Discovering the American English Coonhound: A Guide to Puppies and Ownership


They are the real hunters, and their unique characteristics make this type of coonhound very attractive to those who love sports that can be practiced in the woods. Sighthounds are known to have an unusual appearance, great hunting skills, and friendly temperaments. It will be less difficult for someone who wants to get an American English Coonhound puppy to do so if they follow the characteristics and some care that is coming along with the breed.

Historical Background

The breed that is referred to as the American English Coonhound has existed for slightly more than two centuries, approximating to the early 1800s. The breed was developed initially in Virginia and bred for hunting raccoons, and this gave the breed the name coonhound. It was while breeding the Black and Tan Coonhound with the Bloodhound, the English Foxhound, and the Blue Tick Coonhound that the main objective of the developers was to produce a hunting breed with enhanced tracking abilities. It was baptized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1945 and, since then, has been admired by hunters and dog lovers.

Appearance

American English Coonhounds’ features include their large size and unique coat patterns. The length ranges from 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder, and they have a weight between 50 and 80 pounds. The males are also characterized by a muscular build, a long and lean neck, and a deep chest that afford the animal adequate stamina that will enable the animal to hunt its prey for long.

Most commonly known for its convenient blue tick and red tick coat patterns, which are proper to this breed. The blue tick has a black stripe or a ground with large blue spots on the rest of the body, whereas the red tick has a red stripe as a ground and reddish spots. Both of them have white markings on the chest, legs, and muzzle, with a long bushy tail adding a royal touch to them.

Temperament

In their temperament, American English Coonhounds are friendly, devoted, smart as a whip, have a great nose, and are somewhat stubborn. These animals have a natural tendency to trace a smell contained in the air, which highly suited them to hunting and tracking. However, this same trait calls for active training and supervision so as not to lose direction by any of the above means.

Coonhounds are lively and stubborn, but they are generally good-natured and tolerant of children and other animals and should also be trained the same way. This is attributed to their gentle nature, and they are well suited to families that are willing to, from time to time, run errands with them.


Care Requirements

It means that taking care of an American English Coonhound requires certain entrusting on the part of the owners. These are the things prospective owners should bear in mind:

Exercise and Space:

Coonhounds are active dogs and are medium- to large-sized dogs that require an ample amount of exercise and to run a round in large fields. To avoid such behavior, it is vitally important to exercise them regularly to enable them to live a healthy life. Formula feeding should be accompanied by daily walks, play, and chances to run in specific off-leash areas, as they need exercise to be healthy both physically and mentally.

Training:

In training, American English Coonhound has some drawbacks resulting from its free-spirited character: training an American English Coonhound can be rather entertaining, but it may require a lot of effort. This has been exceptionally found to be true and effective since people are more inclined to the reward than punishment. It is effective as it ensures that they get the necessary social interaction to enable them to respect certain limits and commands.

Grooming:

This breed has a short to medium undercoat that needs to be groomed daily in order to shed hair as well as to prevent tangles. They should bathe rarely so as to keep their skin deprived of the natural oils that are produced by the skin. Hygiene also entails nail cutting and dental hygiene in order to have healthy nails as well as healthy teeth.

Health Considerations:

Usually, American English Coonhounds do not encounter severe health problems, but some of the common illnesses that may affect this breed include hip dysplasia, ear infections, and bloat. Hypertension, obesity, diabetes, low birth weights, and type 2 diabetes are some of the risks that are associated with pregnant women consuming this food.

Prospective Owners

Currently, if you are planning on getting a new pet into your home, consider taking an American English Coonhound puppy. Here are some of the following points that should be taken into consideration:

Commitment:

One has to be willing to commit in the long run when they decide to become a dog owner of this breed in particular. These dogs can live up to 10-12 years, which means it shall be applied in the duty to train these dogs, look after their health, and ensure their well-being throughout their lifetimes.

Lifestyle:

Coonhounds are therefore best suited for those people or families who take an active interest in activities out in the field. They are best suited to live in rural or suburban areas to allow the children enough space to run around and play.

Hunting and tracking:

The American English Coonhound is a good choice for a hunting dog, or in case you like tracking. They can indeed complement these activities in a considerable manner due to their nature.

Patience and Understanding:

Nonetheless, being an independent breed, patience and tolerance are essential while raising and caring for a Coonhound. It is important to understand that children need to explore and can benefit from having activities presented and organized for them in a certain way in order for the relationship to run smoothly.

 

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