Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
The American English Coonhound is a muscular and lean hound with strong working ethics.
This is the ultimate breed when it comes to chasing down wily raccoons. This is a deep-chested dog of 26 inches at the shoulder, with a sweet face and big eyes.
To many sportsmen, this breed is the first choice due to their speed and endurance.
Their coat is medium-length and always covered in various patterns. The American English Coonhound is a unique mix of speed and endurance with a strong body.
Overall, the body is slightly longer than tall.
The coat is hard and as such provides protection from heavy brush and harsh elements. Great endurance is what makes this breed so unique.
Also, their voice is quite strong and can be heard from great distances. With so powerful voices training is a must.
Since they are extremely vocal, they aren’t often seen in an apartment or as a part of city living. They are often seen outside the city areas.
Yet, they are amazing family pets.
American English Coonhounds are great with children and when they aren’t outside being active, they love being pet or brushed.
Quick Facts
Real name: American English Coonhound
Other names: English Coonhound, Redtick Coonhound
Origin: States
Breed type: Hound Dogs
Weight: 9-11 kg (22 to 24 pounds)
Height: 23 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
Litter Size: 4 – 6 puppies
Color: Different color combinations, most commonly are red and white ticked, or blue and white ticked
Coat: Short coat of medium length
American English Coonhound History
The American English Coonhound is by birth an American breed and English by ancestry, hence the name.
This breed was used to help frontiersmen with trailing and treeing North America’s source of food. These dogs are direct ancestors of English Foxhounds brought to the States in the early 1800s.
Good to know: American English Coonhound is among the best tracking dogs alive.
At the time foxhunting was extremely popular and hunters wanted dogs who could help them achieve better hunting results. That is how English Foxhounds have reached the States.
Breeders used English Foxhounds to create a more powerful breed. In the creation of the American English Coonhound, breeders used breeds once known as the English Fox and Coonhound.
The interest in the American English Coonhound was high and the breed became instantly popular among hunters.
Did you know that the American English Coonhound is considered to be one of the fastest of coonhounds breeds alive?
American English Coonhound Physical Appearance
The American English Coonhound is definitely not a small dog. They are often described as medium to large, with 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder.
Their weight should always be in proportion to height. This dog was built for speed and endurance, and his body supports that.
Overall, this dog comes with a strong body, deep chest, and a strong back.
All in all, their body is powerful and well-balanced. The head is broad, ears are set low, muzzles are square, the neck is muscular, while the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters.
The coat is hard and protective and of medium length.
As for the color, they come in different color combinations and patterns. That being said, the American English Coonhound usually has a red and white ticked coat, or blue and white ticked, or tri-colored with ticking, or red and white, or white and black.
Overall movement should be effortless, with the tail moving side to side.
American English Coonhound Personality
American English Coonhounds are dogs with higher energy. As such, they are not dogs for first time dog owners.
These dogs are energetic, loyal, and intelligent. They are often described as impatient dogs who will always like to be on the move.
These elegant and alert dogs are great watchdogs.
You may think that high-energy dogs are far from being family companions, but they are in fact great family dogs.
Truth be told, they are better house dogs, than apartments because they tend to bark often.
American English Coonhounds should behave nicely around children, as long as children are educated on how to behave around dogs.
No matter how well children and dogs get along, they should never be left without supervision. They have a strong prey drive, so any walk outside should be on a leash.
American English Coonhounds also need a larger home space to move freely, and a huge backyard would only be a plus.
American English Coonhound Training
Training should start as soon as you bring your American English Coonhound home.
Make sure that you provide enough toys, treats, and fun moments. Active dog breeds are easily bored. This is why well-structured training is a must.
When bored or neglected dogs may show some destructive behavior, and this is something that you want to avoid seeing in your dog.
Make training sessions:
- Consistent
- Fun
- Interactive
- Short
- Packed with treats
If you feel like you need extra help during training, think about puppy classes.
This is a great way to get extra help, professional inputs, and make your dog a good canine citizen much faster.
It’s common for these dogs to be a bit stubborn, which is why they need a firm and experienced owner.
Never use any harsh training methods on your dog, no matter how challenging he may be to train.
If the training got the best of you, hire a professional. All in all, this breed is best suited for experienced dog owners.
American English Coonhound Grooming
Being a responsible dog owner goes beyond regular walks and petting sessions.
Sure, rubbing a dog is a wonderful task, but to keep him healthy and fit you need to do more.
Grooming is caring for your dog.
Regular, weekly, brushing is mandatory to keep the dog’s coat healthy and shiny.
Make sure that you use the right grooming tools. This way you will make brushing a fast and easy-going process.
Plus, dogs love being brushed, so for them brushing moments are actually bonding moments.
On top of this, brushing is a great time to check the dog’s skin for any sign of fleas and skin infection.
The rest is basic care:
- Check ears weekly
- Trim or grind nails monthly
- Learn how to clean dog’s ears
- Bathe only when needed
- Brush teeth if vet recommends it
American English Coonhound Health
If you are dealing with responsible dog breeders it’s most likely that you will get a healthy puppy.
Reputable breeders will always screen puppies for the most common health problems in the breed. Moreover, they will present you with proper medical documentation on the breed.
Responsible dog breeders will ask you a lot of questions as well.
In fact, they will ask you so many questions that you might feel as if you are being interviewed.
Great breeders want the best possible home for their dogs, and if they don’t feel like you are a proper match, they may refuse to give you the dog.
Overall, the American English Coonhounds are healthy dogs. Still, due to various effects, they can develop certain conditions over time.
Some health conditions may appear such as:
- Elbow and hip dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Cataracts
American English Coonhound Nutrition
To get the most out of a dog’s healthy you need to focus on nutrition. Just like in humans, nutrition is the most part of growing up healthy.
If possible provide only high-quality foods and know which human foods are dangerous for your canine.
Some table scraps are fine, while some like human chocolate or onions are a possible disaster.
Not sure how much you should feed your Fido? Check guidelines on pet food labels.
If you want to try something new, like a raw food diet, talk to your veterinarian first.
Be careful when it comes to nutrition. Once you get your dog, you are directly responsible for his weight.
Obesity in dogs is on the rise across the States and you don’t want your Fido to be part of these statistics.
If you have any concerns about your dog’s diet, weight, and overall nutrition, make sure that you talk with your veterinarian.
Is American English Coonhound For You?
The American English Coonhound is for you if you want a sturdy dog who is easy to groom, and delight to train.
This breed isn’t for novice owners, so if this is you may think about getting a companion, or a lap dog first. Otherwise, if you are an experienced dog owner you can expect to get a loyal and passionate dog who will thrive on having a job to do.
Popular American English Coonhound Comparisons
- American English Coonhound vs Labrador Retriever
- American English Coonhound vs German Shepherd Dog
- American English Coonhound vs Golden Retriever
- American English Coonhound vs Rottweiler
- American English Coonhound vs German Shorthaired Pointer
- American English Coonhound vs Australian Shepherd
- American English Coonhound vs Boxer
- American English Coonhound vs Siberian Husky
- American English Coonhound vs English Springer Spaniel
- American English Coonhound vs Shetland Sheepdog
