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Black and Tan Coonhound

Although the Black and Tan Coonhound is gentle and trusting, it can be stubborn at times, especially when interested in a certain activity. With the proper training, this dog makes an excellent family pet.

Weight

22–39 kg

Height

58–69 cm

Lifespan

10–12 yr

Breed Group

Hound

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Black and Tan Coonhound Traits

General Appearance

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a strong hound with long ears and expressive, soulful eyes.

Coat and Colouring

These dogs are, as the name implies, coal-black with rich tan markings.

Distinctive Physical Traits

The long, droopy ears and expressive eyes are telling for this breed, as are the distinctive tan accents found throughout their coloring, particularly the ones referred to as “pumpkin seeds” which are above their eyes.

Black and Tan Coonhound Temperament

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a very active and alert breed. It is intelligent and loyal, and enjoys frequent exercise and activities. These dogs are good-natured and they make excellent companions. They can be territorial and protective of their family, especially with strangers, but with the proper training they are very sociable.

Experts at what they do, Coonhounds can trace raccoons through the woods and swamps by their scent alone, sending their prey scrambling up a tree until hunters, following their baying, catch up to trap the animals.

Even-tempered and outgoing, this hound is a hard worker, particularly when it comes to scent tracking, which can sometimes lead to trouble. When walking a Black and Tan Coonhound, be sure to keep them leashed or in secure areas, since any scent can send them racing after the trail of prey.

This breed is sociable and prefers to be with people, so a Black and Tan Coonhound that’s left alone for too long will let nearby neighbors hear their sadness with loud and mournful wails.

They can be reserved around strangers, and they can be stubborn and territorial at times. Proper training and a steadfast exercise routine can help maintain a Coonhound’s health and happiness.

Black and Tan Coonhound History

The Black and Tan Coonhound was developed in America for one particular thing—to hunt raccoons. Without a proper breed available suited to the task, post-Revolutionary frontiersman set out to create the breed they needed by crossing foxhounds and Bloodhounds to create a new, unique mix, which came to be known as a Coonhound.

The Black and Tan Coonhound is truly an American pup, with original stomping grounds in the southeastern region of the United States, across the Ozark, Blue Ridge, Appalachian, and Smoky Mountains. The Black and Tan even became the first Coonhound breed to be registered with the American Kennel Club in 1945.

Black and Tan Coonhound Care

Nutrition

Black and Tan Coonhounds require a high-quality dog food that is age-appropriate—whether it’s commercially manufactured or homemade (with a veterinarian’s supervision and approval). It’s important to monitor the amount of food you give your Black and Tan Coonhound. Reduce the portions or restrict calories if your pup gains weight.

Your veterinarian is always a good source to help provide you with appropriate nutrition and feeding guidelines.

Grooming

Little care is required to handle the Black and Tan Coonhound’s short, dense coat. Once-weekly brushings with a grooming mitt or brush will help remove hair.

All dogs require regular dental care, including at-home teeth brushing and professional dental cleanings, and the Black and Tan Coonhound is no exception. Maintaining good dental hygiene is important for overall long-term health.

Exercise

Like most hounds, the Black and Tan Coonhound requires a regular exercise routine every day to stay healthy and to avoid getting into the trouble that boredom can bring. With a strong hunting instinct, these dogs love any game that involves a good chase, and can be readily trained to hunt animals other than raccoon, if that’s of interest. This breed also excels at dog sports like tracking and trailing.

Training

Black and Tan Coonhounds are smart, which makes them excellent candidates for training, although their stubborn, independent streak can sometimes get in the way. It’s essential to train this breed properly and early since, when left to their own devices, the Black and Tan Coonhound is apt to take off on a hunting spree, or to howl loudly for all to hear.

Breed Group

Hound

The most common ancestral trait of this group is being used for hunting. Some use acute powers of scent to follow a trail while others demonstrate the gift of stamina as they run down a quarry. Beyond these two common traits, however, generalizations about hounds are hard to come by as the group is comprised of a very diverse lot of breeds.