Hawaiian Poi Dog vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison

Hawaiian Poi Dog is originated from Indonesia but American English Coonhound is originated from United States. Hawaiian Poi Dog may grow 31 cm / 12 inches shorter than American English Coonhound. Hawaiian Poi Dog may weigh 12 kg / 26 pounds lesser than American English Coonhound. Hawaiian Poi Dog may live 4 years less than American English Coonhound. Hawaiian Poi Dog may have less litter size than American English Coonhound. Both Hawaiian Poi Dog and American English Coonhound requires Low maintenance.

History

The Hawaiian Poi Dog was a descendent of the dogs brought to the Islands by the Polynesian. These Polynesian dogs were themselves descendants of the kuri dog of New Zealand. These kuri dogs were originally from Indonesia. The Hawaiian Poi dog is now extinct but at one time was considered the spiritual protector of Hawaiian children and also used as food by hungry Native Hawaiians.

The dog was called poi which was the word for a food staple mad from the root of Taro and used to put weight on the dogs before they were eaten. Meat was not fed to the dogs because it was too scarce. There was no large mammals to hunt and so the breed was never given a standard. The Poi dog seen by European explorers were short legged, pot bellied canines that lived with the hogs in the towns. Because of what they ate, the dogs were not highly intelligent but were stubborn and hard to train. Because the dogs were not suited for much beyond food and a spiritual charm, they became extinct when the traditional religion was no longer practiced and eating dogs was no longer acceptable. The breed pretty much disappeared by the early 20th century. Very few images of the dogs remain except for ancient petroglyphs.

There was an attempt by the Honolulu Zoo in the late 1960’s to redevelop the breed using local dogs to determine a standard. Then the local dogs were bred as close to the standard as possible. In the third generation one dog was born with the traits of a Poi dog. There was not much more success with this and then the Polynesian ship travel between Tahiti and Hawaii was recreated and a dog taken along.

Today’s mixed breed dogs in Hawaii are called Poi dogs but also have the stubbornness, unique appearance and ability to eat anything it is given like the original Poi. The dogs are small, and should not be confused with the original Poi dogs.

american english coonhound - historyThe American English Coonhound was developed in the Southern part of the United States from the variety of English hunting dogs that came to the States with the early settlers. At one point they were known as the Virginia Hound. This breed is well known for its prowess in hunting raccoons and her endurance and speed. Of course as a hound dog he loves to howl during the hunt and at home with the family. He can be frustrated and destructive if his energy and need for a job are not satisfied.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Indonesia
United States
Height Male:
36 - 38 cm
14 - 15 inches
56 - 69 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
34 - 36 cm
13 - 15 inches
23 - 65 cm
9 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 15 kg
15 - 34 pounds
25 - 27 kg
55 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 13 kg
13 - 29 pounds
23 - 25 kg
50 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
5 - 8 Years
11 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
12 - 13
Size:
Small dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Native Hawaiian Dog, and Hawaiian Islanders’ Dog., Poi Dog, Ilio, Hawaiian Dog
Coonhound, English Coonhound
Colors Available:
any color with white markings, brown mostly
Black and white ticked, blue ticked, red with black and white tick
Coat:
short and fine
hard, sleek
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Playful, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Hard
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

As previously mentioned the Poi dog is somewhat unusual in size and shape due to what they ate. They looked somewhat like the native dogs of Polynesia and New Zealand. They have short legs, long bodies, somewhat obese and a very flat head. He had a short smooth coat, in any color or any pattern. They were however mostly brown and they might or might not have white markings.

american english coonhound puppy - descriptionThe American English Coonhound is an athlete with a deep chest and cute face. They have broad heads, domed skulls, dark eyes and soft, low ears. They are as fast and athletic as they look. These are highly athletic dogs with long legs and a slim but muscular body. They are so well built for their hunting role, that any deficiencies are quickly identified and bred out of the breed.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

The Hawaiian Poi dog was very friendly and good with children

Special talents

The Poi was considered a good luck charm and a spiritual protector of children

Adaptability

Given what they faced in life, the Poi dog was very adaptable, living anywhere on the islands and eating anything it could find.

