American English Coonhound puppies

About the American English Coonhound

The American English Coonhound traces back to English foxhounds brought to the American colonies, then bred for hunting racoon at night across rough country. Expect a lean, racy hound, 58 to 66 centimetres tall, with a hard short coat and a long carrying voice that is part of the job description. Around people they are sociable and easy going, rating five out of five with children and with other dogs, though supervision and socialisation still apply. Around a scent they are single minded.

In an ordinary home this hound is hard work. They need a great deal of running and suit someone who already runs, cycles or hikes. Grooming is minimal, a weekly rubber mitt or shedding tool and a bath every four to six weeks, with weekly ear checks because the drop ears trap wax. The voice rates four out of five, so neighbours will hear it. Never trust the recall off lead, because a fresh trail will beat any training you have done.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a American English Coonhound puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed for
• Progressive retinal atrophy, found on an ophthalmologist evaluation of breeding stock
• Cataracts, found on an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Ear infections under the long drop ears, found on regular ear checks
• Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs, so owners should learn the signs

Your American English Coonhound puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a American English Coonhound.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 29.5 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 29.5 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

More on the American English Coonhound

Previous: American Cocker Spaniel · Next: American Eskimo Dog

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
• Health notes from American English Coonhound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-english-coonhound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: BurnAway, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.