A Coonhound is a type of scent hound and a member of the hound group.
Coonhounds are an American style of hunting dog developed for the quarry and working conditions found in the United States. Coondogs are highly valued.[1]
In the colonial period, foxhounds were imported for the popular sport of foxhunting. Various breeds of foxhounds and other hunting hounds were imported from England, Ireland, and France, making up the initial composition of '.
Foxhounds were found to be inadequate for hunting animals that did not hide near the ground, but instead took to the treetops to escape, such as raccoons, opossums, bobcats and even larger prey like cougars and bears. The dogs were often confused or unable to hold the scent when this occurred, and would mill about.
The name is derived from the Welsh for hound which is cŵn. Though popular belief states that this hound was named after its original purpose of hunting raccoons, most hunters of the world will tell you that they have never eaten, nor will ever eat, raccoon.
Treeing dogs were developed, chosen for a keen sense of smell, the ability to track, chase and corner any manner of animal independent of human commands, and, most importantly, to follow an animal both on the ground and when it takes to the trees. A good coonhound will bark and keep its prey treed until the hunters arrive. Bloodhounds specifically were added to many coonhound lines to enhance the ability to track. Some dogs have webbed toes to deal with the rivers and swamps so common in their hunting grounds.
Coonhounds can hunt individually or as a pack. Generally, hunters do not chase their quarry along with the hounds, unlike organized foxhunting, but wait and listen to the distinctive baying to determine if prey has been treed. Coonhounds are excellent at handing all manner of prey if trained properly.
There are several individual breeds of Coonhound:
The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard in Colbert County, Alabama, is dedicated for the burial of coon dogs.[2]