Bluetick Coonhound

As you may have gathered by this rather unfortunate name (which we don’t recommend saying out loud in mixed company) The Bluetick Coonhound is a good ol’ dog and comes straight from the south. If it was possible to bark with a southern twang, this pooch would do it. A friendly hunting dog, this breed loves to chase and corner its prey into trees, letting its owner know of its capture with a distinctive howl. The breed especially loves to go after raccoons, hence the Coonhound part of its name. So, if you have a racoon problem, perhaps this could be the ideal pooch to get things under control.

Although the Bluetick Coonhound does well with children, it does need to be watched if you have smaller animals in the household. Its nose may get it into trouble, but one look in those adorable hound eyes and all will be forgiven. With its easy-going personality, you’ll find that it will settle into your household easily, and will go with the flow. This is an easy-breezy pooch who fits well into almost any environment.

The only question is whether or not the Bluetick Coonhound is the right dog for you? The goods news is that you’ve come to the right place. We are about to reveal everything that you could possibly want to know about this dog breed. So keep your eyes glued to this page and scroll away. Soon you’ll know if you need to rush out, find the nearest Bluetick Coonhound, and bring him home.

A friendly hunting dog, the Bluetick Coonhound loves to chase and corner its prey into trees, letting its owner know of its capture with a distinctive howl.

The Bluetick Coonhound is the state dog of Tennessee. So, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to learn that is where the breed is said to have originated. The breed was referred to as the English Coonhound for many years. In 1945, Bluetick breeders broke from their English counterparts, as they were not interested in breeding a hot-nosed and faster hunter. The breeders renamed the larger, cold-nosed and resolute dog the Bluetick Coonhound and maintained their own hunting style.

The Bluetick Coonhound was descended from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne (French Staghound), English Foxhound, the cur dog, the American Foxhound, and the Black And Tan Virginia Foxhound.

The Bluetick Coonhound was recognized by the AKC in 2009.

You may find that your Bluetick Coonhounds loves to eat fast. If so, feed your dog a few small meals daily – this will help your Bluetick Coonhound properly digest its food. A high-quality dog kibble is recommended. As with any dog, it’s important to consult a veterinarian before establishing or altering your Bluetick Coonhound’s diet. Sure, dog food manufacturers and pet blogs provide useful feeding guidelines that can be referenced for advice. However, these are still only guidelines and should not be treated as gospel. All dogs are different after all, each with their own needs. The only person qualified to determine the specific dietary needs of your personal pooch is a vet. So always defer to their expertise before decided what goes into your dog’s bowl.

With its easy-going personality, you’ll find that the Bluetick Coonhound will settle into your household easily.

The Bluetick Coondog is a hunting dog, so expect some challenges in the training and housebreaking department. Always following its nose, the Bluetick Coondog is easily distracted by smells. Be firm when training, as this breed will ignore you if you are too lenient and gentle.

But remember – the Bluetick Coonhound is sensitive to harsh words, so being firm can prove to be difficult. Don’t be discouraged because this breed is intelligent and perform trailing exercises very well. If you are not a seasoned pet owner, the Bluetick Coonhound will be a bit difficult to navigate, training wise.

A delicate balance of positive, yet firm training must be established. If it proves to be too challenging to find that balance, then it might be a wise idea to enrol your Bluetick Coondog into some sort of training program. Not only will this take the pressure off (especially for any first time dog owners), but it will also help establish an early training regime. This is a wise option for dogs who are tricky to train and will pay off in the long run.

Male Bluetick Coonhounds weigh 55 to 80 pounds, while females weigh 45 to 65 pounds.

Temperament / Behavior

Bluetick Coonhounds are gentle and loyal, even if the breed can be challenging to train. You’ll find that your Bluetick won’t be aggressive to people, but you need to watch your dog around cats or other small animals. Those old hunting instincts are still buried within these pups. An intelligent breed, the Bluetick Coonhound has a knack for problem-solving, so be sure to keep your pup stimulated.

The Bluetick Coonhound also needs plenty of space, so take it outdoors often. After training is complete, you should notice how mindful your dog is of you. Bluetick Coonhounds will drool on occasion, and the breed loves to howl and bark, usually very loudly. The Bluetick Coonhound is a working hunting dog, so it will keep you busy. These dogs need attention and activities to thrive. So these dogs are best suited to owners that can keep up and will provide plenty of attention and stimulation for their pets.

Great with children and other people, the Bluetick Coonhound will be a mindful and friendly dog once trained. That nose will scope out food and garbage, so don’t leave it out unattended. Guests to your home will feel welcome, as your Bluetick Coonhound will greet them with a howl and a sniff. Because of its strong sense of smell, the Bluetick Coondog makes a wonderful hunting and tracking dog.

The Bluetick Coonhound is a fairly healthy breed, but it is prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts, and Krabbes disease. It’s important to maintain regularly scheduled checkups with a veterinarian (especially as your pooch ages into it’s senior years) to ensure that any potential health issues are identified and treated as quickly as possible.

Bluetick Coonhounds have a life expectancy of 11 to 12 years.

Get off the couch, because your Bluetick Coonhound needs daily vigorous exercise. If your Bluetick Coonhound doesn’t get a long, brisk daily walk, it may become high strung and destructive. Bred for physical exercise, the Bluetick Coonhound is an anxious and energetic dog. Natural hunters, the Bluetick Coonhound has a tendency to run off and hunt if it is not kept in a fenced-in area. In other words, this breed needs highly active owners who can keep up with them. Otherwise, they will find destructive ways to burn off their excess energy that you certainly won’t appreciate.

Bluetick Coonhounds are gentle and loyal, but the breed can be challenging to train.

The American Kennel Club says this about the breed: “Like many coonhounds, the Bluetick Coonhound gets its name from a coat pattern, which is dark blue in color and covered in a ticking or mottled pattern. Working ability is very important to owners who prize the sturdy and athletic Bluetick for its skill in trailing and treeing raccoons and other small animals. Blueticks are known for having the typical coonhound “bawling” bark. This steady and determined breed can stay on the most intricate of tracks, making it a prized companion for active sporting families.”

The Bluetick Coonhound’s coat color is dark blue, with a thickly mottled body, with various shaped black spots on back, ears and sides. Overall, its tricolor coat has a uniquely speckled-blue look. The ticking effect is due to its black-colored hairs on a white background, creating a bluing effect. Its head and ears are predominantly black. The Bluetick Coonhound can have tan markings, which appear over the eyes, on cheeks, chest and below the tail, and will the dog will have red ticking on feet and lower legs. AKC standard prefers more blue than black on body, and there should be more blue ticking than white.

When it comes to grooming, an occasional brushing will do. You’ll have to pay special attention to its ears to keep them clean and infection-free. Those floppy ears aren’t just adorable, they are also traps for dirt and infection. So pay special attention and care to your Bluetick Coonhounds ears to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

Start training and socializing your Bluetick Coonhound puppy as early as possible to ensure that no unfortunate behavioral issues develop. It is also important establish boundaries and make sure not to over-exercise your puppy as it grows up. These dogs require careful training in order to thrive, so take these responsibilities seriously and don’t let those precious and impressionable puppy days go to waste.