Bluetick Coonhound

The Bluetick Coonhound is an American scenthound bred in the South to trail and tree raccoons, instantly recognizable by the dense black ticking on a white coat that gives the breed its glossy, navy-blue appearance. Sleek, muscular, and built for speed and stamina, the Bluetick is what hunters call a 'cold-nosed' hound — capable of unraveling old, faint scent trails that other dogs walk past — and announces its finds with the deep, drawn-out bawl that is the soundtrack of Southern night hunting.

At home, the Bluetick is a different dog entirely: sweet, affectionate, and devoted, happiest snoozing in the shade after a day outdoors. The breed is the official state dog of Tennessee and the inspiration for the University of Tennessee's mascot, and it earned full American Kennel Club recognition in 2009. For active families who can channel the prey drive and live with the music, the Bluetick is a charming, loyal companion with deep American roots.

The Bluetick Coonhound descends principally from the quick English Foxhounds brought to colonial America, crossed with big-game French hounds famous for their cold noses — staghounds of the Grand Bleu de Gascogne type. George Washington himself received five such French hounds as a gift from General Lafayette, and dogs of this breeding entered the foundation stock of the American coonhounds. Southern hunters selectively bred for a slower, colder-nosed hound that could work old trails over difficult country, and the distinctive ticked blue dogs became a recognized type.

Blueticks were originally registered by the United Kennel Club under the English Coonhound umbrella. In 1946, at the request of Bluetick fanciers who wanted to preserve their larger, colder-nosed style of hound rather than follow the trend toward faster, hot-nosed dogs, the UKC began registering the Bluetick as a separate breed. The American Kennel Club granted full recognition in 2009, placing the breed in the Hound Group. Tennessee has made the Bluetick its official state dog, and 'Smokey,' the University of Tennessee's live mascot, has made the breed a beloved Southern icon.

The Bluetick is a speedy, well-muscled hound with a neat, well-proportioned body — never clumsy or chunky — a glossy coat, and the classic pleading hound expression. Males stand 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh 55 to 80 pounds; females are noticeably smaller at 21 to 25 inches and 45 to 65 pounds. The head is carried up, the long ears are set low and reach toward the nose, and the feet are compact and cat-like — among the largest paws of any breed relative to size.

The signature coat is moderately coarse, short, and glossy: black ticking over white so dense it reads as navy blue, often with black spots on the back, ears, and sides, and black predominating on the head and ears. Dogs may come 'with markings' — tan points above the eyes, on the muzzle, chest, and legs — or in plain black-ticked white. A ticked blaze running up the face is typical.

Blueticks are friendly, devoted, and affectionate dogs with a sweet, even temperament around their people. They are pack hounds by heritage and genuinely sociable — typically excellent with other dogs and welcoming with friendly strangers after an initial announcement. With their family they are loving to the point of clinginess, and many are champion couch hounds once exercised.

On a scent, however, the Bluetick is relentless, bold, and single-minded. The prey drive is enormous and non-negotiable: a Bluetick that catches an interesting smell will follow it with total disregard for traffic, distance, or a shouting owner. They are also among the most vocal of all breeds — the deep bawl mouth that makes them superb night hunters makes them a poor match for noise-sensitive neighbors. Cats and small pets are risky companions unless the dog is raised with them from puppyhood.

Training a Bluetick takes patience and humor. These are intelligent dogs, but their intelligence was bred for independent problem-solving on a trail at 2 a.m., not for obedience drills. Expect a hound that learns quickly, then weighs whether complying is worth its while. Short, upbeat, food-driven sessions work far better than repetition; harsh corrections shut them down.

Recall is the hard truth of coonhound ownership: off-leash reliability is never guaranteed with a scenthound of this caliber, so a leash or a fenced area is a lifelong rule, not a training failure. Channel the nose instead of fighting it — AKC scent work, tracking, coonhound field events, and long sniff-heavy walks satisfy the instinct and tire the dog far more effectively than physical exercise alone. Crate training and early socialization round out a sensible program.

