One of America’s oldest and most historically significant breeds — developed by George Washington and other founding fathers
Sweet, gentle, and good-natured temperament with family and children
Very low grooming requirements — the short hound coat needs only weekly brushing
Among the most affordable AKC-recognized breed puppies available in the United States
Extraordinarily high exercise needs of 1 to 2 hours daily; genuinely unsuitable for sedentary or inactive households
Scent-hound instinct makes recall essentially impossible in open environments without a strong training program
Pack-oriented breed that does best with other dogs — can experience significant loneliness and anxiety when kept as the sole dog
Loud baying voice is a breed characteristic that can create problems in suburban neighborhoods