Bluetick Coonhound

The bluetick coonhound is an American scent hound developed for trailing and treeing raccoons, with roots in French and English hound stock used in the southern United States. Its name comes from the dark blue appearance of dense black ticking on a white coat, usually with black patches and tan points. A strong muzzle, deep chest, long ears, and ringing bawl or chop voice mark it as a true hound built to follow scent over rough country. Some lines are bred for competition hunts, while others remain practical farm and pleasure hunting dogs.

Life with a bluetick requires respect for its nose and voice. Secure fencing, reliable leash habits, and realistic expectations about recall are important, because many will leave to follow game if given the chance. These dogs usually enjoy people and other dogs, but they need enough exercise and scent work to prevent frustration. The short coat is simple to brush; ears and feet deserve attention after hunts or wet walks. Breeders commonly discuss hunting style, track speed, treeing accuracy, and mouth, so a companion buyer should ask whether a litter's background matches household life as well as field performance.

Colors: Apricot, Bicolor, Black, Black and Tan, Black and White, Black Mask, Blue, Blue and Tan, Blue Merle, Blue Roan, Blue Tick, Blue Ticked, Blue Ticked and Black, Brindle, Brown, Brown and Tan, Brown and White, Chocolate, Cream, Dapple, Domino, Fawn, Fawn and White, Gold, Gray, Harlequin, Irish Marked, Liver, Liver Mask, Mantle, Mask, Merle, Mottled, Parti-Color, Piebald, Red, Red and White, Red Merle, Red Roan, Red Tick, Reverse Brindle, Roan, Sable, Saddle, Silver, Speckled, Spotted, Tan, Ticked, Tricolor, Tuxedo, White, Yellow