The American English Coonhound sometimes called the English Coonhound or Redtick Coonhound is a direct descendant of the English Foxhound. Renowned for its speed and endurance, it is a breed of medium-sized scent hounds typically bred for coon hunting and treeing. It generally comes in three types, including the red tick, tricolor tick, and bluetick.
The Appearance of American English Coonhound
They are characterized by a robust and balanced body with broad, moderate-sized head, dark brown eyes, and low hanging ears. They have a somewhat square muzzle, muscular neck, gradually sloping shoulders, sturdy, straight legs, and high-set tail. Their short but hard coats are easy to maintain, and they come in a variety of well-camouflaged colors that often are “ticked” or flecked.
American English Coonhound (Redtick Coonhound) Pictures
Quick Information/Description English Coonhound
| Characteristics | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | American English Coonhound |
| Other Names | Redtick Coonhound, English Coonhound |
| Color | Blue and white, red and white, tri-colored with ticking, white and black |
| Coat | Hard, Short-Medium Protective Hair. |
| Breed Type | Purebred |
| Breed Group | Hound, Scenthound |
| Size | Medium |
| Hieght | Females: 23 to 25 inches Males: 24 to 26 inches |
| Weight | 45-65 lb |
| Life Span/Life Expentancy | 10-12 Years |
| Temperament | Loyal, Energetic, intelligent, sweet and mellow |
| Shedding | Moderate, Seasonal |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
| Barking Level | Mediocre |
| Energy Level | High |
| Litter Size | 4-6 puppies |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Competitive Registration/Qualification Information | AKC, UKC |
Origin & History
The American English Coonhound was initially brought to the United States by European settlers during the 17th and 18th centuries. First called “Virginia Hounds (and imported to the U.S. by Robert Brooke, Thomas Walker, and George Washington), the American Coonhound was bred to adapt to a more rigorous terrain.
These dogs were used to hunt raccoons and the American Red Fox. The American Coonhound was also used to hunt opossums, cougars, deer, boars, bobcats, and bears. In 1905 the English Coonhound was first registered by UKC under the name of English Fox & Coonhound and was recognized by the AKC in June 2011.
Temperament/Behavior of English Coonhound
A well-mannered dog, the American English Coonhound, is a loving and loyal family companion that is pleasant to humans and other dogs. They may tend to be active and quite loud. These hunting breed dogs love to roam and follow every interesting scent and sound. Because they love to roam, this breed should be kept on a leash when it is not in an enclosed area.
The American English Coonhound is curious and will sniff and eat items left out on the counter. Since they like to chew anything it can, so its advisable not to keep anything lying around that you’d like to see remain intact.
It has a high chasing instinct and is not suitable for families with small household pets unless trained otherwise. It will protect its family when threatened but usually won’t attack without provocation. It is watchful of its territory and will howl loudly at the sight of anything suspicious.
Care ~ Exercise, Grooming and Health Problems
Exercise: This is a high-energy breed that needs plenty of daily exercises to burn its energy. You may also train it for hunting, tracking, or field trials. As a family, you can enjoy playing games such as fetch and hide-and-seek with your dog, along with long brisk walks.
Active families can make American English Coonhound a jogging or biking partner. This breed is happy when they get plenty of mental and physical stimulation. They can become destructive if they become bored, depressed, frustrated, anxious or hyperactive.
Grooming: The American English Coonhound is a low maintenance breed. Their coat needs occasional brushing using a hound glove or soft bristle brush. You should regularly clean their ears to prevent irritation and infections.
American English Coonhounds do shed, and many of them shed very, very heavily. Many breed members will completely cover furniture, clothes, and carpets with hair, and this breed would be a poor choice for an allergy sufferer or merely someone who hates the thought of cleaning up dog hair.
Health Problems: A relatively healthy breed, the English Coonhound has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Due to its size, the American English Coonhound’s most common health issue is hip dysplasia.
Other health problems that may occur in this breed include ear infections, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and polyradiculoneuritis.
Training Requirements
To train your American English Coonhound, you’ll need to possess a kind but firm hand. With sufficient exercise, socialization, and training they make a fantastic four-legged best friend.
As the leader, you should always maintain calm, confident, and assert consistent authority while training.
The American English Coonhound is easily distracted and likes to learn at its own pace, you may find that it will take more time, repetition and patience. Some American English Coonhounds have a one-track mind – they’ll only be interested in hunting and treeing its prey.
With these types of dogs, use extra motivation in order to instill basic obedience skills. If you ignore your American English Coonhound’s training, expect him to take on dominant or shyness traits.
Diet/Feeding
The English Coonhound is an active breed and naturally consumes more food than a normal dog. It is recommended to choose a diet that is free of unnecessary additives such as corn or grain, rich in meat protein high-quality diet.
It is also recommended to divide the daily consumption into 2-3 meals a day instead of leaving it available all the time to help your companion maintain a healthy weight and avoid boredom eating.
Puppies
American English Coonhound (Redtick Coonhound) Playing Video
Interesting Facts
- They were developed as a hunting breed that can maneuver the rough terrain of the Southern United States.
- They are fairly rare breed and hard to find.
- The Bluetick Hounds and Treeing Walkers were also known as American English Coonhounds before they were officially recognized as a separate breed.