The name English Coonoodle is a nod to the breed’s color that it inherits from the English – or American English – Coonhound and the name of its other parent breed, the Poodle. The English Coonhound descended from European scent hounds, who were bred liberally across Europe for hunting, particularly in France and England in the in the 17th and 18th centuries. When the North American colonies were established, British colonists brought early versions of the American English Coonhound over to the New World – then known as English Foxhounds. By the 1700s, these dogs were categorized as their own distinct breed and were known as Virginia Hounds. In fact, George Washington is said to have been an avid hound breeder. Eventually, the hounds of Virginia and Maryland began to branch out into three different breeds and dogs that migrated to other parts of the country became known generally as coonhounds for their ability to hunt raccoons as well as foxes. After World War II, fans of the now English Coonhound, began to favor dogs with red-ticked coats. In 2010, American English Coonhounds were recognized by the AKC with the prefix “American” to indicate that this breed was developed in the United States. The English Coonoodle’s other parent breed, the Poodle, was first developed in Germany and also migrated to France where it was refined further; in fact, many think the Poodle is from France because of his popularity there. Once hunters, the Poodle' haircut actually served as a way to keep the muscles and joints warm and supple as they retrieved waterfowl from cold bodies of water. The hybrid of these two purebreds, the English Coonoodle, is thought to have originated in the southern United States sometime after 1950. Although it has been around for decades, it has not become a popular hybrid. Currently, the English Coonoodle is not recognized by the American Kennel Club.
