American English Coonhound

American English Coonhound Breed Standard
Miscellaneous Class

Contact: Curt Willis, 202 Tearing Run Road, Homer City, PA 15748, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], 724-388-8999

General Appearance
Renowned for speed and endurance, the American English Coonhound has a strong but racy body, a deep chest with plenty of lung room, a strong back, broad loin and well-defined musculature. A balanced, powerful dog with no exaggerated parts, the American English possesses the grace and attitude of a well-conditioned athlete.


Size, Proportion, Substance
Size-Height-Males-24 to 26 inches at the withers. Females-23 to 25 inches at the withers. Proportion-Length should be equal or slightly longer than the height measurement. Rectangular. Substance-Weight in proportion to height.

Head
The head is broad.Expression-Kind, houndy. Eyes-Dark brown pigmentation, wide apart. Fault: Drooping lids. Ears-Hung rather low, reaching nearly at the end of the nose when drawn out. Fine texture, soft to the touch. Faults: Flat, stiff to the touch cocked. Skull-Very slightly domed, broad between the ears. Fault: Narrow skull. Stop-Prominent. Muzzle-Rather square, well proportioned in width with the skull. Flews covering the lower jaw from the side view. Plains-The stop forms a right angle with the upper line of the muzzle. Nose-Black. Faults: Pink or white pigmentation. Bite-Scissors. Disqualifications: Undershot or overshot.

Neck, Topline and Body
Neck-Muscular, moderate length, rising with a slight taper. Carriage-Moderate. Faults: Neck carried overly high or low. Thickness at shoulders. Topline-Slightly higher at withers than at hips. Strong. Fault: Dipped. Chest-Shows considerable depth rather than excessive width, allowing optimum lung space. Ribs-Well-sprung with good depth, tapering gradually to floating ribs. Underline and Tuck up-Tight and smooth. Fault: Sagging underline. Back-Muscular, blending well with the neck when the head is held alertly. Fault: Roached. Loin-Broad, well muscled. Tail-Set high, carried gaily but not hooked over back. Medium length, slight brush. Faults: Plume or rat tail.

Forequarters
Shoulders and Angulation-Clean, gradually sloped down from the withers to the point of shoulder, muscular, balanced with body, showing freedom of movement and strength. Fault: Protruding or overly broad shoulders. Forelegs-Straight from side or front view, well boned, set well apart, muscular. Pastern-Strong and straight. Feet-Set directly under leg, round, catlike, well-padded, strong arch over toes. Nails-Strong.

Hindquarters
Angulation-Hocks slightly bent. Legs-Strong, straight when viewed from the rear. Fault-Cowhocked.

Coat
Hard, protective hair. Medium length.

Color - Red and white ticked, blue and white ticked, tri-colored with ticking, red and white, white and black. Disqualifications: Tri-colored with no ticking, solid color with less than 10% ticking, any brindle color.

Gait
Effortless with tail moving side to side. Gives impression of great endurance. Head carried up and alert.

Temperament
Pleasant, alert, confident and sociable with humans and dogs. An avid hunter. Faults: Shyness or timidity.

Disqualifications
Undershot, overshot, tri-colored with no ticking, solid color with less than 10% ticking, any brindle color.