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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
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