English Coonhound

Scenthound Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

The history of the English Coonhound is the history of nearly all coonhounds. With the exception of the Plott Hound, all of the UKC breeds of coonhounds have a common ancestry that is deeply rooted in the English Foxhound.

The English Coonhound was first registered by UKC in 1905, under the name of English Fox & Coonhound. In those days the dogs were used much more on fox than they are today. The name also reflected the similarity that the breed had to the American Foxhound and the English Foxhound.
The variation in color is another aspect of English Coonhound history. Both the Treeing Walker and the Bluetick Coonhound were originally registered with UKC as English. The Walker was recognized as a separate breed in 1945, and the Bluetick a year later. There are still tri-colored and blueticked English hounds, though redticked dogs dominate in the breed today.

The first mention of hounds in America appears in the diary of one of the men who was with the explorer DeSoto. He also mentions that the hounds were used for the hunting of Indians rather than fox, raccoon or rabbit.

In 1650, Englishman Robert Brooke brought his pack of hounds to America with him. Thomas Walker of Virginia imported hounds from England in 1742, and in 1770 George Washington, an avid fox hunter, had hounds imported from England. These dogs were the foundation of the “Virginia Hounds”, from which the present day English Coonhound was developed.

The Americans adapted the animals to the much rougher American terrain and climate, and, through careful breeding practices, adapted the hounds to American game: raccoon, opossum, cougar and various species of bear.

English hounds have excelled in both performance and conformation. The first major coonhound Field Trial of all time, the first Leafy Oak, was won by an English dog called “Bones”, owned by Colonel Leon Robinson.

General Appearance

The English Coonhound is a dog of strong build, capable of considerable speed and great endurance. He is balanced, graceful and free from exaggeration.

Disqualifications: Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.

Characteristics

Pleasant and sociable, with strong hunting instincts. Voice is a good hound bawl.

Disqualifications: Viciousness or extreme shyness.

Head

The head is broad between the ears, and of good overall length. Skull very slightly domed. Muzzle is long, deep and square, with enough flew to give the jaw a squared off appearance. Stop is well defined but moderate.

TEETH

Scissors bite preferred, even bite acceptable. Undershot or overshot are disqualifying faults.

EYES

Fairly large and set moderately well apart in skull. Dark brown in color with tight fitting lids.

Disqualification: Blind.

NOSE

Large with well-opened nostrils.

EARS

Set fairly low on skull, fine in texture and soft to the touch. Fairly long, reaching nearly to the nose when pulled forward.

Disqualification: Deaf.

Neck

Nicely muscled, of moderate length, tapering slightly as it rises up out of the withers.

Forequarters

Forelegs set well apart, and are straight and strong, with good bone. Pasterns nearly vertical, but with enough slope to absorb shock. Length of leg from elbow to ground is approximately one-half the height at the withers. Sloping shoulders are clean yet strongly muscled.

Body

Chest is deep, reaching to elbow, and broad. Ribs are well-sprung. Back is straight and strong, never roached. Topline is slightly higher at withers than at hips. Loin is strongly muscled and slightly arched. Underline curves gracefully upward to a moderate tuck up at the flank. Overall proportion (measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks and withers to ground) is square, or slightly longer than tall.

Hindquarters

Hips and thighs are strongly muscled, showing drive and power. Stifles are stout and have good angulation. Hock joint has moderate angulation. Rear pasterns are strong and straight when viewed from behind. Dewclaws removed.

Lack of angulation is a highly undesirable feature: i.e., post legged.

Feet

Tight, well-arched toes, deep pads, and strong nails.

Tail

Moderately set and gaily carried, but never hooked over the back. Medium length, with a small amount of brush acceptable. Never overly long and thin.

Coat

A good hard, protective, hound type coat of medium length.

Color

Redtick, bluetick, tri color with ticking, white and red, white and black, white and lemon.

Disqualifications: Any brindle in coat. Albinism. Any color or combination of colors other than described.

Height And Weight

Height at withers for adult males, 22 to 27 inches. For adult females, 21 to 25 inches. Weight should be in proportion to height, keeping in mind the strong build of the English Coonhound.

Eliminating Faults: Males under 22 inches or over 27 inches. Females under 21 inches or over 25 inches. (Entries in Puppy Class are not to be eliminated for being undersize.)

Gait

Smooth and effortless, showing great capacity for endurance. Head and tail carried well up.

Eliminating Faults

(A dog with an Eliminating Fault is not to be considered for placement in a bench show/conformation event, nor are they to be reported to UKC.)
Males under 22 inches or over 27 inches. Females under 21 inches or over 25 inches. (Entries in Puppy Class are not to be eliminated for being undersize.)

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a bench show/conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Any brindle in coat.
Undershot or overshot.
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Any color or combination of colors other than described.
Deaf.
Blind.

Serious Fault

Lacking in adequate angulation: i.e. post legged.

Note

Spayed and neutered dogs may compete in all UKC Licensed Coonhound Events, including bench shows, nite hunts, water races and field trials.