General appearance
Bluetick Coonhounds have a smooth, glossy coat that is dark blue and thickly mottled with black spots on the back, ears, and sides. The head and ears are mostly black, with or without tan markings over the eyes and on the cheeks. The Bluetick Coonhound has dark red ticking on the feet, the lower legs below the body line, the chest, and below the tail.
This is a large breed hound with height measuring at the withers of 55-69 centimetres for males and 54-67cm for females. Their overall proportion from the point of shoulder to the base of tail and withers to the ground is square or slightly longer than tall.
The Bluetick should have the appearance of a speedy and well-muscled hound. He never appears clumsy or overly chunky in build. He has a neat, compact body, a glossy coat and clear, keen eyes. In motion he carries his head and tail well up.
Character and temperament and care
The Bluetick Coonhound was used by frontiersmen in pursuit of the raccoon but also are equally happy to be
an adoring pet or classy show dog. A Bluetick Coonhound who is included as part of your family and is given a "job" is a happy dog.
Coonhounds are alert and lively dogs who require excellent, consistent training. They respond best to reward based training methods and Nadine has found Delta to be a quick learner. This breed is driven by the love to please their people.
If you are not a fan of barking, or have irritable neighbours close by, this is not the breed of dog for you. They are very vocal, and it is seen as an advantage if they have a ‘good hound dog bawl’. This bawl is something that they require in order to be good hunting dogs and alert their handler of the prey that they have bailed or forced up a tree. They are described colloquially as free-tong
uers, and love to show off a variety of loud barks and howls during the hunt.
The Bluetick Coonhound is a sweet and affectionate charmer who might enjoy snoozing in the shade or hanging out with their people, but in pursuit of quarry they are known to be relentless, bold and target specific.
Delta enjoys "hunting" for her dinner with the aid of snuffle mats or food puzzles to release her natural instinct.
Due to their natural hunting instincts and prey drive, they should not be left unsupervised with cats or other small animals until they are recognised as a part of the family.
This is a breed built for high endurance and caregivers must often manage their off switch to ensure they do not over do exercise while they are growing (up to 18 months) and avoid possible joint issues such
as hip and elbow dysplasia.
Not afraid of working on just about any terrain in wet or windy weather, the Bluetick Coonhound is a hardy dog, although Delta welcomes both the sofa and her pyjamas!
A daily brush and ear clean is all that is needed to keep a Bluetick Hound look their best and ensures a healthy skin and coat condition. Of course nail care and dental hygiene needs regular maintenance as with any breed.
Facts about the Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound origi
nated in Louisiana, the United States. They are a scent hound and capable of working scent trails that are hours, even days, old.
Originally, Bluetick Coonhounds were registered in the United Kennel Club under the English Foxhound and Coonhound, but were recognised by the club as a separate breed in 1946.
Bluetick Coonhounds are also recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council and the New Zealand Kennel Club. In April 2009, the breed was accepted by the American Kennel Club and in December 2009 they became eligible to compete in AKC coonhound events.
The Bluetick Coonhound are descendants of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne hound (also known as French Stag Hounds), Eng
lish Foxhound, the Cur dog, the American Foxhound and the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound, many of which were brought to the United States in colonial times. Coonhounds are well documented throughout the world and have been carefully bred for over 100 years.