The American English Coonhound is rarely seen as a pet, rather he is primarily owned as a hunting dog. However, his loyal nature and easy-going attitude make him an excellent pet for even first-time dog owners, provided they understand his needs.
Because most English Coonhounds are still bred to work, the breed has a lot of energy and requires extensive exercise. They normally do not do well as apartment dogs. That said, they still retain a fairly mellow personality when in the house or on a walk. In particular, they love to “nest” under blankets and sleep on beds and couches.
The breed gets along well with children. They are also friendly and social not only with people, but with other dogs as well. Because they were bred to work in packs, it was a necessary trait to only breed those individuals who got along well with one another. A fight breaking out during a hunt would be unacceptable. Although good with other canines, many are not safe with cats because of their high prey drive. Very tiny dogs also might present a problem as English Coonhounds might not recognize something so small as a dog, and instead associate it with prey. Caution must be taken when introducing them.
As puppies, English Coonhounds can be particularly destructive, usually because they are so curious about the world and just want to deconstruct everything to see how stuff works! Even when adults, they will continue to chew up objects unless trained not to. The breed can (and will) get into everything, which means a combination of obedience training, exercise, as well as correct household management.
Finally, some English Coonhounds are prone to separation anxiety and hate to be left home alone. This can also contribute to destructive behavior. While a dog should never be allowed to engage in such behavior, it is important to understand that this breed needs human companionship, and it is not fair to own one if you work very long hours.
As far as training goes, the breed can be hard-headed and stubborn, which makes them more of a challenge to train than other dogs. They can also be easily distracted, especially by interesting smells. The trick is to build upon to their desire to please, which already exists naturally in them. A good dose of patience will also go a long way! English Coonhounds are intelligent creatures, but “syncing” with them doesn’t always come easy (or fast).
Like many scenthounds, English Coonhounds have very loud voices which they tend to use freely, especially to howl. This is great for those who want watchdogs, but not so great for people who value silence. It should also be noted that although they are good watchdogs, they are not guard dogs because they love people too much!
Many English Coonhounds have their noses to the ground more often than not, especially when they are outside. Their sense of smell is incredible and they always have hunting on their minds. For this reason, they must always be kept inside fenced areas or else on a leash. Otherwise, their hunting drive will take over and they will wander off very quickly. The breed is known as being escape artists, so make sure that fences are secure. English Coonhounds can jump over, dig under, and open badly-latched gates!
