American English Coonhound

English Coonhounds need extensive daily running to be happy. They need to be taken on a daily, long, brisk walk or jog where the dog is made to heel beside or behind the human holding the lead, as in a dog's mind, the leader leads the way. They can become high strung and/or destructive if they are lacking in exercise and/or structure. They may take off after any interesting scent, so do not take the English Coonhound off its leash unless you are in a safe area.

Moderately Easy Training: Tracking and coon-hunting comes naturally to the American English Coonhound and so training is done easily to a trainer who is firm, consistent and confident. It is imperative that the American English Coonhound receive structure in training. They should be made to heel beside or behind their pack master, as this helps to establish who the leader is.

Renowned for his speed and endurance, the American English Coonhound has the strength, grace and attitude of a well-conditioned athlete. Capable of hunting fox and raccoon all night long, he has an effortless trot that shows off this endurance. The breed's hard, protective coat is of medium length and can be red and white ticked, blue and white ticked, tri-colored with ticking, red and white, and white and black.

He is an ideal partner to go running or cycling with. They need mental and physical stimulation to keep them occupied, fit and healthy. He will enjoy both a jog in the park as well as a nap on the couch. Keep in mind, these dogs are prey-driven and should always be walked on a leash. This hound needs a firm, but kind, hand for successful training. The American English Coonhound takes more time to train, repetition and patience are the name of the game. This breed can be easily distracted more so than the other Coonhound breeds. They need consistent and gentle guidance during training. Start training this breed early and your training work is lifelong.

The American English Coonhound, also known as the English Coonhound and the Redtick Coonhound, has its origins from England where it evolved from the descendants of the English Foxhound that was brought over from Europe. It is said that all hound breeds, with the exception of the Plott Hound, are descendant from the English Foxhound. The American English Coonhound was developed from the “Virginia Hounds” when men such as the first president of the United States, George Washington, set out to create a hound that was better suited to the rougher terrain. The breed was used for all variations of hunting, including treeing, and were regularly utilized to hunt raccoon and American Red Fox. The Treeing Walker Coonhound and the Bluetick Coonhound were lumped into the breed originally, but received separate recognition in the 1940's. The American English Coonhound became recognized by the UKC in 1905, but was not fully recognized by the AKC until 2011.