Thanks for the description of coon dogs, lonesomepaws. My grandfather raised them out in the Ozarks. It's also important to note that 'coon hunting is an old sport. In the 1800's early 1900's, people in rural areas hunted or trapped raccoons for their fur. It was a way to supplement your income in areas where extra income was hard to come by. It was very common. In later years, it became a hobby. My gf spent quite a bit of money on dogs, pens, expensive food, etc. He trained those dogs at least a few times a week. The locals would hold "hunts", usually at someone's hunting cabin, at night. They would bring their dogs, women would cook a lot of food and the dog owners would compete to see whose dog could find and "tree" a coon fastest. I recall more than once driving around back roads with him the next day as he hunted for a lost dog, they are expensive and the owners are very attached to them. Still have photos of him posing with the dogs and all the ribbons and trophies he won. IIRC, they're very friendly dogs, but hyper.