Black and Tan Coonhound

The coat of this dog is invariably coloured coal-black and tan. 

Short, dense and glossy. 

Hazel.

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. 

Cheerful and confident, the Black and Tan is loving and loyal to its pack.   

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.

A stable, confident and even-tempered dog, the Black and Tan is not easily upset or made nervous. 

The Coonhound is reasonably intelligent. It is also headstrong and wilful. 

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.

The Black and Tan tends to be welcoming of new people.

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. 

The Black and Tan desires company; it will not enjoy being left alone for long periods of time.

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. 

This dog has a tendency to bark and howl to excess.

The Coonhound is hard to recall. It may not hear your command if it is focused on a particularly interesting scent. 

The Black and Tan is very destructive if it feels stressed or upset.  

The Black and Tan is a greedy dog. It will eat anything that it thinks it can. 

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. 

The Coonhound is a suitable first dog, due to their easy-going personality. 

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.

The Black and Tan needs a good amount of exercise every day but it is not the most exercise-hungry dog in the world. 

Once trained, a Coonhound is comfortable with travel. 

At best, a Coonhound is liable to bully a non-canine; at worst it is liable to chase and to injure such an animal. 

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.  

On the whole this breed is kind and placid with children and is tolerant of their boisterous play. 

The Black and Tan is a worthy dog for people of senior years but its size may lead to problems about the house. 

The Black and Tan sheds twice a year.

A healthy breed of dog with no known genetic abnormalities or proneness to disease. Its life expectancy is 10-12 years.

This is an active and courageous dog that enjoys rough play and exciting walks. 

The Black and Tan is tolerant of hot temperatures but care must be taken of the dog during the hottest months of the year.

The Black and Tan is tolerant of cold temperatures and wet weather. 

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. 

• Corneal ulcers and cataracts
• Ear infections
• Hip Dysplasia

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.