Usually good natured and sociable dogs. Although bred for hunting, they like human or other canine companionship, as well as, plenty of exercise. They are highly active so they are generally not suited to apartment living or small backyards. Stubborn tendencies may be reduced through reward-based training techniques using treats and toys.

The American English Coonhound was developed from a breed derived from the English Foxhound, known locally as Virginia Hounds to better handle the climate and rougher terrain. The breed was initially named the "English Fox and Coonhound" and although it was used to hunt foxes, it was further developed to hunt raccoons at night. This breed was split at the start of the century with the English Coonhounds being used primarily for treeing, and the breed was further split in the 1940s forming the Treeing Walker and Bluetick Coonhound breeds as separate entities in the process. The American English Coonhound was recognized by the AKC in 2011 and is a member of the hound group.