Black and Tan Coonhound (Hound Group)

Black and Tan Coonhound (Hound Group)

The Black and Tan Coonhound is one dog breed that makes an excellent house dog that has retained its strong internal desire to hunt. Once properly trained they are calm, quiet, and moderately affectionate with the family indoors. When outside they will pick up a scent in a heartbeat, often getting vigorously excited when those hunting instincts take over. They are gentle around children but with their dominant personality, the Black and Tan Coonhound may be a little too rough with smaller kids.

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A Brief History Of The Black and Tan Coonhound

The Black and Tan Coonhound is considered to be the all-American breed. Having been around since the 1700s, this dog is said to have been the result of crosses between the black and tan Virginia Foxhound and the Bloodhound.

Black and Tan Coonhounds were mostly used to hunt large animals such as bear, but they could also trap smaller prey like raccoons. They were popular among hunters specifically in the rugged areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Smokey Mountains, and the Appalachian. Just like their Bloodhound ancestors, the Black and Tan Coonhound trails with their nose close to the ground and moving swiftly along, baying when the prey was trapped until the hunter arrived.

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The breed was officially recognized by the AKC in 1945. And although there have been a few Black and Tans in the show ring, they have remained much more popular and useful to the

American hunter. Competitive hunts are organized each year for coonhounds only, in which you can see the skills of the English Coonhound, Treeing Walkers, Plott Hounds, Blue Tick Coonhounds, and of course, the Black and Tan Coonhound.

Upkeep Requirements For The Black and Tan Coonhound

With its high energy levels, the Black and Tan Coonhound needs plenty of daily exercise. They can literally run for miles, but a few long walks and the occasional run outside each day will suffice. These dogs also have a strong scenting ability so if a Coonhound is untrained to obey its owner's commands to “stay”, and the dog picks up a strong scent, expect a long chase to catch your coonhound.

The ideal living conditions for this breed is to have a large open area where there is enough running field or forest to roam in. They can handle both cold and hot temperatures so long as the climate is not extreme. Black and Tan Coonhounds can also live outdoors, but as with all family companions, its best for them to sleep inside at night. Grooming requirements for the breed consists of a light brushing every couple of weeks to remove dead hair.

Health Concerns

The average lifespan of the Black and Tan Coonhound is between ten and twelve years. The only major health concern in the breed is CHD. Minor health problems that are often seen include hypothyroidism and ectropion. Rarely seen is hemophilia B. Veterinarians suggest that these dogs get specifically tested for eye, hip, and thyroid problems.