These dogs are well-known for their friendly and social manner. They absolutely love 'hoomans' and get on very well with other animals and children. They also get on well with strangers, which means they don't make the best watch dogs! These guys have a very loud bark that they like to use a lot whilst outside. However, they normally remain relatively calm and reserved indoors. Their high intelligence means that they are relatively easy to train, but if they pick up an interesting scent, don't expect them to respond to commands! With the correct amount of socialization and training, the American English Coonhound does make a lovely family pet.

The American English Coonhound is a true American dog, having sprung from the English Foxhound.  Early immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries brought the ancestor of this bloodline to the American south, aptly named the Virginia Coonhound.  First President of the United States, George Washington, was one of the early breeders of these dogs, which were excellent hunters in their own right but were faced with obstacles unique to the Americas. Game in the American south utilized the trees, which prevented the Virginia Coonhound from tracking once the animal took to the trees.  Noting this difficulty, early breeders selected the Bloodhound, whose nose is considered the most powerful of all canines, for crossbreeding.  The resulting hound was the American English Coonhound, a high-endurance, sleek-bodied hound with a cold nose capable of tracking game in trees across rough terrain. 

The American English Coonhound once covered other similar looking breeds, such as the Bluetick Coonhound and the Redbone Coonhound but all three coonhounds have since been distinguished as their separate breeds.  The American English Coonhound was first acknowledged by the United Kennel Club in 1905 as the Coonhound and English Foxhound.