English Coonhound

English Coonhound

The English Coonhound is English only in name. This American breed is rarely kept solely as a companion even today, although it has a gentle and loving nature.

History:

Also called the Redtick Coonhound, the English Coonhound was considered to be distinct from the generic Coonhound by the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is closely related to the now defunct Virginian Coonhound. It was once called the English Fox-and-Coonhound in an attempt to define the breed's purpose, although it was also used to hunt opossum, cougar and bear. The only real divisions between the Coonhound breeds are their target prey and slight physical differences.

Physical characteristics:

The English Coonhound is a medium-sized breed with a bone structure that gives it a slender appearance. However, they are surprisingly strong and vigorous for their size. Height: 21 - 27 in (53 - 69 cm) Weight: 40 - 65 lb (18 - 30 kg). They have a narrow, elongated head and a deep muzzle. The low-set ears are long and pendulous, and hang close to the neck. The dark brown eyes and black nose are large. They do not have lots of excess skin, and only small flews. The tail is rather long and is usually carried high over the back. As the name "Redtick" suggests, the short dense coat is usually white with copper-red patches and dense copper specks. They can also be bluetick, tricolor, white-red, white-black, white-lemon, or brindle.

Behavior:

The English Coonhound is an excellent tracker and has a determined personality. Once a trained dog is onto a scent, it is extremely persistent in seeking out its quarry. This dog makes a rather good watch-dog as it quickly assumes its owner's territory as its own. Usually this dog is very sociable, but there can be a degree of rivalry between members of the same sex. It is best to allow one to dominate the other. Treating both, or several dogs equally, undermines the stability of the group. These dogs require regular exercise in order to maintain them in peak condition