Breed Spotlight: The Bluetick Coonhound

12 Apr Breed Spotlight: The Bluetick Coonhound

Among those who come to us looking for raccoon hunting supplies, like the Garmin Astro 320 or the Dogtra Pathfinder, the Bluetick Hound is always a popular breed.

The American Kennel Club describes the Bluetick Coonhound as “smart, devoted, tenacious.”

“The sleekly beautiful Bluetick Coonhound is a sweet and affectionate charmer who might enjoy snoozing in the shade, but in pursuit of quarry he is relentless, bold, and single-minded. His off-the-charts prey drive must be channeled,” they say.

Bluetick traits to look for:

• Compact body
• Sleek coat
• Clear, bright eyes
• The head and tail should be held high when moving
• Males can reach 80 pounds
• Well-muscled but not in a bulky way (think Olympic swimmer versus weightlifter!)
• Known for their speed
• Their bark is described as chopping, baying or bawling
• Nocturnal hunters
• Their coats are patterned with black and blue mottled coloration
• Sports droopy ears

The AKC says that Bluetick Hounds have a charm all their own that is hard to resist. “They crave affection and are deeply devoted to those who provide it,” they say, which may have you thinking that they will make a good family dog, but there is more to this dog than a big heart.

“Blueticks have tremendous prey drive,” the experts at the AKC point out. “Neglected, underemployed coonhounds with no outlet for their hardwired impulses can develop problem behaviors, like serenading the neighbors with loud, mournful ‘music.’.”

The History of the Bluetick Hound

All coonhound breeds were developed in the good old U.S. of A. and the Bluetick is no exception. According to the AKC, “Bluetick bloodlines are said to extend back to before the founding of the country, specifically to French staghounds given to George Washington as a gift from his great friend, the Marquis de Lafayette.”

Fred Gipson, who wrote “Old Yeller,” was a fan of the breed. He said called them a “big, bell-voiced hound with a nose that can pick up a week-old trail.”

If you have a Bluetick Coonhound and are looking for training equipment or raccoon hunting supplies, we would be happy to help you. Give us a call at 252-795-5000.