Black and Tan Coonhound

This type of dog breed is used for hunting raccoons and may be a proficient hunter for other big games like dear, bear, and cougar. However, if it is well-trained it makes an excellent house dog even if it retains its desire to hunt. After training, it is calm, quiet, and moderately affectionate with the family indoors. With its dominant personality they may be a little too rough for smaller kids but mostly gentle around children. Once they pick up a scent especially outdoors, they easily get vigorously excited and their hunting skills take over.

This type of dog is a cross between the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound and the Bloodhound. Having been around since 1700’s, it is considered to be an all-American dog. These dogs were popular among hunters specifically in the rugged areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia. As a hunter, just like the Bloodhound, the Black and Tan Coonhound trails a prey using their nose close to the ground and moving swiftly along. It will be baying when the animal was captured until the hunter is present.

In 1945, this breed was discovered by the American Kennel Club, a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. This breed is mostly popular and useful for American hunters. Every year, competitive hunts are organized for coonhounds to display the skills of dogs like the following:

· English Coonhound

· Treeing Walkers

· Plott Hounds

· Blue Tick Coonhounds

· Black and Tan Coonhound.

Grooming Tips for the Black and Tan Coonhound

Proper training needs to be in place when caring for a coonhound. With its high energy levels, this breed needs plenty of exercise and should take extend walks and be free to roam and run outside as often as possible. This dog breed can run long distance and has a very high scenting ability. When the dog picks up a strong scent, without proper training and if they are not properly trained to “stay”, a chase to catch your coonhound can be expected.

This type of dog breed should live in a spacious home with a yard or par where they are free to run around in. As long as the weather is not extreme, this dog can survive in both cold and hot temperatures. This type of dog breed can live outside, but like different family dogs, this dog should not sleep outdoors during the evening hours. It is a requirement to groom this dog by lightly brushing bi-weekly, this will remove shedding hair.

This kind of dog normally lives around 10-12 years on an average. This kind of dog breed is known to develop CHD and some of the minor health problems includes hypothyroidism, ectropion, and rarely seen is hemophilia B. A test for the eyes, hip, and thyroid problems is highly recommended by veterinarians for this breed.

Also recommended: If you decide to adopt a coonhound, be sure to have the essential dog supplies ready.  You may also want to invest in dog grooming supplies if you plan on grooming your dog yourself as well as indoor pet gates to keep your new companion from going into places he/she shouldn't.