Dog Breed Highlight: Bluetick Coonhounds
Described as friendly, loyal, but also a bit of a handful, this Dog Breed Highlight is featuring the beloved Bluetick Coonhound. This breed of dog has a history of cultural significance in the United States, rumored to have a lineage traced back to the scenthounds originally gifted to George Washington. Also, it is the official mascot for the University of Tennessee football team, and is featured in classic stories such as, “Where the Red Fern Grows”.
Breed History
Bluetick Coonhounds get their name from their unique and striking features, with black markings, known as “ticking”, spread throughout their coats. These hounds are described as fiercely independent, and sometimes even stubborn, which can make training this breed a challenging, but rewarding, experience. Celebrated for their hunting abilities, and praised for their loyal and friendly temperaments, Bluetick Coonhounds are still used in the fields by hunters and have been found to also make great additions to the family.
Exercise Requirements
Bluetick Coonhounds are known as a very active and energetic breed of dog. They require regular exercise, such as: brisk walks, running or playing fetch, or even hiking. Keep in mind that Bluetick Coonhounds have a very strong prey drive and a reputation for single-mindedly pursuing scents that may lead them to wander off if not in a fenced in area.
In addition to physical exercise, Bluetick Coonhounds also require mental stimulation to keep them from getting bored. Engaging them in activities that provide mental challenges is important and helps prevent potential behavioral issues. Scent, obedience, and agility training are all good options for helping keep this breed mentally stimulated.
Social Attributes
Bluetick Coonhounds are known for being social dogs. Like all hounds, they enjoy being in groups or packs. They are considered a good family dog and do best when they have several people or dogs to play with. Another interesting quirk about Bluetick Coonhounds is their ability for baying, which is a unique and loud howl that hounds, and other breeds, use to alert hunters after treeing an animal, which means that they are very vocal. This might potentially create issues for those who live in densely suburban neighborhoods, or those who in live in apartment buildings.
Working Characteristics
Bluetick Coonhounds are a very intelligent breed, so training them is considered relatively easy. They are noted for having “cold noses”, which means they can pick up scents that are faint and even days old. They follow scents with impressive focus, and little else will draw their attention away from their job at hand, so doing recall training early on can be quite important with this breed of dog.