Blueticks are generally very good with children — patient, playful, and tolerant, with the easy-going affection typical of pack hounds. They tend to attach strongly to the kids of their household and enjoy backyard games as much as hunting. Standard supervision rules apply: an adolescent Bluetick is a strong, exuberant 60-to-80-pound dog that can flatten a toddler in play, and food-guarding around small children should be trained against early. Their sociable pack nature also means they typically do well in multi-dog households, which suits busy family life.

The Bluetick Coonhound is a generally hardy, sound breed. The main concerns are orthopedic and ear-related: hip dysplasia occurs in the breed, so both parents should have OFA hip clearances, and the long, low-set ears trap moisture and debris, making chronic ear infections the most common day-to-day problem — weekly cleaning prevents most of it. As a deep-chested breed, Blueticks carry a real risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus); owners should know the symptoms, feed two or more smaller meals daily, and discuss preventive options with their vet. Some lines see luxating patellas and cataracts. A condition called coonhound paralysis (acute polyradiculoneuritis) is associated with raccoon contact, though it is rare. Typical lifespan is 11 to 12 years.

The Bluetick is an easy keeper in the house and a demanding one outdoors. The ideal home has a securely fenced yard — and 'securely' matters, because a Bluetick on a scent will test fences, and their nose will lead them miles from home. Suburban and rural homes suit them best; apartment life is possible only with an exceptional exercise commitment and tolerant neighbors, given the voice. They are people-oriented dogs that do poorly left alone for long days — boredom plus loneliness equals baying the neighborhood. Routine care centers on the ears (weekly checks and cleaning), nails every few weeks, dental care, and keeping the dog lean through measured feeding.

Coat care is minimal: brush the short, glossy coat once a week with a rubber curry or hound glove to lift dead hair and distribute skin oils, and bathe occasionally — hounds carry a mild 'houndy' odor that regular brushing keeps in check. Shedding is moderate. The real grooming work is the ears: clean the long drop ears weekly with a vet-approved solution and check them after every swim or romp through brush, because trapped moisture leads quickly to infection. Add monthly nail trims and regular tooth brushing.

Plan on at least an hour to ninety minutes of real exercise daily — brisk leashed walks, jogging, hiking, and free running in a securely fenced area. What Blueticks crave most is nose work: tracking games, scent trails in the yard, sniff-heavy exploration walks, or organized coonhound and scent-work events tire them more thoroughly than mileage alone. A bored, under-exercised Bluetick becomes a vocal, destructive escape artist; a well-exercised one is a famously mellow housemate.

Feed a high-quality dog food matched to age and workload — roughly 2.5 to 3 cups daily split into at least two meals for a typical adult, more for dogs that hunt. Never feed one large daily meal: as a deep-chested breed at risk of bloat, Blueticks should eat smaller, calmer meals with exercise avoided for an hour afterward. Hounds are notorious food thieves and gain weight easily in pet homes, so measure portions, secure the trash, and keep treats inside the daily ration. Large-breed puppy formula supports sound joint growth.

Bluetick Coonhound puppies in the US typically cost $500 to $1,200, with price driven by pedigree, markings, and whether the parents are proven in the field or the show ring. Pups from titled hunting lines or AKC champion stock can run higher, while prices in the breed's Southeastern heartland (Tennessee, the Carolinas) often start around $400. Coonhound rescues are active across the country, with adoption fees usually $50 to $300. Ongoing costs are moderate: the coat is cheap to maintain, but budget for ear-care supplies and food for a large, athletic dog.

Buy from a breeder who does more than produce pretty ticked puppies. Ask for OFA hip clearances on both parents, an eye exam, and a clear answer on what the breeder is breeding for — field ability, show conformation, or family companions — because drive levels vary between lines and a competition-grade hunting Bluetick is a lot of dog for a pet home. Membership in the breed's parent club or registration with the AKC and UKC are good signs.

Meet the dam, check that puppies are raised with household socialization, and ask about bloat and ear-infection history in the line. Be realistic about the voice and the prey drive before committing — they are features of the breed, not training faults. You can find Bluetick Coonhound puppies from breeders on Lancaster Puppies' Bluetick Coonhound listings page.