The Bluetick Coonhound is a friendly and intelligent breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.
History
While the origin of this breed was not well-documented, enthusiasts believe that the Bluetick Coonhound’s unique markings link the breed to the French Staghound and the American Foxhound, though this has never been scientifically confirmed.
George Washington, a hunter by living before fighting for and founding the United States, was an early fan of the Bluetick Coonhound, and bred a few litters for his own hunting purposes. The Bluetick Coonhound proved an excellent hunting dog with an incredible sense of smell and high endurance levels, proving that this breed was willing to go where ever its nose took him.
The American Kennel Club accepted the Bluetick Coonhound as a Foundation Stock Service Breed in 1995.
While the Bluetick Coonhound remains a popular hunting dog today, the breed is rarely known outside of underground enthusiast circles.
Personality Traits
As with most hound breeds, the Bluetick Coonhound is best known for its sense of smell and alert nature. This breed is energetic and athletic, with a strong instinct to chase a scent. These dogs are very curious, friendly, and sweet-tempered. The Bluetick Coonhound can sometimes be overly stubborn.
Train-ability
The Bluetick Coonhound’s nose is an asset and a disadvantage, at the same time. This breed is known for being difficult to train, often due to its constant distraction by various scents. Training the Bluetick Coonhound is often best attempted indoors, away from possible distractions.
With any breeds, establishing immediate dominance and trust is important to the training relationships. The Bluetick Coonhound is not impossible to train, although it may sometimes feel that way. Patience and stern repetitive commands are key to successfully training this breed.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning a Bluetick Coonhound, such as it’s easy to care for coat. This breed is intelligent, energetic, and has an amazing sense of smell, making the perfect hunting companion. The Bluetick Coonhound is a friendly, gentle, and sweet natured breed, typically getting along well with children and other animals.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning a Bluetick Coonhound. These dogs run completely on instinct, and are generally challenging as household pets. This breed does not adapt well to indoor living or living outdoors in small, confined spaces.
This energetic breed requires large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play. Anyone wishing to purchase a Bluetick Coonhound lacking the adequate amount of time and space to dedicate to the dog is strongly advised against doing so. A Bluetick Coonhound not receiving the proper amount of exercise will act out by destroying property, chewing, barking, howling, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.
Due to its superior sense of smell and instinct to hunt, the Bluetick Coonhound will often indulge in a good chase. These large dogs can be difficult to keep up with and may pose a threat to other animals, neighborhood pets, and small woodland creatures. The Bluetick Coonhound must be leashed or properly secured at all times when outdoors.
While the Bluetick Coonhound is an intelligent breed, they are often very challenging to train, and sometimes require professional intervention.
As previously mentioned, the Bluetick Coonhound remains a somewhat rare breed outside of enthusiast circles and can be difficult to obtain. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed will often meet such challenges as inability to locate a breeder, high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.
The Bluetick Coonhound is typically known as a hearty and healthy breed, but does fall victim to a few health problems, including: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation – dislocation of the knee, various joint problems such as arthritis, sensitivity to anesthesia, and bloat.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own a Bluetick Coonhound? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.
