American English Coonhound: All About this Breed

Reviewed and approved by the biologist Samuel Sanchez

Written by Maria Jose Restrepo Gallardo

Last update: 18 November, 2023

The American English Coonhound, also called the English Coonhound, or Redtick Coonhound, is a medium-sized dog with an elegant appearance. This canine is quite energetic, loyal, affectionate and, as its name suggests, has an American origin. It has many other characteristics that you can discover in this article.

Below, you’ll learn about the history, physical appearance, and behavior of this breed, as well as some useful care advice. If you’re interested in taking an American English Coonhound home (or if you just want to know more about this dog), then the following information will be very useful.

Origin of the American English Coonhound

It’s believed that the American English Coonhound originated in the United States, but has English ancestry. Apparently, this dog was developed specifically for hunting raccoons and comes from the English foxhounds, which were introduced in North America in the early nineteenth century.

According to the American Kennel Club, the English Foxhound was initially known as the English Fox and Coonhound because it was also good at hunting foxes during the day. However, as it perfected its night hunting of raccoons, it was given the name it has today.

Characteristics of the American English coonhound

This dog has a strong constitution and protruding ears that have a fine texture, are soft to the touch and long enough to reach almost to the nose (when they start to droop forwards). In addition to this, and according to the United Kennel Club, the breed has a broad head, a somewhat domed skull, a long muzzle, and dark brown eyes.

Its weight is between 20 and 30 kilograms (44 to 66 pounds), while its height is 53 to 69 centimeters (1.7 to 2.3 feet). This canine is slender (but muscular) and its weight is always proportional to its size. Besides this, it’s a breed with a rough, protective, medium-length coat that’s generally found in reddish and white tones with spots.

There are also specimens with shades of tan, bronze, black and white or tricolor.

Character and behavior

This pet is sweet, pleasant, and sociable. It’s affectionate with family members and is friendly with children. It also has no problem accepting other dogs or strangers being around. The American English Coonhound is a gentle dog, but shows its tenacity when it’s at work catching raccoons.

It should be noted that it also has a tendency to bark and needs to live in large open spaces, and it finds it difficult to adapt to the routine in an apartment. It needs to be somewhere where it can burn up all its energy.

American English Coonhound care tips

Like any pet, this American dog requires special care that will contribute to its welfare and allow it to reach its full life expectancy (11 to 12 years). Apart from complying with the vaccination schedule and visits to the vet for general checkups, this dog needs other more specific care. We’ll explain them below.

Grooming the American English Coonhound

If you have a dog of this breed in your home, you’ll need to brush their coat once or twice a week to keep shedding to a minimum. In addition, this will help the oils in the skin to be distributed throughout the coat to give it shine. You’ll also need to bathe your pet once a month or every 6 weeks depending on its level of dirt.

Likewise, the American English Coonhound will need you to keep its nails short and check and clean its ears frequently. It’s best to ensure that your dog remains clean and with no chance of acquiring infections or bacteria that can lead to illness and disease.

Breed training

Your pet will behave according to what and how you teach it, so proper training is essential. On this theme, a correct socialization at an early age will help prevent your puppy from becoming a possessive dog. For example, it’s necessary for your furry friend to learn to interact in different environments and situations, so that they can get used to adapting.

In addition, it’s important to train this dog not to bark excessively and to be able to control its hunting instinct. Because of this, we recommend that the American English Coonhound lives with a person who has experience in dog training. Patience is required when training this breed for anything other than raccoon trapping.

Health and diseases

Although this hunting dog is usually healthy, it isn’t exempt from suffering from certain diseases. It can suffer from gastric torsion, a disorder that causes strangulation or choking of the stomach and stops blood from reaching the rest of the body.

Similarly, the American English Coonhound can often suffer from hip dysplasia, a condition that causes pain and lameness because it affects the junction of the femur and hip bones. It’s also common for them to suffer from elbow dysplasia, a genetic disease that can lead to osteoarthritis.

In conclusion, this affectionate medium-sized dog can either become an excellent companion in your home or a possessive and boisterous pet. It all depends on the training it receives during its life, especially when it’s a puppy. In addition, the American English Coonhound needs plenty of exercise, a good diet, and plenty of hygiene to be a healthy dog.