The Bluetick Coonhound is a fairly recent addition to the AKC, although this American breed has been around since the 1940’s. Like other coonhounds, the Bluetick is an active dog and is more commonly owned for hunting purposes than as a pet. With the right owners, however, they can be loyal and devoted companions as long as the owners realize that these are stubborn and determined animals. If not given outlets for thier strong hunting drive they can be frustrating to live with. For owners that aren’t interested in hunting, activities such as nose work and tracking can be excellent alternatives!

Blueticks require extensive regular exercise, and enjoy racing and frolicking outside with their families! They require room to do this, and don’t tend to thrive in apartment settings. When tired out, most appreciate going inside to receive attention and affection. Many Blueticks thrive off of attention in general – whether being given by adults or children. In fact, they are capable of making very good family dogs! When given enough exercise, the breed is boisterous outside but mellow inside.

Although devilishly smart (when they feel like it), the breed is headstrong and can be pushy if they do not feel like their owner is a good pack leader. Obedience training is absolutely necessary to nip this behavior in the bud! Because obedience training can be a learning curve for most people, they do not make good pets for first-time dog owners. Blueticks are often noted for being difficult to train, and almost impossible to off-leash train. It is, in fact, possible to train this breed off-leash although the owners must put a lot of work into doing so! Even the most highly trained Blueticks still require fenced yards to keep them from wandering off the property.

The Bluetick Coonhound has a very distinctive voice which he will use freely – especially if he catches wind of a racoon! This baying (like a musical howl) is quite loud and can be irritating to neighbors, although he tends to be quiet inside the house if trained while young. His hunting instincts also make him apt to chase after small (and occasionally even large) animals. Once he has caught the scent, he will be on the hunt whether you want him to or not. He does not normally do well in households with cats or small pets. 

As a pack dog, the Bluetick Coonhound doesn’t like to be alone. He prefers to have his owner in his sights at all times, whether that be sleeping at the foot of the bed or traveling in the car when his owner takes a trip. Many do not like to be left at home by themselves while the owner goes to work. There is a solution to this problem however – Blueticks have an easier time with a canine companion if they are going to be left home alone for long periods of time. If keeping a pack of several coonhounds together… just remember to keep food and trash put away. These dogs have excellent noses and are very food-driven!

For the most part, grooming a Bluetick is a breeze. Their short smooth coat requires very little upkeep – just the occasional brush out and bath. The coat sheds only very minimally. Nails and teeth need to be kept up with, of course. However it is actually the ears that need the most attention – long droopy ears can be prone to infection if not examined and cleaned on a regular basis. All-in-all, however, the breed is very hardy and resilient. A weekly ear cleaning will usually ensure that the dog will not have ear issues. These dogs are generally healthy overall and don’t tend to require expensive visits to the vet, although hip dysplasia is known to occur in some lines.

Blueticks are sensitive dogs and can be frightened of loud sounds such as thunderstorms. Their timid nature does not make them well-suited as guard dogs, and in fact they do not tend to be territorial at all anyway. Many are unsure when meeting strangers and are sometimes downright shy. Early socialization from puppyhood is the best way to keep a Bluetick Coonhound from becoming a scaredy-cat.

The Harrier is not a big Beagle or a small Foxhound, but they are all in the same family of scenthounds. Like the majority of hounds, Harriers are characteristically independent and can be incredibly stubborn when they want to be. Most of them are still bred for hunting hare and fox (their original task), which means they aren’t as suited to being house pets as many other breeds of dog. This does not mean that it is impossible to keep a Harrier as a pet, it just means that prospective owners need to know what they are getting into before buying. While it isn’t necessary to live on a ranch, apartment-dwellers should look elsewhere.

Harriers are driven by their noses most of the time (if not all of the time). They will follow an interesting scent anywhere, which means they must be kept in a fenced yard. Although they can be obedience trained, they cannot be expected to stay within the confines of an unfenced property unsupervised – their hunting instinct is far too strong. In fact, many owners find that they must secure both the top and bottom of the fence to keep the dog in! No electric fences for these dogs – Harriers will do just about anything to get to an appealing smell.

