American Leopard Hounds are believed to be the descendents of dogs that were brought to the New World by Spanish Conquistadors and crossed with native Mexican dogs. Early American settlers brought Leopard dogs from Mexico to hunt bear and are even rumored to have Belgian Shephard type dogs bred into them.

The Leopard Cur was recognized by United Kennel Club (UKC) on November 1, 1998. The breed name was changed to American Leopard Hound on May 1, 2008. While the American Leopard Hound is not formally recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), it is in their Foundation Stock Service, and has been since 2012

Although there may be similar ancestry, the American Leopard Hound is different from the Catahoula Leopard Dog. There are arguments over the two with some saying an American Leopard Hound is simply a Catahoula Leopard Dog crossed with a Treeing Walker Coonhound, while others argue an older more complex pedigree.

It comes in a leopard or spotted pattern and may be red, blue, merle, brindle, black or another color, with white making up less than a third of the coat. The American Leopard Hound has a dense, short coat, medium-length drop ears and may have yellow, brown, or blue eyes

With long limbs, floppy ears, superb nose, deep chest, beautiful coat, endurance, and a strong voice, this all-American is one of the most iconic hunting dogs known around the world. Ranging from 23-27 inches in height and 50-90 pounds, the origin of these large scent hounds is not certain. Yet rumor speculates they are said to have descended from the Talbot Hound of Medieval England, St Hubert Hounds from William the Conquorer in 1066 AD, Bloodhounds, Black and Tan Virginia Foxhounds, and possibly some of George Washington’s Grand Bleu de Gascogne hounds.

Through centuries of hunting hard in the rugged landscapes of the Southern US, culling, and selective breeding, this hound has developed into a tenacious trailing machine. More than just incredible trackers, the Black n Tan “trees” hard keeping its prey at bay until its handler pulls them off.

This breed was the first Coonhound to be admitted into registry with the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1945.

It is believed that the Bluetick Coonhound is principally descended from the quick foxhounds of England and various French hounds. The overall build of the Bluetick Coonhound is muscular and speedy. The head is carried up and the tail carried over the back, without signs of fear or nervousness.

George Washington was an avid hunter and houndsman that received five French hounds believed to be Grand Bleu de Gascognes and / or Gascogne-Saintongeois from General Lafayette. In fact, most Coonhounds are believed to be descended from Washington’s breeding program that hunted various hounds to produce a hunting dog suitable for the rugged American landscape and game.

Originally, Bluetick Coonhounds were registered in the United Kennel Club (UKC) under the English Foxhound and Coonhound, but were recognized by the club as a separate breed in 1946. Bluetick Coonhounds are also recognized by the Australian National Kennel Council and the New Zealand Kennel Club. In April 2009, the breed was accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and in December 2009 they became eligible to compete in AKC Coonhound events.

The American English Coonhound, also referred to as the English or Redtick, is a breed of Coonhound that originated in and is typically bred in the Southern United States. It is descended from hunting hounds, especially foxhounds, brought to America by settlers during the 17th and 18th centuries. Like most Coonhounds, this breed’s first recognition came from the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1905 as the English Fox and Coonhound. Further recognition has been granted in recent years by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1995 and in the Foundation Stock Service in 2011 as a fully recognized member of the hound group.

The history of the English Coonhound is the history of almost all Coonhounds. In 1650, the Englishman Robert Brooke brought his pack of hounds with him to the American Colony. Almost 100 years later, Thomas Walker and George Washington crossed these hounds with others imported from England and became the foundation stock of the “Virginia Hounds,” from which our present day English Coonhound developed.

Through hard hunting, culling, and selective breeding, the English Coonhound developed, as well as the other Coonhounds with differences mainly in color in the New World.

The Plott Hound is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting bears. In 1989, the North Carolina General Assembly designated the Plott Hound as the official State Dog. The Plott Hound was first registered with the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1946. Plott Hounds were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2006 and were exhibited at the Westminster Show in 2008.

Of the seven breeds of UKC registered Coonhounds, the Plott Hound is the only one that does not trace its ancestry to the Foxhound.

The Plott Balsams, a mountain range in North Carolina, are named for the Plott family, whose ancestor, Johannes George Plott (c. 1733–1815), emmigrated to North Carolina in the late 18th century from Germany. Likewise, the Plott dog is named after the German settlers.

The ancestors of today’s Plott Hounds were used for boar hunting in Germany. The story goes that Johannes Plott brought his 5 hounds with him to the New World which all Plott dogs can trace their ancestry to. These dogs have been strictly bred for generations among themselves from the original 5 for their stamina and gameness.

The Redbone Coonhound is an American breed of hunting dog. The Redbone is a courageous hunter often used to track large game such as bear, boar, cougar, though it is also used to track smaller game such as deer. The breed dates back to pre-Civil War and is one of the most versatile of all the hounds. It originated in the Southern United States, and its foundation stock derives from Bloodhounds and Foxhounds brought by immigrants from Scotland. It is characterized by its deep red coat.

In the early 19th century, Scottish immigrants brought red-colored Foxhounds to Georgia, which would later become the foundation stock of today’s modern-day Redbone. Around 1840, Irish-bred Foxhound and Bloodhound lines were added. The Redbone name comes from an early breeder, Peter Redbone of Tennessee, though the United Kennel Club (UKC) credits Redbone’s contemporary, George F.L. Birdsong of Georgia, and Dr. Thomas Henry in the 19th century.

Over time, breeders followed a selective program that led to a Coonhound that was adept at treeing wild game, was courageous against larger animals such as bear and mountain lions, agile enough to track in the mountains or in the marsh, and could swim if necessary (one of the few hounds with webbed feet). They are ideal for pack hunting of both small and larger prey. Originally, the Redbone had a black saddleback, but by the beginning of the 20th century, it was replaced by an uninterrupted red tone.

The Redbone Coonhound was recognized by the UKC in 1902, becoming the second Coonhound breed to gain recognition and was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2010.

Averaging 24 inches tall and weighing from 40-70 pounds, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a tenacious, loving, intelligent, and confident working dog. The name “Treeing” comes from the breed’s ability to chase game up into trees and keep them bayed there (treed) until the hunter arives. This valuable trait was needed in the forested landscape of the Eastern United States and was achieved by decades of culling and selective breeding.

The Treeing Walker was developed in the Colonial era from crosses of English Foxhounds. John W. Walker and George Washington Maupin, two breeders from Kentucky, which was then part of Virginia, are given credit for the breed’s initial development. The dogs they bred were referred to as Walker Hounds and were used to hunt raccoons. In the 1800s, a stolen black and tan dog named Tennessee Lead was crossed into the Walker Hound. Tennessee Lead was of unknown origin, but he greatly influenced the Walker.

These Coonhound’s strong tracking instincts make it popular as a hunting dog, primarily for raccoon, bear, cougar, and bobcats.

The Treeing Walker Coonhound, was first recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1905 as a part of the English Coonhound breed, at the request of breeders. The name was later changed to Treeing Walker Coonhound, and it was fully recognized as a separate breed in 1945. It was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in January 2012, making it the AKC’s 174th recognized breed.