Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
The Black and Tan Coonhounds are large and athletic dogs who like working during the night.
They are easygoing dogs who love the company of people. This is an all-American breed with a sensitive nose and long ears.
This breed is strong, with 27 inches standing at the shoulder and having up to 110 pounds, with males being slightly bigger than females.
Coonhounds tend to live between 10 to 12 years, and during that period, they will spend every day being active and sharing some funny moments with their humans.
This breed is a cross between the Bloodhound and the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound.
They do shed and have a famous ‘houndy’ odor, so if you are not ok with this you might rethink this breed as your next pet. However, if the odor isn’t an issue for you, you will love to hear that this breed is easy to groom.
They may be called Coonhounds, but Black and Tans can also hunt other game, including deer, mountain lions, and bears. This won’t stop them from chasing a squirrel or any other smaller animal.
Quick Facts
Real name: Black and Tan Coonhound
Other names: American Black and Tan Coonhound
Origin: States
Breed type: Hound Dogs
Weight: 75 to 100 pounds
Height: 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
Litter Size: 6 – 8 puppies
Color: Black and tan
Coat: Dense and short coat
Black and Tan Coonhound History
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a popular American breed, that many see as a hero within the canine and human world.
Did you know that Black and Tan Coonhound is one of few all-American breeds?
It’s still not sure, but dog lovers believe that Foxhounds and Bloodhounds were used to create this breed. At least, these two breeds were in the mix for sure.
Coonhounds mostly came from the Talbot Hound, the hunting dog used mostly by nobles fat than thousand years ago.
Dog fanciers agree on one thing – this breed is the direct ancestor of the English Foxhound.
One look at this breed is enough to see just how much of foxhound, this breed got. They have identical sizes, colors, long ears, and famous scenting skills.
Originally, the Black and Tan Coonhound was bred to tree raccoons and possums, but that didn’t stop him from chasing the bigger game.
The AKC recognized the breed in 1945. Although Coonhound comes with many talents and amazing features, this breed is yet to reach a high level of popular companion dogs.
Black and Tan Coonhound Physical Appearance
The Black and Tan Coonhound was bred to be a working dog and he is built as such.
As expected, males are larger than females. They are commonly between 75 to 100 pounds, with a height between 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder.
Females are commonly between 23 to 25 inches at the shoulder. Eyes are usually hazel to dark brown and usually have a round shape.
Ears are set low, while the neck is strong and muscular. The coat is short but dense.
As for the colors you can expect to see a dog of the coal-black coat with tan markings above eyes. Overall movement should be light, easy, and graceful.
Black and Tan Coonhound Personality
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a dog who was bred to hunt, and as such to work closely with other dogs.
In fact, they were bred to work closely with other hounds. This is why they enjoy spending so much time with other dogs.
Coonhounds are fond of people, but they will always be reserved toward strangers. They are never shy, but they may be reserved.
This dog may be a bit stubborn, which is why they need an experienced dog owner with a firm hand.
Like any other breed, this breed will thrive only on positive reinforcement training methods. They shouldn’t experience any type of harsh training methods.
If you don’t have experience as a dog owner, you might think about getting a breed that is more suitable for first time dog owners. As a true hound, this breed is among the best tracking dogs, which is something to take into consideration when it comes to training and personality.
Black and Tan Coonhound With Children
Black and Tan Coonhounds are usually great with children.
Still, children should know how to behave around dogs and know basic dog house rules.
It’s imperative to never leave children and dogs unsupervised. This way you will prevent any unwanted behavior, like ear-biting, or tail pulling.
No matter how friendly a dog might be, they can still react fast when feeling scared. They can get along nicely with cats and even rabbits if raised together.
Black and Tan Coonhound Training
As with all breeds, training should start as soon as you bring your puppy home. Even if you’re adopting an adult dog, there is still a lot of space for training. Even an older dog can learn new tricks.
Black and Tan Coonhounds are intelligent dogs who are devoted to their tasks. They thrive when there is a job to be done, and nothing excites them more than reward.
Coonhounds are fast learners, and once they learn something they will memorize it for the rest of their lives. This is why it’s so important to teach them proper commands and tricks.
Did you know that dogs can learn basic commands
as of eight weeks of age? This is why the socialization period is so important.
During this period dogs actually learn how to be dogs, and socialization serves to prepare them the best way possible.
Make sure that you have enough training toys on hand, know how to organize training sessions, and provide enough rewards when a trick is well-performed.
To make training successful keep it:
- Consistent
- Fun
- Short
- Packed with treats
If you feel that you need extra help during training sessions, make sure that you search for a professional dog trainer. Moreover, search for someone who has experience training Black and Tan Coonhounds – this way you will get maximum results for a minimal time.
Black and Tan Coonhound Grooming
Black and Tan Coonhounds always come with a short and dense coat.
There are two big factors with this coat:
- It is easy to groom
- It will shed a lot
To keep his coat in order and to provide the best possible appearance, you will need the right grooming tools.
If you are not sure what grooming tools to use, talk to a professional in a pet store, or with your veterinarian.
If you need extra help, think about hiring a professional dog groomer. This may be pricey a bit, but it will save you time and energy. Otherwise, you should brush your Black and Tan Coonhound once a week to keep his coat clean, shiny, and healthy.
Pro tip: Use a medium-bristle brush, or a rubber grooming mitt ot tool.
Don’t avoid brushing your Black and Tan Coonhound completely. Brushing is a bonding experience and something that will make the bond with your dog stronger.
Dogs thrive on body language and brushing will only communicate that you love spending time with him, that you care.
You should trim or grind his nails monthly, and bathe only when needed. Dogs don’t need frequent bathing as humans do.
When brushing, make sure that you check the skin for any sign of fleas or skin infection.
Black and Tan Coonhound Health
As working dogs, the Black and Tan Coonhounds are dogs of great stamina and endurance. This is what often makes them labeled as healthy dogs.
Like all dogs, they may develop certain conditions in the long run, due to various factors.
However, so far its known that certain conditions are more present in this breed than others are, including:
- Cataracts
- Thyroid issues
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
If your veterinarian recommends it, brush your dog’s teeth. In that case, make sure that you are using toothpaste specially designed for dogs.
Recommended health tests for this breed are:
- Hip Evaluation
- Cardiac Exam
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
To be sure that you are getting a healthy Black and Tan Coonhound, make sure that you deal with responsible breeders only.
This way you will know the exact health condition of your pup. Reputable breeders will always present you with medical documentation on the breed, let you meet the bitch, and show you the facilities.
Responsible breeders will also ask you a lot of questions to make sure that you are the best fit for the dog.
Plus, they will tell you that if a huge obstacle ever appears, to return the dog to them.
This is why so many animal shelters are packed with purebreds. It’s a very humane thing to do – to check shelters first, and think about adoption first before you buy.
You will be surprised to learn just how many purebred dogs can be found in shelters.
Is Black and Tan Coonhound For You?
Coonhounds are hard-working dogs, of soft nature, and an easygoing attitude. They are not suitable for first time dog owners, not even when they are well-exercised.
On the other hand, they are great for experienced dog owners, who have experience working with medium to large dogs of higher energy.
If you have a multi-pet home, fear not, because Coonhounds are great with other dogs.
If you want a dog:
- Who is medium to large in size
- Comes with a short coat
- Has an impressive energy levels
- Loves people and other dogs
A Coonhound may be a breed to think about.
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