Do not let this dissuade you from training the Harrier. Just because they have some “quirks” does not mean that they cannot be trained. The breed is actually fairly intelligent and good at problem-solving. Many are also very food-motivated (although also prone to getting fat, so plan on weaning them down on treats after a while). The trick is to choose a room inside that doesn’t have many distractions, for whenever the Harrier is learning something new. Training outside can be too overwhelming to start out with, especially if there is wildlife nearby. A trainer can gradually work up to training outside but should keep it easy at first. 

It is important to give the Harrier enough exercise. Although they are laid-back in the house, they are still a fairly high-energy breed. Some people choose to keep them outside, which can be done if the dog has the company of a pack. If not being regularly hunted, however, outside-dogs also need exercise. Bred for endurance, a Harrier might tire out their owner before they get tired themselves! Biking is a great activity for them, although jogging and hiking work equally well. Whenever going out into public, however, owners should plan on being asked about their dog frequently. The Harrier is very rarely seen, and most people are curious about what they are!

The Harrier loves people and is very friendly with kids. Many will follow their owners throughout the house just because they don’t want to be alone. As a pack hound, it goes without saying that they also love other dogs and prefer to live with a companion (or several). Harriers that live completely alone, and who are also left home alone by themselves, are prone to destruction. They need someone else there in order to be happy (Please note – a cat is not the best companion as many Harriers have too high of a prey drive to live with small animals). Just because they thrive on companionship does not mean that they are especially needy or demanding, however. They like to be near others, but won’t constantly annoy and beg for attention.

These hounds enjoy making noise and will talk, sing and howl to communicate. While some owners enjoy these melodic sounds, it can be annoying to others. This is not the breed for someone looking for a quiet dog. One other habit which can be bothersome – the Harrier enjoys digging and can excavate a yard in no time. As with the noise, these tendencies are important to know if considering owning this breed.

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a large American scenthound with an easygoing personality. He can adapt to many different living situations although still requires enough exercise and care to suit his needs. Friendly and gentle with children and other pets, he is almost always in a state of happiness. Would-be owners need to be aware, however, that he takes a long time to mature and will act like a puppy for the first several years. adolescent dogs can be destructive and frustrating to live with for many people, but when you take into account that this breed can get up to 75 pounds, it’s easy to see the difficulty.

The Black & Tan is not a natural in obedience due to his independent nature, but he can be trained. As with all dog training, it is important to figure out what motivates each dog and use that to your advantage. Staying animated yourself will go a long way for many Black & Tans – if you are interesting, the game of obedience will be interesting as well! Once trained, this breed will most likely try to put their own spin on the commands.

These hounds are able to live either inside with the family or be kept as outdoor dogs in a safely fenced area. Either way, however, they need to be given enough exercise to thrive. Dogs who live outside should still be taken on walks, and there are two reasons for this. Number one: many dogs do not take advantage of their yard to fully exercise themselves, instead opting to walk around a bit and then lay down in the shade. Number two: dogs are social creatures and need human companionship and structure. Ideally, the Black & Tan would be taken on hunting expeditions so he could perform his original job of treeing raccoons!

Although capable of being outdoor dogs, most Black and Tan Coonhounds much prefer to be inside with the family and access to the couch! The breed appreciates comfort and warmth and is just as likely to curl up in a blanket as he is to steal your bed. He is not overly active and tends to nap and relax with the best of them (provided exercise needs are met, of course). Despite his easygoing nature, however, he is always up to go on a car trip and/or hike with his owner.

The short coat of the Black & Tan makes him very easy to care for, although his long ears need regular cleanings. The coat has a slightly oily texture to it, which is natural for the breed. They do also have a tendency to drool, so although they are easy to groom they might not be best for clean freaks.

Like most scenthounds, the Black & Tan has a high prey drive and will chase smaller animals. If the animal is able to get up into a tree, the Black & Tan will stay put underneath the tree and use his loud voice to alert you that he’s done his job! This can be troublesome both for the chasing part, and the barking part – prospective owners need to be aware that these traits are part of the breed.

