Black And Tan Coonhound Dogs

Breed: Hound

Height: 23-27 inches

Weight: 65-130 pounds

Coat Type: Short, dense and glossy

 

A large, determined hunting hound, the Black and Tan Coonhound is a working dog capable of withstanding the rigors of winter and the heat of summer. This trail and tree hound runs its game entirely by scent. The courageous breed is proficient in hunting deer, bear, mountain lion and other big games. Its power, agility and alertness enable it to swiftly cover the ground, with powerful rhythmic strides. The Black & Tan Coonhound is one of the six varieties of Coonhounds, others being Redbone Coonhound, Plott Hound, Bluetick Coonhound, English Coonhound and Tree Walker Coonhound. To know more about the Black and Tan Coonhound breed, explore this article further.

 

The origin of Black and Tan Coonhound dates back to the 17^th century. The dog had been bred from strains of the Bloodhound and black and tan Foxhound, brought by the English to America. The dog was mainly used to hunt raccoons, opossums and bears. It used to alert the hunter after capturing the prey. The hunter then used to come and shoot the animal. The dog breed was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1945.

 

The head of a Black & Tan Coonhound is well proportioned to its body. It is cleanly molded, while the skin is devoid of folds. The hazel to dark brown eyes are almost round and not deeply set. The long, wide and thin ears are set low, reaching below the tip of the wide and black nose. The strongly tapered tail is set slightly below the natural line of the back. The coat is short, dense and black, with distinct tan markings on the muzzle, limbs and chest.

 

Black and Tan Coonhound is a quick-to-follow, intelligent, loyal and good-natured hunter and companion. A dedicated passionate worker, the dog is alert, eager, lovable, gentle and friendly. It requires patient handling and encouragement, since it can easily get distracted by its incredible sense of smell. It is mostly tolerant, independent, stubborn and sensitive. The puppies need encouragement to boost their confidence when living indoors as pets. Black & Tan Coonhounds require a lot of exercise, else they can become high strung and play too rough. They tend to be cautious and nervous with strangers and unfamiliar dogs. There are two types of Black and Tan Coonhounds: field lines and show lines (bench). The field types are bred for hunting and field trial work, while the bench types are bred for conformation shows. The field lines are more energetic as compared to the bench lines and also require more exercise.

 

Black and Tan Coonhound faces problems related to the bones, joints, muscles, nerves, ears, eyes, teeth and mouth. Other serious problems could be in relation to the digestive system, heart and respiratory systems, immune and blood systems, urinary and reproduction systems. Potential health issues include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, entropion, bleeding disorder and cataract. Since the dog has long ears, it can suffer from ear mites and infection. A serious infection can even lead to deafness or cause ear cancer.

 

Since the Black and Tan Coonhound is a medium shedder, occasional brushing is enough to keep it in a good condition. It is necessary to check and clean the ears of the dog once a week, to keep it clean and free of infection.