colours and markings are recognised, the rarer and more unique they are, the higher the price will be.

Cost of Essentials for Your American Foxhound

Before you welcome your American Foxhound into your home, you’ll need to pick up a few essentials to keep them comfortable, safe, and happy. Here’s a rundown of these, along with their costs:

Dog crate: $100 – $250 for a well-ventilated crate you can use for training and to provide them with a safe space of their own to retreat to when needed.

Dog bed: $80 – $150 for a comfortable, chew-resistant dog bed with a memory foam or orthopaedic padding that offers joint support.

Dog collar/lead: $20 – $60 for strong, adjustable collar and lead set strong enough to withstand sudden pulls and provide good control on walks.

Feeding bowl: $10 – $40 for a ceramic or stainless steel non-slip bowl.

Dog toothbrush: $10 – $30 for a canine toothbrush and toothpaste that can be used regularly to stop plaque buildup.

Dog car harness: $30 – $70 for a crash-tested car harness that will hold your American Foxhound safely in place throughout a car trip.

Puppy treats: $10 – $40 each month to use a training rewards and chews for encouraging downtime and self-play.

Puppy training pads: $20 – $50 for reusable or disposable pads that help keep indoor accidents contained during early housetraining.

Dog shampoo & conditioner: $15 – $40 for a gentle formula that will keep their short coat clean while protecting their sensitive skin.

Dog nail clippers, brushes, & combs:$20 – $80 for a set of good quality grooming tools that will help maintain your American Foxhound’s coat and nails.

American Foxhound Maintenance Costs 

The purchase price of your American Foxhound and their essential items are only half the story. You’ll also need to think about whether you can financially afford their ongoing maintenance costs, which we’ll look at below.

How Much Does it Cost to Feed an American Foxhound?

Your American Foxhound is obviously going to need food, and as a healthy adult should weigh between 25kg – 34kg (depending on their sex), they’ll need 200g – 500g of food each day. Taking the diets below into account, this means your monthly dog food bill can be anywhere from $60 to $450.

• Cost per day on dry kibble diet: $2 – $7 for a good kibble mix with a high protein content and real fruits and vegetables.
• Cost per day on a wet food diet: $5 – $12 for quality canned or pouch-based wet food mixes made with real meat.
• Cost per day on a raw diet: $6 – $15 for a fresh, raw meal plan made up of meats, organs, bones, and vegetables.

It’s important to remember that these costs are only estimates, and the amount you’ll actually spend will depend on the brand you choose, it’s ingredients, and your dog’s age, sex, and health. We always recommend consulting your vet before settling on the best diet for your American Foxhound.

How Much Will Veterinary Care Typically Cost for an American Foxhound?

Vet care isn’t just needed when accidents or illnesses happen, and your American Foxhound will need routine preventative care to keep them in the best possible health. Here’s what you can expect to pay for this:

Cost of Routine Preventative Care

Annual vet checkups: $80 – $150 for a general checkup, weight assessment, and early detection of medial issues.

Vaccinations: $100 – $250 each year for core vaccinations and optional boosters.

Worming and parasite treatment: $10 – $30 each month to keep your American Foxhound free from fleas, ticks, heartworm, intestinal worms, and a host of other nasty parasites.

Dental cleaning: $300 – $600 for a professional teeth cleaning under anaesthesia.

Pet insurance: $30 – $100 per month, depending on the level of coverage to help cover the cost of unexpected veterinary bills, surgeries, or medications.

How Much Should I Expect to Pay for American Foxhound’s Grooming?

Even though American Foxhounds have shorter coats that don’t need grooming as often as longer-haired breeds, they’ll still need occasional trips to the doggy groomers to keep everything clean and healthy. The prices vary across different services, but on average you’ll pay:

• Hydrobath prices: $20 – $50 per session for a deep cleaning bath to remove dirt and oil buildup with a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner.
• Full groom prices: $50 – $100 for a full groom that includes a bath, nail trim, ear cleaning, and brushing.
• Face, feet, and tail grooms prices: $30 – $50 for a quick tidy up of these areas, which is particularly important if they get dirty quickly.

American Foxhound Dog Training Costs 

Training is really important for American Foxhounds, as they are independent thinkers with very strong hunting instincts. This is a something else that you’ll need to pay for, and the costs come in at an average of:

• Basic obedience training prices: $200 – $300 for a multi-week course that covers essential commands like sit, stay, recall, and lead walking.
• Puppy training class prices: $150 – $250 for a multi-week group course that covers basic commands, socialisation, and house training.
• Specialised training prices (i.e. anxiety, aggression): $80 – $150 per session for one-on-one training for dogs in need of specific behaviour modification, such as separation anxiety or resource guarding.

Understanding the Full Costs of Owning an American Foxhound

As you can see, owning an American Foxhound is a long-term financial commitment and it is something you should only ever consider doing if you’re confident you have the means to do so. Keep in mind, also, that they have an average lifespan of 10 – 12 years, so you’ll need to foot the bill for quite a long time. But if you’re ready for the challenge, you’ll have loyalty, companionship and plenty of fun-filled adventures together for many years to come.