Photo By Scraig at the English language Wikipedia

The American Foxhound is good-natured and gentle with people of all ages. His temperament is easy-going and carefree. If he was bred from show lines, he will usually be well-behaved in the house as opposed to hunting lines which may be harder to live with. However, this is highly dependent on his needs being met – most Foxhounds that don’t get enough exercise will oftentimes become destructive, no matter their bloodline. A well-exercised and well-taken care of Foxhound can theoretically live in an apartment (as long as the neighbors don’t mind howling), but few people are able to provide what he needs in order to pull it off.

Howling is normally referred to as baying when speaking about the Foxhound, and is not the normal sound most people expect. Baying is incredibly loud and melodic and is more akin to singing (very, very loudly). Foxhounds use their voices frequently and many people have a harder time dealing with it than just a normal bark. The sound will often carry farther and has the tendency to annoy neighbors several houses away. It is very important that prospective owners are aware of this fact, and are living in a situation where this won’t be a problem, less they get served with noise complaints!

Bred to work in packs, American Foxhounds are great with other dogs. There may be a scuffle or two while they work out their rank (usually seen with un-altered males), but afterward they will rarely hold grudges. They are some of the friendliest and outgoing dogs around! In fact, the breed does much better when living with others, human or canine. If the owner works long hours, a Foxhound will greatly benefit from the addition of a companion dog. Many get along fine with cats and even smaller animals, although you’d never want to leave them alone with a very small pet (like a hamster).

Having a fenced yard is highly recommended so that they can run free on a regular basis. They are very unlikely to stick by the house if the yard isn’t fenced because of their high prey drive, so this is a safety concern. Hounds in general are not known for following obedience commands blindly, and if they had the choice between sniffing out a rabbit or coming to your call… they will usually choose the former. Since these athletic hounds can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, they need to be kept on a leash when not in a fenced yard. If well-secured by means of a fence, the Foxhound is one of the few breeds that is okay living outside… as long as they have companionship.

Incredibly stubborn when they want to be, Foxhounds are not the first choice for people who want a very obedient dog. This is not to say that they cannot be trained, only that their independent nature doesn’t lend itself well to following orders. This said, obedience training is an important part of dog ownership and a factor that should never be skipped. Not only does training help you to bond with your dog, but it sets down boundaries and limits, and ultimately leads to respect. With this goal in mind (and a lot of patience), keep persevering and you will begin to see progress!

American Foxhounds have a lot of energy that will need to be expended, particularly those bred from hunting lines. While show-line hounds can be okay with a vigorous jog or two every day, most hounds from hunting lines need to live in very specific situations in order to be happy. Those dogs need to be out running almost all day in order to wear them out, and ideally they should be taken out to hunt on a very regular basis. If thinking about purchasing a Foxhound as a pet (and not a hunting dog), it is almost always recommended to buy from show lines.

Photo CC BY-SA 3.0

The English Foxhound is an old scenthound breed that is sociable and friendly with everyone. Sweet-natured and gentle, this British breed is not generally kept as a pet. He is known more for being a hunting dog – in fact, many people are familiar with the sketches and oil paintings depicting packs of hounds pursuing foxes. But as far as being kept as a housedog or a pet… he is one of the fewest registered breeds in America. As of last year (2015), he was ranked dead last.

The English Foxhound is first and foremost a hunting dog, and has the instincts to back it up. However, being bred to work in packs with many dogs, he does not generally show aggression to members of his own species. This breed actually prefers to be around other dogs and, if raised in a pack, doesn’t necessarily need his owners to be around 24-7. This does not mean that he isn’t an affectionate dog… in fact he can be very affectionate. English Foxhounds love all people, and this includes kids. It just means that he probably won’t have separation anxiety issues if you leave him at home with your other dogs. That said, if he is the only dog in the household and he is left home alone, he might get bored and destructive.

Because he was bred to be athletic and have plenty of stamina, he does demand a lot of exercise! If he is given enough, however, he will be calm and content in the house. It is important to emphasize the word “house” here – this is definitely not an apartment dog! The English Foxhound does best in a home with a person who is very active themselves, and who enjoys playful, exuberant dogs. They also fit in well with an owners who rides horses, and who would enjoy some company during the ride!

His active nature combined with his stubborn temperament does not make him a good fit for a first-time dog owner. In fact, it is best for a would-be owner to have experience with scenthounds in general as they tend to have a very “different” attitude to life in general than the more-common breeds. One of the main scenthound features is an extremely high prey drive – the hunting instinct is so high that curbing their tendencies to chase will take an enormous amount of training. That training must be maintained throughout their lives and most English Foxhounds will need to be on-leash all the time unless safely secured in a fenced area. Also, this breed always has their nose to the ground, and they will wander right out of an unfenced yard in seconds.

One other common scenthound (and therefore English Foxhound) feature is their incredibly loud voice. This was an important trait for the hunt in that hunters needed to be able to hear their dogs as they took chase after a fox… but can be aggravating for owners and neighbors. They don’t so much bark as they “bay” and howl. Very. Very Loudly. It may be best to live further out in the country to keep from making enemies of your neighbors, if you are thinking of buying an English Foxhound. On the plus side, however, their bark may deter house invaders as their voice is a natural burglar alarm!

Finally, English Foxhounds might chase after your cat or small pets. They do best in homes with other dogs but no small animals. One must always keep in mind their prey drive. This said, the breed can be raised with cats from puppyhood and have a better chance of “doing well”, although supervision is often recommended.

This hunting breed was bred to think independently and therefore can be rather stubborn when it comes to obedience training. They can be trained, however, and if given enough incentive (through praise, motivation and food) prove to be quite biddable!

Besides their active lifestyles, care of an English Foxhound can be easy. Grooming is very simple as their short single coat only needs a quick brush down occasionally. The breed is considered exceptionally healthy and rarely needs special medical care. Also, unlike many breeds, they are amiable to living outside… as long as they have another dog (or two, or more) to live with. If they are an only dog, they should be kept inside so that the human members of the family can provide a surrogate pack.

Photo By Flickr user Thowra_uk

The Treeing Walker Coonhound, often confused with the American Foxhound, shares the same ancestry as its lookalike cousin although has a different hunting style and different personality traits. Walkers are also more popular, both as a hunter and as a pet. They are currently the most popular of all coonhound breeds.

Walkers are, first and foremost, hunting dogs. This does not suggest that they aren’t adept as pets and companions, but rather gives an idea to a would-be owner about what they are like to live with. If given the opportunity, most Treeing Walkers would chase after a raccoon or squirrel rather than obey their owner’s command to “come”. Although they are certainly trainable, their high prey drive will often overpower their willingness to listen. Because they are also courageous and intense dogs who might put themselves in danger while pursuing prey, it is the owner’s responsibility to keep them safe and never put them in dangerous situations. All of that said – this is not to say that Walkers cannot be trained under high distraction, only that it will take considerable work and consistency before they will be able to work obedience reliably if there are raccoons running around!

When in the house, however, Walkers are generally very easy-going dogs that are polite and easy to live with. Whereas they are alert and energetic outside, most are much more relaxed and calm in the house (provided that they have received enough exercise). Most of them enjoy laying on soft beds or couches, and generally putting in a lot of hours of “couch potato time”. They enjoy humans, especially their owners, and get along well with children. Furthermore, they also do very well with other dogs both in and outside their home. Surprisingly, despite their hunting background, many also live happily with cats.

Exercise should always include plenty of time to run around in a fenced area. Walkers have a lot of endurance and many will spend their time looking for things to hunt! The fence is vitally important unless the dog is highly trained and an owner is always there to supervise. Very few Walkers are trained to this level, and therefore a fence is usually required for their own safety. Some will be fine with a 6 foot fence, but others can scale this height and may need something higher or a modification on the top to keep them from getting out. Back to exercise – in addition to this free time to run around, Walkers must also be given regular walks, jogs and hikes so that they will be sufficiently conditioned both physically as well as mentally.

Walkers are quite smart dogs, but because they are also independent they may be slightly tricky to train. Many are master manipulators! They are intelligent enough to understand what is being asked of them but also smart enough to know how to “trick the system”. A trainer needs to stay on his/her toes while working with this breed, as well as keeping everything as consistent as possible. As they are also a sensitive breed, they learn best with praise and non-harsh corrections.

It should be noted that Walkers also use their smarts in everyday living as well, such as learning how to escape from inside crates or behind gates! Many Treeing Walkers covet certain toys or objects. If they decide that they like something, they may decide to grab it and take it back to their “nest” to add to their collection. This is one idiosyncrasy that could either be endearing or annoying, depending on which objects they try to hoard. It is very important not to let them become possessive of anything they steal, in particular food. Yes – they will use their powerful nose to sniff out food, and their intellect to obtain in by whatever means necessary. It is important to establish rules from a young age to prevent this behavior, as well as keep in mind that this is a breed trait that will undoubtably show up from time to time even in the best behaved of dogs.

Walkers make great watchdogs as their voices are particularly loud! This comes directly from their history, as their job was to alert the hunters once they had treed prey. Their bark/howl needed to be loud enough that hunters could hear even if they were a distance away. If an intruder breaks into their house, however, they will not attack. Looking for a dog trainer for your Treeing Walker Coonhound? If you are in the Austin, TX area give us a call today!

“Treeing Walker Coonhound”. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The American English Coonhound is rarely seen as a pet, rather he is primarily owned as a hunting dog. However, his loyal nature and easy-going attitude make him an excellent pet for even first-time dog owners, provided they understand his needs.

Because most English Coonhounds are still bred to work, the breed has a lot of energy and requires extensive exercise. They normally do not do well as apartment dogs. That said, they still retain a fairly mellow personality when in the house or on a walk. In particular, they love to “nest” under blankets and sleep on beds and couches.

The breed gets along well with children. They are also friendly and social not only with people, but with other dogs as well. Because they were bred to work in packs, it was a necessary trait to only breed those individuals who got along well with one another. A fight breaking out during a hunt would be unacceptable. Although good with other canines, many are not safe with cats because of their high prey drive. Very tiny dogs also might present a problem as English Coonhounds might not recognize something so small as a dog, and instead associate it with prey. Caution must be taken when introducing them.

As puppies, English Coonhounds can be particularly destructive, usually because they are so curious about the world and just want to deconstruct everything to see how stuff works! Even when adults, they will continue to chew up objects unless trained not to. The breed can  (and will) get into everything, which means a combination of obedience training, exercise, as well as correct household management.

Finally, some English Coonhounds are prone to separation anxiety and hate to be left home alone. This can also contribute to destructive behavior. While a dog should never be allowed to engage in such behavior, it is important to understand that this breed needs human companionship, and it is not fair to own one if you work very long hours.

As far as training goes, the breed can be hard-headed and stubborn, which makes them more of a challenge to train than other dogs. They can also be easily distracted, especially by interesting smells. The trick is to build upon to their desire to please, which already exists naturally in them. A good dose of patience will also go a long way! English Coonhounds are intelligent creatures, but “syncing” with them doesn’t always come easy (or fast).

Like many scenthounds, English Coonhounds have very loud voices which they tend to use freely, especially to howl. This is great for those who want watchdogs, but not so great for people who value silence. It should also be noted that although they are good watchdogs, they are not guard dogs because they love people too much!

Many English Coonhounds have their noses to the ground more often than not, especially when they are outside. Their sense of smell is incredible and they always have hunting on their minds. For this reason, they must always be kept inside fenced areas or else on a leash. Otherwise, their hunting drive will take over and they will wander off very quickly. The breed is known as being escape artists, so make sure that fences are secure. English Coonhounds can jump over, dig under, and open badly-latched gates!

