BLUETICK COONHOUND
APPEARANCE
The Bluetick Coonhound has a heavily-muscled, deep-chested body with strong legs and well-arched feet and has long ears. It also has exceptional eyesight during the nighttime, which allows it to hunt better. The Bluetick Coonhound has a dense, short, smooth, and glossy coat that is coarse in texture. The tri-color coat is quite unique. The base color is white with a heavy ticking of black hair, which gives it a speckled blue effect. The height of the Bluetick Coonhound is around 20-27 inches, and these dogs weigh in at around 45-80 pounds.
PERSONALITY
The Bluetick Coonhound makes for an excellent family pet or companion dog. This breed is a combination of agility, great endurance, kindness, and self-confidence. They are intelligent and have a highly developed sense of smell. They have exceptional eyesight that gives them the capability of being a proficient hunter at night. Despite having been originally bred for sport and hunt, they are in general very friendly, genial, and attentive.
TRAINING
Coonhounds have a reputation for being difficult to train. This breed is for the experienced owner. Early socialization and obedience are an absolute must for the Bluetick Coonhound. This breed does not respond to harsh or heavy-handed methods. Training must be done with motivation, patience, firmness, fairness, and consistency. They excel in hunting, agility, and tracking.
EXERCISE
Daily walks and runs are recommended with the Bluetick Coonhound. They thrive on human interaction and being given a job to do. If there is a safe or fenced-in area near you, feel free to unleash the hound.
SOCIALIZATION
The Bluetick Coonhound makes an excellent family companion and guardian. They do best in a home with older considerate children. They are reserved with strangers but are not typically aggressive. They get along with dogs they have been raised with but are not recommended for homes with cats or other small household pets.
LIVING CONDITIONS
This breed is not recommended for apartment or city dwelling. This dog needs a large area to play and exercise in; it is wise to keep the dog in a safe or well-fenced area as it has a tendency to follow a new and interesting scent.
GROOMING
The Bluetick coonhound does not require overly fussy grooming. Bathing or dry shampooing should be done when necessary. Make sure its coat is regularly brushed and its ears checked for infections.
HEALTH ISSUES
Bluetick Coonhound life span is 11-12 years.The Bluetick Coonhound is a relatively healthy breed but keep an eye out for eye problems, hip dysplasia, bloating, hypothyroidism, and luxating patellas.
HISTORY
The Bluetick Coonhound was bred by crossing French hounds, foxhounds, curs, and English coonhounds
. Their ancestors, brought over to America, were considered too slow by American hunters
to be brought along the trail, but when cross-bred with American hounds, their hunting abilities increased significantly.
