Spotlight: The Bluetick Coonhound

Spotlight Breed: The BlueTick Coonhound

Why We Love Them: There is greatness in all dogs and all breeds. There is a quality about a blue tick coonhound that just puts a catch in your heart. It may be the incongruity of the breed - here is a dog with the endurance and fortitude to trail and track all night, the intelligence and instinct to follow a lead across miles of unfamiliar mountains, and the uncanny ability to turn up the next morning - with torn pads and ears - in the same spot where the hunt began, waiting stoically for his human to find him.

Seemingly imperturbable with their doleful expressions and simple needs, they are also almost heartbreakingly vulnerable - as if their contentment with humble fare is a defense against the possibility that there may never be more offered. But nothing compares to the adoring look in those houndly eyes, nor the profound sigh of bliss when that large head is lowered onto your lap to receive gentle petting. Euphoric appreciation attends every meal placed before a coon hound, and there is not another dog we know who can appreciate with such utter abandon the exquisite comfort of a soft, fleecy bed.

In these gentle giants' demeanor there are recognition and abject gratitude for the love they inspire in a human heart. Coonhounds bond in a deep and undemanding manner. Their easy-going personalities help them settle into the rhythms of home life easily and naturally, and they are perfect examples of how to make the most of any situation - from down time to play time - no dog sleeps better, bounds into the car more joyously, endures more patiently, or loves more faithfully than a blue tick coonhound.

THE NOT-SO-HARD FACTS
(Much of the information below was taken verbatim from an EXCELLENT article on bluetick coonhounds by Ruth Clark Hoffmann! A link to that article, a MUST-READ, is below. )

Origin:
The bluetick coonhound was developed through crossing among various hounds especially for the hunting of raccoons.

Description:
Height: dogs 22 to 27 inches, females 20 to 25 inches.
Weight: dogs 55 to 80 pounds, females 45 to 65 pounds.
Face: They have typical hound looks with an elongated head, pendent ears, and a tail carried horizontally.
Coat: of medium length, soft, sleek, and shiny. They have a light colored base thickly speckled with blue with large markings over their bodies and heads.

Personality:     Originally bred for hunting; kind with children.

Their personalities -- why people love them

They also are very people-oriented, and like to be doing something for you
They are loving, gentle, and good with small children -- most of them love children!
They are very affectionate, and can take all the petting you can dish out. They like to be talked to. At the same time, they are usually not very demanding, and are content to lie at your feet. (You may trip on them frequently.)
They make good "watchdogs", because they will raise the roof when a stranger approaches your house. At the same time, since they are people-lovers, they don't have the protection instincts of some other breeds, and rarely bite.
They are paradoxical; they will put up with a good deal of pain, if they are doing something they want to do, and are also very sensitive. They get their feelings hurt easily. When they are unhappy, they are miserable.
Although they have a lot of energy, they also have relaxed and tolerant attitudes. Once trained, you can take them anywhere, and they will usually be fine, not to mention charming the socks off people.
They have very expressive faces, and "body language." They like to communicate.

Why they aren't for everyone

They are born hunters and will hunt cats, mice and other small creatures. It's in their nature.
They must be securely fenced because their hunting instinct causes them to roam.
They normally need leash training because their hunting instinct causes them to pull when they catch a scent.
They need a fair amount of exercise and something to do, and do best with another dog in the house.
They are bored easily, and if they don't have something to keep them occupied, they can get into things, climb fences or re-do the landscaping.
They have magnificent loud voices and your neighbors will hear them when they decide to "bawl."

Is a Coonhound the dog for you? You might be a good match if you...

Have secure fencing
Are willing to commit to obedience training
Have another dog
Are home for much of the day
Have tolerant neighbors or a bit of land so when your Coonhound talks, they don't always have to listen
Want to understand what true love and devotion really mean

Other Resources on Bluetick Coonhounds:

Breed Standard: http://www.rarebreed.com/breeds/bluetick/bluetick_ukc_std.html
Ruth Clark Hoffmann article: http://www.coonhounds.com/Stories/shouldiown.html

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