Learning ability

Due to their poor diet, the Hawaiian Poi dog was seriously lacking in intelligence and learning ability.

american english coonhound dog - characteristicsThe American English Coonhound knows how to relax just as much as he knows how to work. He is mellow after work and tenacious in the chase. This is not the dog for a first-time owner. They are stubborn and hard to train. They howl and bark at home as much as they do on the hunt. They need a strong pack leader, especially when living in the city or neighborhoods.

They are outgoing and friendly and very sensitive. They mature later than most other breeds their size. They are about 2 when they mature.

Health Problems

Probably due to its diet, the Poi dog had several problems to their health. Their poor diet led to a sluggishness both in movement and intelligence. Its development was hampered by a lack of protein. Malnutrition and serious over inbreeding caused a weakness and poor oral hygiene. Due to this lack of teeth and chewing the bones in the dogs heads became flat. The Poi had breathing issues and overall lethargy.

american english coonhound puppies - health problemsIf kept active and happy, the American English Coonhound has very few health problems. The benefit from a large gen pool but do have some health concerns including elbow and hip dysplasia, ear infections, cataracts, bloat, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy. They do have a tendency to gain weight as they age. These issues will be addressed in more detail below. DNA testing is available for the dysplasia and eye issues.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

With meat being rare in Hawaii, none was available for the dogs. They were fed Poi – from the Taro plant roots. Puppies were fed 2-3 times a day.

Feeding the adult

The adult dog was fed once or twice a day the same as Poi puppies were fed.

Points for Good Health

The Hawaiian Poi dog basically has not good health points.

Games and Exercises

The Poi dog did not need and did not get much exercise, leading to its demise.

Feeding

american english coonhound dogs - caringyour working American English Coonhound needs different food than one who is not working. So, if you hunt with your dog remember he really needs the calories to keep his energy up. However, they can get obese as they age so cut back with less activity and more years. Watch the number of treats when training.

Health issues mentioned earlier include

Elbow and Hip Dysplasia – the joint issues prevent the bones from connecting and functioning properly. Any good breeder of American English Coonhounds will do tests for both.

Eye issues range from cataracts to PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) Again there are tests available for these conditions.

Bloat is a condition many medium to large size dogs can experience when their stomach can become inverted and intestines distended. The is a situational issue and can’t be predicted. Don’t allow your coonhound to wolf down food right before exercise and feed him more than once a day in a smaller meal.

Exercise and games

The American English Coonhound needs a lot of exercise and has an extremely strong work and prey drive.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Mal-Shi vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Malti-Pom vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. PekePoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Schipperke vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Schweenie vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Lhasapoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Meliteo Kinidio vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  9. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Alaskan Klee Kai - Breed Comparison
  10. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Coton De Tulear - Breed Comparison
  11. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Japanese Spitz - Breed Comparison
  12. Hawaiian Poi Dog vs Fruggle - Breed Comparison
  13. Prazsky Krysarik vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Pugalier vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  15. Kyi-Leo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  16. Tsvetnaya Bolonka vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  17. Muggin vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  18. Pomeranian vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  19. Maltese vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  20. Pug vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  21. Maltipoo vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Miniature Schnauzer vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  23. Papillon vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  24. Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Hawaiian Poi Dog - Breed Comparison
  25. Bloodhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  26. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  27. Greyhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  28. Francais Blanc et Noir vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  29. Saluki vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  30. American Foxhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  31. Borzoi vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  32. Black and Tan Coonhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  33. Mountain Cur vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  34. Black Mouth Cur vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  35. Rajapalayam vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  36. Plott Hound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  37. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  38. Otterhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  39. Mudhol Hound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  40. Ibizan Hound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  41. Rampur Greyhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  42. Austrian Black and Tan Hound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  43. Galgo Espanol vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  44. Azawakh vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  45. Hanover Hound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  46. Majestic Tree Hound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  47. Chart Polski vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  48. Polish Hunting Dog vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  49. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds