Bluetick Coonhound

Overview

The Bluetick Coonhound is one of six coonhound breeds developed in the American South and one of the most striking in appearance. The name comes from the distinctive coat: a base of black patches on white, densely covered with small blue-black ticking marks that give the overall impression of dark blue. Bred for hunting raccoons and larger game across the mountains and forests of Tennessee and Louisiana, the Bluetick is a cold-nosed tracker with the classic coonhound bawling voice.

A Bluetick at work is a specialist. It trails aged scent that other hounds miss, follows through rough terrain and water, and treats a raccoon or big cat with a persistent bawling bay that carries for miles. At home it's affectionate, calm, and famously mellow with its family, though the vocal habits and exercise needs make it a country dog rather than a suburban lap companion.

History & origin

The Bluetick descends from French hounds brought to America, particularly the Grand Bleu de Gascogne (Big Blue Gascony Hound) given to George Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette. Those French dogs were crossed with English foxhounds and other American hounds to create a cold-nosed, tenacious, big-voiced hunting dog suited to American terrain and quarry.

For most of the twentieth century the Bluetick was registered by the United Kennel Club as a variety of the English Coonhound. In 1946 the Bluetick Coonhound Association was formed and the breed was separated as its own type. The breeders emphasized cold nose and slow, methodical, thoroughly voiced trailing over the speed and hot-nose style of the redbone or Walker types.

The AKC recognized the breed in 2009 in the Hound Group. The breed remains primarily a working hunting hound rather than a show or pet breed, kept by houndsmen across the American South, Midwest, and Appalachia. It is the mascot of the University of Tennessee, where Smokey the Bluetick has led the football team onto the field since 1953.

Appearance

A Bluetick Coonhound stands 21 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs 45 to 80 pounds. Males stand taller and heavier than females. Build is athletic and muscular, well-boned but not coarse, with a slightly longer than tall body, deep chest, and strong legs. Topline is level with a slight rise over the loin.

The head is broad and slightly domed with a moderate stop. Ears are long, thin, and set low, hanging in graceful folds close to the head. Eyes are dark brown, round, and set well apart, giving a pleading gentle expression typical of coonhounds. Coat is short, glossy, and dense. The trademark coloring is dark blue mottled with black patches on the back, sides, and ears, with tan markings on the face, chest, and legs. Small red ticking on the feet is permissible.

Temperament

The Bluetick is affectionate, easygoing, and calm at home when its exercise needs are met. It bonds hard with its household and shows an especially devoted side to the family member who feeds and works with it. Around strangers it's typically friendly rather than reserved, though the deep bawling voice can seem intimidating.

Prey drive is very high. Cats not raised with the dog, small livestock, and wildlife are frequent targets. Same-sex dog issues are uncommon in the pack-oriented breed. Vocalization is a defining trait. Blueticks bay, bawl, and chop with the classic coonhound repertoire, and the sound carries for miles. In shared-wall housing this is a serious concern.

Living with one

Blueticks suit rural properties and large-acreage homes far better than city apartments or small yards. The loud vocalization and high exercise needs make apartment life impractical. Fencing must be secure and tall since the breed jumps and climbs when following scent. Off-lead exercise in unfenced areas is a poor idea because of prey drive and single-minded scent-following.

Exercise needs are heavy. Plan on ninety minutes to two hours of activity daily, ideally including scent work, tracking, or hunting simulation. Long walks alone are inadequate. Hunting sports, coonhound field trials, drag hunting, and free running in secure fields all satisfy the breed. A bored Bluetick bays for hours, digs impressive craters, and finds ways to explore beyond the property line.

Climate tolerance is good. The short glossy coat handles Southern American summers and moderate winters well. In cold northern climates a coat for winter walks is a reasonable habit, though the breed is more heat-tolerant than cold-tolerant overall. Blueticks are not outdoor-only dogs in the modern pet sense, though hunting kennels traditionally house packs in weatherproof outdoor runs.

Alone-time tolerance is moderate to poor. The breed's pack orientation means a single Bluetick left alone for full workdays often develops separation-related behaviors including baying and destructive chewing. Two hounds together tolerate alone time far better. The vocal baying carries far and neighbors within earshot will notice.

Training & exercise

Blueticks are smart, food motivated, and famously stubborn once a scent is engaged. They learn commands quickly at home in low-distraction settings and comply based on their own assessment when working scent. The classic coonhound training pattern applies: excellent when the dog wants to cooperate, questionable when a scent trail is more interesting.

Positive reinforcement produces the best results. Harsh corrections produce anxious or shutdown behavior. Puppy classes with a trainer familiar with hunting hounds help establish foundation manners. Recall training on lead is essential, and off-lead reliability is often limited for scent-driven working dogs. A long line in unfenced areas is a reasonable compromise.

Socialization through the first year matters, especially with strangers, unfamiliar dogs, and traffic. Well-socialized Blueticks are friendly outgoing adults. Enrollment in tracking, coonhound field trials, or scent sports channels the drive productively. The breed excels at nose work and often outperforms more conventionally biddable breeds when the task requires patient trailing.

Grooming & care

Grooming is refreshingly simple. Weekly brushing with a hound glove or rubber curry pulls loose hair and spreads skin oils. Baths every eight to twelve weeks are enough unless the dog has rolled in something. The breed has a distinct houndy smell that some owners love and others find challenging.

Long ears need weekly checks and cleaning as needed to prevent yeast and bacterial infections. Monthly nail trims and routine dental care round out the schedule. Shedding is moderate and year-round with two heavier seasonal drops. The short coat needs no professional grooming beyond an occasional bath at a groomer if the owner prefers.

Health & lifespan

Typical lifespan is 11 to 12 years. Blueticks are among the healthier hound breeds and often remain active into their eleventh year.

The most common concerns are hip dysplasia at low rates, ear infections due to the pendulous ear shape, and gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) in the larger individuals with deep chests. Coonhound paralysis, an immune-mediated polyneuropathy that can appear after raccoon exposure, occurs occasionally in the breed.

Other conditions of note include cataracts, hypothyroidism, and occasional cardiac issues. Responsible breeders screen hips through OFA or PennHIP, eyes through a certified veterinary ophthalmologist, and cardiac function. Ask for written proof of testing on both parents. Puppies from working hunt lines may not carry formal certifications, though selection for function has generally kept the breed reasonably sound.

With kids & pets

Blueticks raised with children usually enjoy their company and tolerate reasonable handling well. The calm easygoing home temperament suits family life provided the exercise needs are met. Best matched with active rural families rather than sedentary urban households.

First-time owner note

The Bluetick Coonhound is a challenging first breed for the average suburban home. The loud vocalization, prey drive, and high exercise needs make it a poor city dog. Best matched with hunting households or rural families with acreage, a canine companion for the dog, and neighbors who don't mind the baying.

Fun facts

• Smokey the Bluetick has served as the University of Tennessee's live football mascot since 1953.
• The distinctive blue-ticked coloring comes from small black spots densely scattered on a white base, giving an overall blue impression.
• Blueticks bay with a distinctive long drawn-out bawl that carries for miles across open country and mountain terrain.
• The breed descends from a Grand Bleu de Gascogne given to George Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette in the 1780s.

Famous & in culture

• Old Blue, the Bluetick featured in the folk song The Old Blue Coon Dog recorded by many American artists.
• Smokey, the University of Tennessee live football mascot, a live Bluetick who has represented the school since 1953.