Black and Tan Coonhound
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of scent hound primarily used to hunt racoons. The dog is courageous and agile and due to these traits it has been used in the past to hunt larger game such as bear and deer. Hunting with hounds is a restricted (but not banned) practice in the United States; increasingly the Coonhound is being sought after as a pet.
Key facts about the Black and Tan Coonhound
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Origins and history
The Coonhound is descended from English hunting hounds. Its ancestors came to North America in the 1600s with the early settlers. A century later these early Coonhounds were selectively bred for their appearance and ability to hunt. Despite its loving nature it is still rare to find a Coonhound that is kept as a household pet.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds
Section
Section 1 : Scent hounds
Physical characteristics of the Black and Tan Coonhound
Adult size
Female : Between 23 and 25 in
Male : Between 25 and 27 in
Weight
Female : Between 64 and 77 lb
Male : Between 64 and 77 lb
Coat colour
The coat of this dog is invariably coloured coal-black and tan.
Type of coat
Short, dense and glossy.
Eye colour
Hazel.
Description
This dog sports an alert and friendly expression. The shape of the dog’s head is elegant and sleek; skin folds are rarely seen of any part of this dog. The long ears are set low and quite far towards the back of the head. The general appearance is one of a strong, athletic and majestic animal.
Good to know
The Coonhound specialises in picking up cold scents. Even if the animal it is tracking is long gone, the dog is still able to pick up its scent and follow it.
Temperament
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Affectionate
Cheerful and confident, the Black and Tan is loving and loyal to its pack.
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Playful
Black and Tans are playful and like to be the centre of attention. They have a tendency to be mischievous and cheeky, and are boisterous, especially as puppies and juveniles.
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Calm
A stable, confident and even-tempered dog, the Black and Tan is not easily upset or made nervous.
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Intelligent
The Coonhound is reasonably intelligent. It is also headstrong and wilful.
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Hunter
This dog was originally bred to hunt game of various sizes. Its prey instinct is still piqued by the scents of rabbits, squirrels and foxes; it may not take kindly to cats.
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Fearful / wary of strangers
The Black and Tan tends to be welcoming of new people.
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66%
Independent
This is an independent dog that has its own agenda and won’t be swayed by owners who lack confidence and firmness. Here is an exceptionally stubborn dog.
Behaviour of the Black and Tan Coonhound
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Tolerates solitude
The Black and Tan desires company; it will not enjoy being left alone for long periods of time.
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Easy to train / obedience
To train the Coonhound requires the owner to deliver consistent and confident training. This is a dog that is easily distracted and quick to boredom.
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Tendency to run away
The Coonhound is hard to recall. It may not hear your command if it is focused on a particularly interesting scent.
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Destructive
The Black and Tan is very destructive if it feels stressed or upset.
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Greedy / Gluttony
The Black and Tan is a greedy dog. It will eat anything that it thinks it can.
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Guard dog
This is a watchful and alert dog but it is not aggressive. It may bark at the approach of a stranger but it is likely to adopt a friendly manner when it meets people.
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66%
First dog
The Coonhound is a suitable first dog, due to their easy-going personality.
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Is the Black and Tan Coonhound right for you?
take the testLifestyle
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Black and Tan Coonhound in a flat
The Coonhound will be happy to live in a flat as long as it is regularly exercised. Ideally, access to a fenced garden would suit this dog.
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Need for exercise / Sporty
The Black and Tan needs a good amount of exercise every day but it is not the most exercise-hungry dog in the world.
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Travelling / easy to transport
Once trained, a Coonhound is comfortable with travel.
Compatibility
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Black and Tan Coonhound and cats
At best, a Coonhound is liable to bully a non-canine; at worst it is liable to chase and to injure such an animal.
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Black and Tan Coonhound and dogs
Generally speaking, the Coonhound gets on with other dogs. Meetings with other dogs should be monitored carefully. The Coonhound has a tendency to dominate proceedings.
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Black and Tan Coonhound and children
On the whole this breed is kind and placid with children and is tolerant of their boisterous play.
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Black and Tan Coonhound and the elderly
The Black and Tan is a worthy dog for people of senior years but its size may lead to problems about the house.
Price
You would need to pay upwards of £600 for a purebred Black and Tan Coonhound puppy. It will cost £130 to £180 per month to care for this dog.
Grooming
Brush the Black and Tan weekly with a hound mitt or firm bristle brush.
Nutrition of the Black and Tan Coonhound
It is worthwhile to feed a Coonhound a high-quality and specially formulated dog food.
Health of the Black and Tan Coonhound
Life expectancy
A healthy breed of dog with no known genetic abnormalities or proneness to disease. Its life expectancy is 10-12 years.
Strong / robust
This is an active and courageous dog that enjoys rough play and exciting walks.
Withstand heat
The Black and Tan is tolerant of hot temperatures but care must be taken of the dog during the hottest months of the year.
Withstand cold
The Black and Tan is tolerant of cold temperatures and wet weather.
Tendency to put on weight
The Coonhound is exceedingly prone to weight gain. If your dog is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food it will quickly become obese.
Common illnesses
- Corneal ulcers and cataracts
- Ear infections
- Hip Dysplasia