I don't want to start a "discussion" about the pros and cons of hunting. This is about HOUNDS. If hunting is banned what will happen to the Foxhound breed in the long term? I know there has been a lot of discussion about the possible distruction of packs in the very short term and that is not what I am talking about. In the long term, will the breed just die out or what...?

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They will become extinct. :(

There are a few show kennels now in England breeding Foxhounds but looking at the hunting packs there still may be the few that will keep there packs going but for scent/drag hunting.
Its funny you dont get to see the old foxhounds wonder wot happens to them??

A few show kennels is putting it a bit on the strong side, it seems there are 2 people who show at the moment and I guess a few owners who do not. Foxhounds do seem more difficult to have in the domestic situation than say the beagle and I would think those who own them have probable worked for or acted as puppy raisers for the pack. Trouble is these days there are not many people who can afford to run the sort of kennels we used to have.

What happens to old or infirm hounds, well packs being what they are, they would have to be removed from the rest and unless they are were a special favourite of one of the kennel workers one would thing they would be PTS as if removed from the pack they would be unhappy and if left they would be bullied. I don't know this but common sense tells me this must be the case.

yes this is true only two kennels that breed and one of them does puppy walk for the hunt too so used to the hounds but they also have other hounds there too.
But there are more breeders and owner of the Swedish fox hound the Hamiltonstovare over here I know its not the same as an English fox hound but there may be an interest?
The hunting ban only stops the hunting of Animals so to say all hounds would have to be put down could be misunderstanding.
There are other packs that dont hunt for the kill so why not fox hounds??

Hamiltons are not foxhounds they do not hunt in packs, and there are a number of them being shown. The 2 breeds are not the same thing at all.

The original poster was asking what would happen to the Foxhound and I think I agree with Sam, they will no longer exist as the hound they are now. The Otterhound is hanging in there but it has changed a good deal in the last 10 years and will never make a household pet unless someone can breed out the distinctive smell, and tone down their need for companions of their own kind.

Then theres the bloodhounds too!!!!
But then having lived in a very fox hunting part of the world in Somerset and seeing it from both sides im some wot on the fence as to which is the right thing to do?
The packs are still out there but seeing more of the beagles at the country fairs There was a small pack of both foxhound and beagles at the Thame show this year :-)
But we are now in the 21st centry and the need to hunt people with guns is getting to be the in thing now esp here in London!!!!

Have to ask Sam about Bloodhounds, are the many/any packs Sam?

Saw some Otters at the houndshow but was there a pack of Bloodhounds, can't remember.

jackie
there are several packs of bloodhounds about. Some hunt drag :( and some hunt clean boot :)
However neither is an alternative for redundant fox hounds and any one who thinks that fh's can be "retrained" is seriously disillusioned!
The bloodhound packs find it increasingly hard to get land to hunt over....not surprising really, why would any one want 100 horses galloping across their land if there is no added benfit such as pest control?
Also, mounted bloodhound hunting tends to be a rather fast/dangerous sport & requires a very particular sort of horse & not at all suitable for the less firm or children.

"Kennelsitter"
in answer to your question...ours go until they are 9 or 10 ish & if they become infirm & unable to hunt, they are put to sleep.

Thanks you Sam for that wot is the age can they go up too if they are not put down ?wot do you mean by unable to hunt?

Thanks for the info Sam, could not see the Bloodhound used for fox but was not sure, and thanks for confirming that sick or old hounds would be put down, I could think of no alternative really for a hound that has lived his life in a pack.