BLACK & TAN COONHOUNDS

The Black and Tan Coonhound was initially developed by crossing the Talbot Hound (now extinct) with the Bloodhound and black and tan Foxhound brought to this country by the English settlers.

The Black and Tan Coonhound was the first coonhound to be considered a separate breed from the Foxhound. The Black and Tan was best known for its use in trailing and treeing raccoon, howling at his quarry.

Their purpose was to hunt racoons, opossums and bears. It's origins can be dated back to the 1700's.

They were bred to have the scenting abilities of the Bloodhound but the ability to travel at at faster pace and they were also suited to night hunting.

Coonhounds are built for endurance and are able to travel across rugged, mountainous regions. In fact, the breed was developed by the people who lived in the Appalachian, Blue Ridge, Ozark and Smoky mountains. When the prey is the dogs bay, alerting the hunter, who then arrives and shoots the animal.

The Black and Tan Coonhound was selectively bred for their color - there are many other types of coonhounds including Blue Tick Coonhounds, Redbone Coonhounds, English Coonhounds, Plott hounds and Treeing Walkers.

This working coonhound has very successfully been used to hunt other types of game such as bear, stag, opossum, deer and mountain lion, even on difficult terrain. They withstand the rigors of winter as well as intense heat.

Some of the Black and Tan Coonhounds talent's include hunting, tracking, watchdog and agility.

BLUETICK COONHOUND

The Bluetick Coonhound is the state dog of Tennessee, where it is said to have originated. Selective breeding in Louisiana of Foxhounds, Curs, French Hounds and English Coonhounds produced the Bluetick Coonhound.

The Bluetick was originally recognized by the UKC as the English fox & Coonhound, which included the Bluetick, Treeing Walker and English Coonhounds all in the same breed.

The breeds were later separated into their own breed.

In 2008 the Bluetick Coonhound was recognized by the AKC in the Miscellaneous Class.

REDBONE COONHOUND

Years ago most coon hunters who owned a red dog of unknown ancestry, but proven ability in tracking and treeing raccoons, called their dog a "Redbone." Then a few serious breeders who were devoted both to the breed and the sport began a campaign of selective breeding to produce a hound with the necessary characteristics to make a superior coonhound which would breed true to type in color and conformation.

Breeders in the American South, Tennessee and Georgia to be precise, desired a hound with more speed and a hotter sniffer than many of the existing coonhounds. The first dogs were commonly called "Saddlebacks." The background color was red, and most of them possessed black saddle markings. By selective breeding, the black saddle was bred out and the solid red dogs became known as Redbone Coonhounds. As is the case with most of the other coonhound breeds, the ancestors of the Redbone were Foxhounds.

A Bloodhound cross is said to have been made, and it's also said to account for the white chest and feet markings which still occasionally show up in Redbone pups today. The result of this mixture makes them a reliable hunting dog, as the breed's moderate size, Foxhound-ish appearance and courage are in its nature. They are used primarily for treeing coon, but can be adapted to other game, including big cats.

This hound may have been named after an early breeder, Peter Redbone of Tennessee, although much of its breeding has taken place in Georgia. The foundation stock of the modern day Redbone came from George F.L. Birdsong of Georgia, who was a noted fox hunter and breeder. He obtained the pack of Dr. Thomas Henry in the 1840s.

TREEING WALKER COONHOUND

The Treeing Walker is a descendant of the English Foxhound, which Thomas Walker imported to Virginia in 1742. Sometime in the 1800s, a dog known as "Tennessee Lead," a stolen dog of unknown origin, was crossed into the Walker Hound. He was a powerful dog, excelling in game sense, drive and speed, and having a clear, short-chop mouth. The Treeing Walker was not recognized as its own breed until 1946. This direct lineage brings us this efficient hunter.

This coonhound has retained the looks of its ancestor, the English Foxhound. An underlying sense of game coupled with untiring speed and manly drive make this coonhound unstoppable. The coonhound lineage doesn't really stop at the Walker, for American hunters also employ other varieties as well. One such coonhound is known as the Running Walker.

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is an efficient and reliable hunter of raccoons, squirrels and opossums. The Treeing Walker "trees" its prey, and can then sometimes virtually climb the tree to get at it. With a little training, however, it will merely bay its distinctive howl, telling the hunter that the prey has been cornered.
Happy, even-tempered.
Great with children.
surprisingly affectionate and pleasant sounding bark.
Loves being with people.
Bred to hunt, this breed loves to follow scent and tree quarry.
Have an 'exceptional nose' able to locate and tree raccoons faster than other coonhounds.
Alert, quick and loves to work in all kinds of weather and terrain.
Great stamina.
Has been used to trail and tree bears, cougars and bobcats.
Coonhounds love to work with their master one on one, or in packs.
Excellent water dog.
Not great with small pets, like cats and other non-canine pets/rabbits, hamsters, etc.
Can be droolers ~ some do, some don't.
Prefers good amount of exercise every day. Not a couch potato breed.
A healthy breed, but have been known to develop hip dysplasia.
All weather coat
Not great off leash ~ will take up their hunting instincts and good luck trying to keep up with them!