The American English Coonhound is an extremely active and athletic breed. Full of energy and personality, they are great dogs for people with active lifestyles. Here are some interesting facts about the American English Coonhound:
They Were Bred to Hunt Raccoons
The word 鈥渃oon鈥� in the breed鈥檚 name refers to raccoon. But the American English Coonhound has been used to hunt raccoons and foxes. Some coonhound breeds hunt both, while others specialize in raccoons.
George Washington May Have Helped Develop the Breed
Many of today鈥檚 coonhounds can trace their origins to the French Blue Gascon Hounds. There is evidence that was in North America to own an American English Coonhound. George Washington was an avid foxhunter and definitely owned and bred foxhounds.
American English Coonhounds Can Climb Trees
The American English Coonhound has a unique ability: he can climb trees. Coonhounds assist their human hunting partners by tracking and chasing raccoons and then running them up into trees.
The Breed Won the First Major Coon Dog Trial
The American English Coonhound is a champion hunter. It was an American English Coonhound that emerged victorious in the first major coon dog trial, which tests a dog on his ability to track and chase raccoons.
They鈥檙e Very Talkative
A survey of American veterinary professionals ranked the American English Coonhound as one of the top 12 most 鈥�talkative鈥� dog breeds.
They Are Also Called Redtick Coonhounds
The American English Coonhound is sometimes referred to as the , after the breed鈥檚 most common coat color. The other two most common coats are blue and white tick and tricolor with ticking, but there are also American English Coonhounds with red and white, and white and black coats.
They鈥檙e Sporty and Sweet
These athletic, sleek dogs are extremely muscular and toned. But don鈥檛 let their appearance and physical traits fool you: they鈥檙e an incredibly mellow, sweet breed of dog. If they鈥檙e warm, kind eyes don鈥檛 draw you in, their personality will.
They鈥檙e One of Six Coonhound Breeds
There are six coonhound breeds that were devised to specialize on trailing and treeing the North American racoon. They include the American English Coonhound, the Bluetick Coonhound, Redbone Coonhound, Treeing Walker Coonhound, Black and Tan Coonhound, and Plott Hound.
American English Coonhounds Are a Rare Breed
American English Coonhounds are not a very popular breed among AKC-registered dogs. Out of over 200 breeds, they rank in the bottom 50 breeds consistently. This just means less people have them 鈥� not that they鈥檙e not a great breed!
They鈥檙e an American Dog
While other purebred dogs come from all over the world, the American English Coonhound are American by birth and English by ancestry.
They鈥檙e Too Friendly to be Guard Dogs
While American English Coonhounds have a great, loud howl, they aren鈥檛 good guard dogs. They can be good watchdogs and are considered talented at alerting their owners, but they are typically too friendly to be guard dogs.