meet the...English Coonhound
Breed Summary
Breed Group Group 7: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
Sub-group 7-A: Large Scenthounds
Origin Country United States
Weight Males: 50-70 pounds. Females: 50-70 pounds.
Height Males: 22-27 inches. Females: 20-25 inches.
Other Name(s) American Coonhound, American English Coonhound, Redtick Coonhound
Breed Type Pure
click here for FULL BREED STANDARD
Origins
Although the name implies English origins, this breed is as American as apple pie. The English Coonhound, also called the American English Coonhound, shares a history with today’s Walker Hounds, Black and Tans, and Bluetick Coonhounds. The English part of the name comes from the breed’s English Foxhound ancestors. Hound-type dogs historically accompanied immigrants to the United States from Europe; particularly favored by many were the foxhounds from England. Hunting was a way of life throughout the East and South, and these dogs were essential in putting food on tables, putting clothes on backs, and bringing in money for furs, as well as ridding farms, homesteads, and properties of animals that would threaten a family’s livelihood. They hunted an array of quarry, including squirrels, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, deer, and bears. These hard-hunting English Foxhounds were crossed with local hounds of the area, which were especially adept at tracking raccoons. They were known as Virginia Hounds, becoming the basis for many modern-day, American-bred coonhounds.
These dogs, like several other coonhounds, were originally lumped together as “Fox and Coonhounds,” with their ancestors originally called English Fox and Coonhounds up until the turn of the century. Eventually, they were split according to quarry and even color, resulting in the Treeing Walker Coonhounds, Running Walker Foxhounds, Black and Tan Coonhounds, and Bluetick Coonhounds.Breed Characteristics
Head: Somewhat long, yet mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The topskull is fairly broad and full. It may be flat or slightly arched in profile or from the front. The occiput is somewhat prominent. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.
Eyes: Moderately large in size, oval, almond, or diamond in shape, and medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: The ears are medium to somewhat longer in length but never overly pendulous. Length should allow to almost reach the nose when extended forward. They are set low on the skull, approximately level with the eye when in repose, capable of being lifted some when alert. They are hound-type, gracefully hanging close to the head, and the outer edges may roll or turn.
Muzzle: The muzzle is fairly long, full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The muzzle may remain deep throughout, appearing as an elongated rectangle and ending rather bluntly. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak. The muzzle is long, deep, and square, with enough flew to give the jaw a squared-off appearance.
Nose: The nose is large, being well-pigmented, black or self-colored, according to the coat. Slight butterfly nose is permissible. The nostrils are well-opened.
Neck: Moderate length allows for good head carriage. It is strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck is powerful yet graceful, tapering smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Some loose skin where the throat and jaw meets is acceptable, so long as it does not form a pendulous dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Body: Deep, solid, and of good substance. The body is never overly racy and refined or heavy and cloddy. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set somewhat high, to neither high nor low, but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often fairly high above the level of the topline in a merry fashion, but never tucked or curled up over the back. The tail is of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.
Movement: Strong, effortless, efficient, energetic, and enduring, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: Although wonderful around people, these dogs are highly driven and exceptionally instinctual. They are still bred for the sole purpose of hunting throughout much of the United States, making them much too hot for a general companion dog. Although bred for trailing and treeing, they are also great at crossing over into scenting events, such as tracking, article search, and scent discrimination. When paired with a well-suited home and active owner, they are reported to be even-tempered, intelligent, friendly, eager, and people-oriented (so long as there isn’t anything around to catch the attention of their noses). Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 7: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
Proportions: Off-square to slightly rectangular with the length of the body, measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being just slightly greater than the height at the withers. The length-to-height ratio is between 5:4 and 10:9. Distance from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump may be equal to or slightly greater than the height at the withers. The body is well put together, with sturdy substance and moderate bone. It is capable of speed, endurance, stamina, and agility. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: Somewhat long, yet mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size, and in proportion to the rest of the body. The topskull is fairly broad and full. It may be flat or slightly arched in profile or from the front. The occiput is somewhat prominent. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles.
Expression: Kind, houndy, alert, and fairly regal.
Stop: The stop is somewhat defined and may range from slight to moderate.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 1:1 to 5:4, with the topskull being equal to or just slightly longer than the muzzle.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel.
Muzzle: The muzzle is fairly long, full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The muzzle may remain deep throughout, appearing as an elongated rectangle and ending rather bluntly. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never appearing snipey or weak. The muzzle is long, deep, and square, with enough flew to give the jaw a squared-off appearance.
Lips or Flews: The lips are fairly clean and fit rather tightly over the teeth and jaws. They should allow for just enough depth to give the muzzle a square, rather than tapered, appearance and should never extend beyond the lower plane of the jaw. They are never pendulous or “wet.”
Nose: The nose is large, being well-pigmented, black or self-colored, according to the coat. Slight butterfly nose is permissible. The nostrils are well-opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks are smoothly muscled, appearing neither chiseled nor coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: Moderately large in size, oval, almond, or diamond in shape, and medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Any signs of entropion or ectropion are incorrect for this breed.
Ears: The ears are medium to somewhat longer in length but never overly pendulous. Length should allow to almost reach the nose when extended forward. They are set low on the skull, approximately level with the eye when in repose, capable of being lifted some when alert. They are hound-type, gracefully hanging close to the head, and the outer edges may roll or turn.
Body and Tail
General Description: Deep, solid, and of good substance. The body is never overly racy and refined or heavy and cloddy. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length allows for good head carriage. It is strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck is powerful yet graceful, tapering smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Some loose skin where the throat and jaw meets is acceptable, so long as it does not form a pendulous dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: Level or slightly sloped from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut, flat, level, or slightly arched, yet supportive. The back is never swayed or roached.
Croup: Broad and gently sloped.
Underline: A slight to moderate tuck-up is present. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set somewhat high, to neither high nor low, but as a natural extension of the topline. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. The tail is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, often fairly high above the level of the topline in a merry fashion, but never tucked or curled up over the back. The tail is of a moderately long length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight, sabered, or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. The shoulder blades are long and approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of moderate bone, and parallel to one another.
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are long, equal in length, strong, sturdy, of moderate bone, and well-muscled.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The coat is short to medium-short, yet protective. It is smooth and close to the body throughout. The texture is harsh and glossy. The coat may be slightly longer on the neck, forming a light ruff, and may form a slight brush on the tail, but never flagged. No fringe or feather is permissible.
Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes two color varieties of the English Coonhound breed: the standard and nonstandard.
Standard coat color variety: Red, tan, lemon, black (called blue when ticked or roaned), all with white, ticked, or roan markings of corresponding colors. White, ticked, or roan with or without corresponding markings or patches of red, tan, lemon, or black color. Black and tan, black with creeping or running tan, black saddled (hound color) with white, ticked, or roan markings. White, ticked, or roan with or without corresponding markings or patches of black and tan markings.
Nonstandard coat color variety: Brindled tan, or brindled coat, solid coat colors lacking at least 10% white, ticking, or roaning.
Movement
Strong, effortless, efficient, energetic, and enduring, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
Although wonderful around people, these dogs are highly driven and exceptionally instinctual. They are still bred for the sole purpose of hunting throughout much of the United States, making them much too hot for a general companion dog. Although bred for trailing and treeing, they are also great at crossing over into scenting events, such as tracking, article search, and scent discrimination. When paired with a well-suited home and active owner, they are reported to be even-tempered, intelligent, friendly, eager, and people-oriented (so long as there isn’t anything around to catch the attention of their noses). Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
