Canis lupus familiaris
American English Coonhound
Featured photoamerican-english-coonhound.jpgThe American English Coonhound is a swift, hard-driving American scent hound developed in the colonial South from English Foxhounds imported by English settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Originally called the English Fox and Coonhound, the breed was bred primarily for trailing and treeing raccoon at night and for fox hunting. The AKC admitted the American English Coonhound in 2011 and places it in the Hound Group. It is one of six AKC-recognised coonhound breeds. Males stand 61–69 cm.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Hound
- Origin country
- United States
- Origin period
- 17th–18th century
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Redtick, Bluetick, Tri-colour, Red and White, White and Black
- Average lifespan
- 11-12 years
- Recognition
- AKC 2011 · UKC 1905
Origin
The American English Coonhound traces directly to English Foxhounds brought to the Virginia Colony in the 1600s. George Washington's correspondence mentions the importation of English Foxhound breeding stock and subsequently the receipt of seven French hounds from the Marquis de Lafayette in 1785; Washington's breeding records document the deliberate development of superior trailing hounds from these crosses. The dogs developed along the eastern seaboard were sometimes called 'Virginia Hounds' or 'July Hounds' (named after a notable early strain). Over the 19th century they were bred specifically for treeing raccoon at night as well as chasing fox, a dual-purpose role that distinguished them from the English Foxhound.
Recognition
The United Kennel Club registered the English Fox and Coonhound in 1905, making it one of the earliest UKC-registered breeds. The breed was later renamed the American English Coonhound to distinguish it from the English Foxhound. The AKC admitted the breed to the Miscellaneous Class in 2010 and granted full Hound Group recognition in 2011. The FCI has not registered the breed. It is one of six coonhound breeds recognised by the AKC, alongside the Black and Tan Coonhound, Bluetick Coonhound, Redbone Coonhound, Plott, and Treeing Walker Coonhound.
Standard
The AKC standard describes a medium-large, athletic, and hard-driving hound with a clean, well-proportioned head and low-set, pendulous ears. The short, hard, protective coat comes in redtick, bluetick, red and white, white and black, tri-colour, and brindle patterns. The breed is built for speed over rough terrain — longer-legged and faster than many other coonhound breeds. Males stand 61–69 cm; females 56–64 cm. The voice is a distinctive, loud, musical bay used when trailing and when the quarry is treed.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-27
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-27
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-27
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the American English Coonhound and the English Foxhound?
Both breeds share common English Foxhound ancestry, but they were developed for different purposes. The English Foxhound was bred in Britain for pack fox hunting at the gallop behind mounted riders on open terrain. The American English Coonhound was adapted in the American South for trailing and treeing raccoon and other game in forested, rough terrain — often at night. The American version is generally leggier and faster than the English Foxhound.
When did the AKC recognise the American English Coonhound?
The AKC granted the American English Coonhound full Hound Group recognition in 2011. The United Kennel Club had recognised the breed as the English Fox and Coonhound in 1905.
How many coonhound breeds does the AKC recognise?
As of the time of writing, the AKC recognises six coonhound breeds in the Hound Group: the American English Coonhound, the Black and Tan Coonhound, the Bluetick Coonhound, the Redbone Coonhound, the Plott Hound, and the Treeing Walker Coonhound. All were developed in the United States and are used for treeing game, primarily raccoon.
