Bluetick Coonhound

The Bluetick Coonhound is an American scenthound, used mostly for hunting raccoons and also kept as a pet. It is known for its friendly nature, its “cold nose” and its deep, bawling voice.

History

The breed originated in Louisiana. It was developed from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne of southwestern France together with the English Foxhound, the American Foxhound, the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound and cur dogs. The United Kennel Club first registered Blueticks as English Foxhounds and Coonhounds, then recognised them as a separate breed in 1946. The Australian National Kennel Council and the New Zealand Kennel Club also recognise the breed, and the American Kennel Club accepted it in April 2009.

A larger, heavier and more hound-like subgroup is called the American Blue Gascon Hound, often described as the “old-fashioned” Bluetick. These dogs track more slowly, and males stand 27 to 30 inches under their own association’s standard.

Appearance

The Bluetick is a muscular, fast hound that carries its head up and its tail over its back. The coat is glossy and moderately coarse. The “blue” is really black ticking on a white ground, which looks navy blue from a distance. Black spots of various shapes may appear on the back, ears and sides, and black predominates on the head and ears. More blue than black on the body is preferred, and there is usually a ticked blaze up the face. Some dogs have tan markings over the eyes, on the muzzle, on the chest and down the legs; others are black and white only.

Blueticks stand 21 to 27 inches at the shoulder. Males weigh about 55 to 80 lb (25 to 36 kg) and females, which are considerably smaller, 45 to 65 lb. The feet are round and cat-like with well-arched toes, and are larger than those of most other breeds.

Temperament

Blueticks are bred to hunt. They are athletic, hardy and intelligent, with a talent for solving problems, and they need plenty of activity. Training can be a challenge, but a trained Bluetick is usually obedient and attentive to its owner. They are generally good with children and can be family pets when socialised young.

Because they were bred to bay on the trail, they are very vocal. A Bluetick tends to greet strangers with a howl and a thorough sniffing, which is sometimes mistaken for aggression. The nose leads them into trouble with food and garbage left within reach, and their hunting instinct means they may need watching around cats and other small animals. Given the chance they will tree almost any animal smaller than themselves. In the field they are generally easier to handle than some other coonhounds.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.