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American English Coonhound breed guide
The American Kennel Club describes sleek, racy, lean but muscular hounds that work dusk to dawn in pursuit of the wily raccoon, bawling their night music through moonlit woods.
It is one of six AKC coonhound breeds that frontiersmen devised to trail and tree raccoons.
Temperament
Mellow when off duty, the American English Coonhound turns tenacious and stubborn in pursuit of its ring-tailed prey. Expect the work drive, the patience needed to train it for anything but coon hunting and the loud ringing bark.
Early socialization is paramount, to keep the dog from becoming possessive over food or toys.
Lifespan
American English Coonhounds live 11 to 12 years. Responsible breeders screen for hip and elbow dysplasia and for eye disorders such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts.
Like other large deep-chested breeds, the hound may get bloat, a sudden life-threatening stomach condition and owners should learn the signs. The ears need regular checks for excess wax and debris.
Care
The short hard protective coat needs a minimum of care: a shedding tool or a rubber-nubbed grooming mitt at least weekly keeps shedding down and spreads skin oils along the hair shaft.
High energy and a desire to be part of a pack make it a match for an active runner, biker or hiker. It needs a lot of exercise. A strong prey drive means it should never be off leash in an uncontrolled situation.
History
The breed is American by birth and English by ancestry, said to descend from English Foxhounds brought to America in the early 1800s. Foxhunting had been a popular pastime in Britain's southern colonies since the late 1600s and George Washington kept up an avid interest in English-style hunts.
Importations of English Foxhounds refreshed the gene pool colonial breeders used to create America's coonhound breeds. Backwoods breeders crossed foxhounds with other breeds.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 4 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 3 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 2 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 4 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 3 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 5 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 3 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |