The American Foxhound is a breed of dog that is a cousin of the English Foxhound. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt foxes by scent. American dog breed used for hunting by scent. American dog breed used for hunting by scent. 2.3 Defining physical characteristics. American Foxhound circa 1915. In 1650, Robert Brooke sailed from England to Crown Colony in North America with his pack of hunting dogs, which were the root of several strains of American Hounds.