Prepare for unexpected vet bills
American English Coonhounds are hard-working, energetic dogs that are known for their loud bay and their speed and endurance when hunting. This breed is loyal and affectionate with their family, and while they will alert you loudly if a stranger enters your property, they will generally behave in a friendly manner towards them, making them excellent watchdogs, but poor guard dogs. They are also quite intelligent and these hounds generally require a great deal of both vigorous activity and mental stimulation each day in order to be at their happiest and healthiest.Â
Canines tend to have a much more defined sense of smell than humans, typically somewhere around forty times more sensitive. Hound dogs like the American English Coonhound were developed specifically to track and hunt prey, so they were developed with an excellent sense of smell, even for a canine. Coonhounds, in general, have some of the best olfactory abilities of any dog and the American English Coonhound, in particular, is known for their cold nose, meaning the ability to find a trail even after it’s gone cold. Although this activity is great just as a means to provide your dog with exercise and mental stimulation, the natural ability of these dogs to locate scent can be used to assist us in hunting and in search and rescue effort as well.Â
This breed of dog was developed as a hunting dog, which required them to range far from their handler while searching and yet be able to alert them when prey has been found, so they were developed with loud, penetrating vocalizations that can carry over quite a distance. This trait is very useful during the hunt but can become bothersome at home. While teaching your dog to bark on command may seem a little counterintuitive with a dog that likes to make as much noise as the American English Coonhound, one of the best ways to teach a dog how to stop barking is to first teach them to bark on command.Â
Hide and seek, like scent work, is a natural activity for a dog like the American English Coonhound. This is a fairly simple game that doesn’t cost much, if anything, and can be taught to your pup even at an early age. Coonhounds were developed specifically for their ability to find their prey, and they are sociable dogs who are very loyal and affectionate with their families, traits which will make this game particularly enjoyable for this breed. This game is not only fun for you and your dog, but it also helps your canine companion hone their problem-solving skills, provides practice finding things, and improves the overall bond between the dog and their owners.Â
Flyball is a newer canine activity that combines a high-speed game of fetch, an obstacle course, and relay race into one exciting sport. Â
Field trials organized by kennel clubs and other gun dog organizations can test skills like retrieving, pointing, and tracking. American English Coonhounds are usually entered in tracking trials rather than pointing or retrieving.
American English Coonhounds are typically quite amicable towards other dogs and enjoy being sociable. Taking a group training class provides your dog with social interaction as well as teaching new skills or reinforcing ones that were previously learned.
American English Coonhounds are intelligent and active canines who require a great deal of exercise and activity each day in order to maintain their physical and emotional health. This can be accomplished through a variety of means including common activities like long walks and obedience training, as well as more structured activities, such as flyball and field trials.Â