Bluetick Coonhound

Breed Type: Hunting Dogs

Weight: (male) 55 - 80 pounds (25 - 36 kg) / (female) 45 - 65 pounds (20 - 30 kg)

Height: (male) 22 - 27 inches (56 - 68.5 cm) / (female) 21 - 25 inches (53 - 63.5 cm)

Coat type: glossy and moderately coarse coat

 

Bluetick Coonhound is the state dog of Tennessee and has also been honored as the official athletic mascot by the University of Tennessee. The dog is extremely affectionate, gentle and loving and conveys its feelings with its extremely expressive face and body language. When the dog is at home, it will make difficult for intruders to enter the home and would create a ruckus by barking uncontrollably at them; thus making it as a perfect watchdog.  The dog is also known for its loyalty and intelligence.

 

The origination of the Bluetick Coonhound dog is not clear, nevertheless, it is believed that dog has evolved from cross-breeding between French Blue Gascon hound, the Cur dog, the Black And Tan Virginia Foxhound, the American Foxhound and the foxhounds of England that resided in Louisiana area at that time. The dog was then brought to America before the colonial times and was bred in the southern part of the United States during the 20^th century. It was bred by the traders visiting Louisiana bayou and the Ozark Mountains so that it could be used as hunting dog. The dog was registered under the English Foxhound and Coonhound by the United Kennel club but was recognized as a separate breed in 1946. It is also recognized by Australian National Kennel Council and the New Zealand Kennel Club and is the state dog of Tennessee.

 

The Bluetick Coonhound possesses a muscular personality with the head that is held up in pride and the tail that is carried well over the back without fear. The name ‘bluetick’ is given to the dog for its ‘blue’ coloring that is obtained from the mottling of black colored hair on the white background which gives the impression of a navy blue color to its skin. The body of the dog is covered with this mottling with different shapes of black spots on the sides, back and ears. The dog has a broad head with a domed skull and long and muscular hind legs. The ears are set low and the eyes are large, dark brown and round giving it the look of a hunter. It has a cat like feet, with well arched round toes, and straight legs from the elbows to the feet. The dog is known for its shrill sound that would reverberate throughout making everyone aware of its presence. The overall look of the dog gives it an astonishing appearance.

 

Bluetick Coonhound was originally bred to be a hunting dog and hence can easily trail and track whole night with its good eyesight and developed sense of smell. It is very intelligent and can easily remember the way back even on the unfamiliar grounds. In addition, it is passionate for its job of hunting and can easily trace on the difficult & rugged terrain and survive in extreme weather conditions. When the same tough dog is brought at home, it becomes a wonderful companion dog and loving house pet that will easily serve as the guardian of the family. It is people oriented and is very affectionate with children. However, the dog needs a strong and dominating master so that it does not turn aggressive. As the dog is a born hunter, it cannot be trusted to stay peacefully with other pets therefore it becomes important that the dog is socialized with other dogs when young. It will be difficult for this extremely active dog to survive in the apartment life and hence can turn destructive.

The Bluetick Coonhound dog is a relatively healthy dog with an average lifespan of 11 to 12 years. However, it can be prone to some genetic diseases like hip dysplasia, cataracts, and Krabbes disease.

 

The Bluetick Coonhound has a short hair that does not require much attention. The coat can be brushed weekly to remove the lose hair and thus maintain its glossy appearance. The ears, however, need to be paid attention and should be regularly checked and cleaned to prevent risk of infection.