coon dog
A hound trained to track and tree raccoons.
Also called coonhound, coon hound.
Updated September 21, 2026
coon dog pronunciation
/KOON dawg/
Meaning
A coon dog is a hunting dog, usually a coonhound, bred and trained for night raccoon hunts. The dog follows the scent, trees the coon, and bays till the hunter walks up. Blueticks, Redbones, Black and Tans, and Treeing Walkers get named a lot in rural Southern talk.
How folks use it
- “He won't sleep till that coon dog stops barking up the hollow.”
- “Best coon dog we ever had could tree one before the coffee cooled.”
Origin and etymology
Coon here shortens raccoon. Southern and South Midland hunters used coon dog and coonhound for scent hounds worked on raccoons, with dialect and oral-history citations through the 1900s. The breeds grew out of American foxhound and related stock built for night hunting.
Frequently asked questions
Is coon short for raccoon?
Yes. In this hunting talk it means the animal, not a slur about people.