English Coonhound Breed

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.