How to Identify an American English Coonhound

Last Updated: January 18, 2021

American English Coonhounds are hunting dogs well-known for their endurance and speed, and are members of the hound group. ^{[1]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} Although they have some similar characteristics to other dog breeds, they have some distinguishing ones as well. This wikiHow will help you figure out whether or not a dog is an American English Coonhound.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:
Looking at the Body Structure

1
See what size the dog is. Male American English Coonhounds are generally anywhere from 24–26 inches (61–66 cm) tall, while females are usually a little smaller and anywhere from 23–25 inches (58–64 cm) tall. Both male and female American English Coonhounds usually weigh anywhere from 45–65 pounds (20–29 kg). ^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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2
Check the dog's head overall. American English Coonhounds should overall have a head that is of moderate length with a broad appearance. ^{[3]
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3
View the dog's ears. American English Coonhounds should have ears that are soft-to-the-touch with a fine texture. Also, they should hang rather low, and when they are brought outwards, they should reach close to the tip of the dog's nose. ^{[4]
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4
Notice the dog's eyes. The eyes of an American English Coonhound should be set widely apart from each other and dark brown in color. ^{[5]
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5
Look at the dog's tail. The tail of an American English Coonhound is medium-sized in length, and it should be carried with a cheerful appearance (but it should not go over top of the dog's back) and set high up on the dog's back. ^{[6]
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6
Note the dog's overall appearance. Overall, American English Coonhounds should have a strong, balanced, and powerful appearance without any exaggerated areas on the body. Its gait should appear effortless, with its head carried upwards (though not perpendicular). ^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:
Examining the Coat

1
See what color the dog is. There are a few different colors the American English Coonhound could potentially be, including blue with white ticking, red with white ticking, tri-(three)colored with ticking, white and black, or red and white. ^{[8]
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2
Check the length of the dog's coat. American English Coonhounds should have a coat that is of a medium length. ^{[9]
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3
Feel the coat's texture. Since the coat is made up of protective hair, it should have a relatively firm texture to it. ^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:
Taking Note of Temperament

1
Notice a need for daily exercise. American English Coonhounds have a lot of energy, and as a result, they will need daily exercise (through things such as games of fetch, walks, etc.), otherwise they may potentially become destructive. ^{[11]
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2
Look for a lot of barking. American English Coonhounds are known to bark quite a bit. ^{[12]
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3
See if the dog is loyal. American English Coonhounds are known to be very loyal to their family and eager to please them. ^{[13]
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4
Note if the dog is relatively friendly. Although American English Coonhounds will bark and alert their family of any danger, they are also known to be very friendly dogs and not aggressive. ^{[14]
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5
Know if the dog is intelligent. Though they can get bored during training, American English Coonhounds are known to be intelligent dogs, making training a decent activity for mental exercise if their interest is maintained. ^{[15]
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6
Watch for a strong prey drive. American English Coonhounds are known to have a strong prey drive, meaning that if the dog smells something and they want to follow it, they will immediately start doing just that (which is why a fenced-in yard is important for these dogs). ^{[16]
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