black-and-tan coonhound

Black and Tan Coonhound

Other names	American Black and Tan Coonhound
Country of origin	United States
Traits
Classification & standards FCI Group 6 Section 1 #300 standard AKC Hound standard CKC Group 2 - Hounds standard UKC Scenthound Breeds standard

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog used principally for trailing and treeing raccoon. It's a cross between the Bloodhound, and the Black And Tan Virginia Foxhound. The Black and Tan Coonhound runs its game entirely by scent. The courage of the Coonhound also make it proficient on the hunt for deer, bear, cougar and other big game, although many US states are restricting the hunting of antlered animals with dogs. The general impression is that of power, agility and alertness, with the ability to cover ground swiftly with powerful rhythmic strides. Each hound has its own distinctive voice which is often recognizable to its owners from great distance.

Description

Appearance

A Black and Tan Coonhound

The breed standard for Black and Tan Coonhounds is as follows:

• Eyes are hazel to brown
• Ears are extremley long, wide, and thin, set low and far back on the dog's head, hanging well down the neck.
• Their black and tan markings are similar to the Doberman Pinscher and the Rottweiler but have key distinguishing differences from these breeds. The most prominent are the long tails and ears, and their loud, baying bark.
• Legs are long in proportion to the body length, muscular and finely modelled.
• The tail is set slightly below the natural line of the back, strongly tapered, and carried at a right angle, when the dog is alert or excited.

• 23 to 27 inches (58 to 69 cm) at the shoulder
• 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) head (back of skull to tip of nose)
• 65 to 130 pounds (29 to 59 kg)
• Males are typically larger and heavier boned than females.

Health

Generally healthy, but there is some risk of hip dysplasia, ear cancer and other ear infections, and eye problems.

Temperament

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The Black and Tan Coonhound is a gentle, adaptable, and lovable dog. Many are easygoing and people-friendly, and the Black and Tan Coonhound is happiest when performing the work it has been bred for. Easily distracted by their incredible sense of smell, these dogs require patient handling and encouragement. Though most are trusting and sweet-natured, Black and Tan puppies require a fair amount of encouragement to boost their confidence, especially when living indoors as pets. Black and Tan Coonhounds are happy to be couch-potatoes when given plenty of exercise, and they enjoy the company of their human family. Black and Tans may seem cautious or nervous around strangers or unfamiliar dogs, but will socialize well with time, as they are bred to hunt and work in packs. They don’t become senior citizens until about ten years old, and will be active, fun-loving buddies for their first decade.^[1]

The nose of the Black and Tan Coonhound will often lead it to trouble, and it must therefore be kept on leash when outdoors. When tracking, the Coonhound may work methodically, but the untrained and off-leash Coonhound will sometimes race off after a scent. Patient training is essential.

The Black and Tan is best known as a raccoon hunter, the breed has also been used very successfully to hunt other types of game such as bear, stag, opossum, deer and mountain lion - even on difficult terrain. It withstands well the rigors of winter as well as intense heat. Some of the Black and Tan Coonhound talents include hunting, tracking, watchdogging, and agility. Black and Tan Coonhounds are the only breed officially recognized as Coonhounds by the American Kennel Club.

This breed drools and slobbers, a trait that can be troublesome. This breed is not well-suited for someone who is looking for a quiet dog; Black and Tan Coonhounds, like all coonhounds, are quite vocal and will bark and howl often.

Black and Tan Coonhounds are effective at warning their owners when a stranger enters the yard. Their bark sounds threatening to strangers, but they are unlikely to actually bite unless they sense danger or they or their pack are threatened.

Though not seen frequently in urban areas, they enjoy popularity in rural areas. It is said that coonhounds are found on the porch of more rural homes in the United States than any other breed. While that is not a statistical fact, their place on the AKC registered breeds list ranks them as one of the more popular breeds.

History

The Black & Tan Coonhound is descended from the Talbot hound, found in medieval England after the eleventh century. Its ancestry is then traced through the Bloodhound and the Foxhound to the Virginia Foxhound, commonly called the "black and tan".^[2][3]

In 1945, the Black & Tan became the only one of the six varieties of Coonhound to be recognized in the Hound Group by the American Kennel Club.^[4] The Redbone Coonhound and the Plott Hound have since been recognized in the Miscellaneous Class. The other three varieties of Coonhound are the Bluetick Coonhound, the English Coonhound, and the Treeing Walker Coonhound.

References

1. ^ 2
2. ^ Clark, Ross D. DVM, and Joan R. Stainer. Medical & Genetic Aspects of Purebreed Dogs. Fairway, Kansas: Forum Publications, Inc, 1994.
3. ^ American Kennel Club The Complete Dog Book 18th Edition New York, New York: Howell Book House, 1992.
4. ^ American Kennel Club - Black and Tan Coonhound History

1. American Kennel Club - Black & Tan Coonhound History

2. Choosing a Dog for Life by De Prisco and Johnson (ISBN 0-7938-2087-1) T.F.H. Publications Inc.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

External links

• American Black And Tan Coonhound Association
• American Black And Tan Coonhound Rescue