Introducing the Bluetick Coonhound Breed

In the early 1900's the English Coonhound became the third hound to be recognized by the United Kennel Club. In 1946 the Bluetick broke away from the English Coonhound breed, becoming seen as a separate breed from that of the blue-ticked English hound. In the 1970's the breed separated again, this time with the American Blue Gascon Hound becoming it's own breed. While the Gascon Hound is very similar to the Bluetick in appearance, the Gascon Hound is a much larger hound, has a longer life expectancy and a less "stubborn" animal, just to name a few differences.

As his name indicates, the Bluetick hound is a dark "blue" color with a ticked (or mottled) body. The blue color should be dominant. He should also have small tan markings, known as pumpkin seeds, over his eyes and tan coloring over the cheeks. His lower legs and feet should also be tan, as well as the area below the tail. Some breeders prefer a hound that is "all blue" - one with no tan markings, and this is permissible under United Kennel Club standards, though is not common. On the flip side, a dog that has very light ticking of blue upon a mostly white coat is not permitted under the breed's standards. The Bluetick is born white, with only his permanent black spots and tan areas being the exception. He will receive almost all of his ticks by eight weeks of age.

The Bluetick hound should be blocky and broad, but he should also appear athletic in build, never thick or chubby. He should stand between 21 and 27 inches tall and weigh between 55 and 80 pounds (45-65 pounds for females). A healthy Bluetick can be expected to have a life span of 10-12 years.

As a hunting companion, many coonhunters will differ on their opinion of the Bluetick. In the past, the hound was uncommonly slow and stubborn on track. This gave the Bluetick a bad name. Things have changed. Today's Bluetick is noted for his excellent nose, his speed, and his strong voice. The majority of Blueticks will open on track with a strong bawl (or bugle) that changes to a chop mouth as the track grows hotter. He's likely to tree with a hard chop. He is a loud, deep voiced hound.

One thing that has not changed over the years is the Bluetick's stubborn temperament. Training must begin as a puppy, and the stubborn streak must be overcome early in the training if there is to be any progress made. The stubbornness of the Bluetick can be seen as an asset, however. He can work in almost any condition, in nearly all environments and will track to the ends of the Earth in order to come up with his prey. Because of this and because of the vast improvements in the breed, the Bluetick has become a leading choice among competition hunters.

The Bluetick is also becoming more popular as a search and rescue dog. Thanks to his sensitive nose, his determination on track and his willingness to please, he's fast excelling in this field.

In the show arena, the Bluetick has won many major United Kennel Club championships. His startling good looks make him a favorite with judges and fans alike. This is probably also why he's the new movie star among the coonhound breeds, having appeared in many movies, commercials and tv shows. Along with his English Coonhound relatives, the Bluetick has been bred for hunting performance and he does equally well on the bench or on the wood.

The Bluetick, as with all hounds, has a definite need for exercise. However, he does make a good companion dog to the active family. It's probably best to only allow him around young children if he has been raised among them from a puppy. Most hounds equate small children as something to be hunted and treed. Although not mean animals, they do need to have it reinforced that small does not always equal game.

The Bluetick is a beautiful hound that has been continually improving with time and selective breeding. He is a wonderful hunter, a great show dog and an all around amazing hound.