The Bloodhound is not named so because he is a “bloodthirsty” dog, in fact he is one of the gentler breeds in dogdom today. The name actually comes from the expression “blooded hound”, which basically means pure-blood or purebred. Actually, they love being with their people and want to be included whenever possible. Those looking for a guard dog will not find those qualities in a Bloodhound as they love people too much. They are generally very good with children but because of their size and their activity level, many do not make good companions for very small children. Most Bloodhounds are great with other dogs, having to do with the fact that they were bred to hunt in packs.

Not surprisingly, the Bloodhound has the greatest sense of smell of any breed. It is true that he is still used today with Police and Search and Rescue organizations to find lost people, pets, and property. This nose can be a curse as well as a blessing, however. Potential owners must never let their dog off leash in an unfenced area as a Bloodhound will soon follow his nose toward the most interesting smell he can find, regardless of traffic or other dangers. A six foot fence is recommended at home for this same reason, secured tightly as they can be escape artists.

Bloodhounds can be supremely stubborn dogs, which can make training more difficult than with other breeds. Part of this stubbornness comes from the fact that they are very independent, a feature of many scenthounds. Bred to work in packs and be self-sufficient while out on a hunt, the stubborn dogs were actually preferred because they could get the job done out of pure willfulness. While great for hunting, this feature is not so great for easy training. Patience is key, as well as keeping the training interesting enough to elicit their natural curiosity. Using enticing rewards can also help motivate a particularly willful dog.

These dogs do need exercise, but it should be mentioned that while they are growing, puppies shouldn’t be made to exercise more than their joints can handle. This is the case for most giant-large breeds with a lot of bone (substance). As far as how much exercise your Bloodhound will need once he is grown, that is highly dependent upon the individual dog. Older Bloodhounds require little activity, but most young adults are in the range of “moderate – quite a substantial amount”. It is best to choose a dog from a line with the type of energy that you want so you can have a compatible companion. This is where it becomes very important to talk with breeders and meet their dogs.

Just as Bloodhounds differ in terms of energy, they can also differ greatly in other aspects such as dominance and drive. Most families will want to look for a low-drive, lower energy dog with a calm temperament (this might mean purchasing a slightly older dog, as their exercise needs will decrease with age). Only people who are both prepared for, and experienced with, high drive dogs should seek out these traits.

As puppies and through the young adult stages, Bloodhounds can be destructive. Not only do they need plenty of supervision to keep them from being mischievous, but also need house rules, exercise, and games to keep their minds busy. What type of destruction are they capable of? Digging in the yard, grabbing/eating non-edible objects in the home, chewing furniture, stealing food, and climbing on furniture just to name a few. Grabbing your stuff and carrying them around is another favorite pastime. Add in the fact that they are incredibly smart and can figure out how to open doors or use the ice machine on your fridge, and you can see that Bloodhounds will keep their owners very busy!

For those that stick through it, all the while administering fair rules and discipline, Bloodhounds can be trained to compete in all sorts of events! Rally, trailing, dock diving, obedience, tracking, agility, coursing (for those with a chase instinct), barn hunt, conformation, and therapy work are but a few of the areas you can have fun with dog in. Just know that even if training is difficult, the results will pay off in the end! As some Bloodhounds can be dominant and/or possessive, house rules are very important so even if you do not train your dog in formal obedience, he should be taught “the basics”.

Because they are such large dogs, Bloodhounds can be expensive to feed when they are growing as they will go through a lot of food. Some might go through a picky stage while teenagers, but overall will still eat more than most dogs. They are also known to be droolers. This is at its worst when you are preparing their dinner, although they definitely drool a good portion of the time. Experienced owners keep hand towels throughout the house to wipe drooly mouths. Bloodhound drool can reach the ceiling with a good head shake, so potential owners must be comfortable with this fact!

Despite their short coats, there still is some grooming to take care of on a regular basis. Bloodhounds do shed and need to be kept brushed out on a regular basis. Their eyes, ears, and wrinkles must also be cleaned on a daily basis.