American English Coonhound

		American English Coonhound
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
This breed is also known as			English Coonhound Redtick Coonhound

A brief presentation of the American English Coonhound

The American English Coonhound is a gentle, mellow dog that is very sociable with people and other dogs, and requires a lot of outdoor activity. Originally bred for hunting under the name Virginia Coonhound, breeders encountered problems with lost scent when game was climbing trees. To overcome the loss of scent on tree-climbing game, an increasingly popular prey in the southeastern USA, breeders crossed the Virginia Coonhound with the Bloodhound, a breed renowned for its olfactory abilities. The resulting American English Coonhound was agile, long-lived and capable of traversing the rugged terrain of the United States and tracking game in the trees.

History of the American English Coonhound

The American English Coonhound is a true American dog, descended from the English Foxhound. Early immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries brought the ancestor of this lineage to the southern United States, aptly named the Virginia Coonhound. The first president of the United States, George Washington, was one of the first breeders of these dogs, which were excellent hunters but faced obstacles specific to the Americas. In the southern United States, game used trees, which prevented the Virginia Coonhound from tracking once the animal took to the trees. Noting this difficulty, early breeders chose the Bloodhound, whose nose is considered the most powerful of all dogs, for the crossbreed. The resulting dog was the American English Coonhound, a dog of great stamina, elegant body and cold-nosed tracking, capable of following game into trees over rough terrain. This powerful Coonhound once covered other similar-looking breeds, such as the Bluetick Coonhound and the Redbone Coonhound, but the three Coonhounds have since been distinguished as their distinct breeds. The United Kennel Club first recognized the American English Coonhound in 1905 as both a Coonhound and an English Foxhound. Despite a long history in the USA, this excellent tracker didn't gain recognition from the American Kennel Club until 1995, when the AKC's Foundation Stock Service recognized the breed as the American English Coonhound. However, it wasn't until 2011 that the AKC recognized the breed as such. They began competing in the hunting dog group in 2012 as the AKC's 171st breed.

Appearance of the American English Coonhound

The American English Coonhound is well known for its speed and stamina. The breed has a deep chest, strong back and well-defined muscles, giving them a graceful, athletic appearance. The breed's head is medium-sized, with kind, expressive eyes and long, floppy ears that rest on the skull. When extended forward, the tips of the ears touch the tip of the nose. The muzzle is square-shaped and proportionate to the head. In fact, there are no exaggerated features on this noble breed, whose well-balanced body is made for speed. The front legs are angular and strong, supporting movement without hindrance. The hind legs are powerful and straight, with well-defined thighs. They come in many color combinations including red and white ticked, blue and white ticked, tricolor with ticked, red and white, and white and black. Ticking is a characteristic aesthetic feature of the breed, whose coat is hard, protective and of medium length.

Temperament of the American English Coonhound

The American English Coonhound is a wonderfully social and gentle dog, especially after a daily run. The breed is particularly disposed to the pack mentality and does very well with other dogs and children, although small dogs and cats can be mistaken for prey. This breed does extremely well with strangers and would not make a very good guard dog, as they are more likely to follow a stranger rather than bark. American English Coonhounds are known to be among the biggest barkers and howlers among dogs, and will jubilate and howl intensely. However, they are generally quiet and calm indoors. This breed is highly trainable, but tends to be prey-driven. Once the scent is picked up, you may find it difficult to break your hunter's single-track mind. Additional training and socialization are needed to produce an obedient, gentle dog, but with care and attention, this breed is among the sweetest for an active outdoor family.

Needs and activities of the American English Coonhound

While your furry companion may be calm and relaxed indoors, this dog needs plenty of exercise to stay physically and mentally fit. This breed needs a lot of outdoor space to function. Apartments and small spaces are therefore not ideal. Ideally, they need a large, fenced-in yard to burn off energy. Because they use so much energy, these dogs need lots of water. Access to fresh, clean water will prevent dehydration and, eventually, overheating during the hot summer months. You need to socialize your dog from the puppy's earliest stages and go on with your life to avoid protective behaviors such as guarding food and toys. Although these dogs are not aggressive, they can develop dominant behaviors if not properly trained.

Maintenance of the American English Coonhound

The hard protective coat of the American English Coonhound doesn't require frequent grooming, but occasional brushing will help with moderate shedding potential. The protective coat also means that you should only bathe and shampoo your dog when he's dirty from mud.

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American English Coonhound