They do need a strong owner who is the pack leader. They can be a handful to train, often getting distracted by interesting scents that they would prefer to follow, but firmness and patience will achieve the result. It is best to raise a cat and the dog together from a young age so that they bond. They are a dog that has been bred specifically to hunt, so care needs to be taken with non-canine animals. If socialized well when a puppy, they will grow to be friendly and welcoming of strangers. They are very devoted to their owners and are guardians of the family and home. The Bluetick Coonhound is a lovable, if somewhat goofy, dog who is an adorable companion.

Registered with the American Kennel Club, they became a member of the Hound Group in 2009. In the early days of colonization, this breed was kept busy in the Southern states, mainly as a hunting dog but then as a companion in the fields and rural areas. They were registered originally in the United Kennel Club under the English Foxhound and Coonhound but were recognized by the club as a separate breed in 1946. The Coonhound was proficient at hunting alone or as part of a pack. The Bluetick Coonhound had a keen sense of smell and was also used to hunt opossums, bobcats and even larger prey such as cougars and bears. Unlike fox hunting, the owners did not keep up with the dog, they held back and listened for the distinctive baying and howling and then located the prey. As their name implies, they were originally bred to hunt raccoons, and a good hound dog would follow their quarry until the animal was treed and then sit under the tree, howling until the owners caught up. Bred to hunt, they excelled at tracking, especially at night. The Bluetick Coonhound originated in Louisiana from the Bleu de Gascogne Hound of southwest France, as well as the English Foxhound, The Cur, the American Foxhound and the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound. Once they are fully trained, they are very obedient and listen to their owner. You need to keep in mind that although they are not aggressive to people, they should not be trusted around cats or other small animals as their instinct is to hunt. This breed tends to do best with a bit of land or a decent backyard to move around in. They can be challenging to train for the lazy pet owner, and if not exercised enough, can become anxious and even destructive. As a night hunter, they excel with their keen eyesight and dedication to the hunt. They are well muscled but sleek and racy, never clumsy.

The breed is attractive both in appearance and nature. They are friendly and outgoing if they are socialized well when young. The Bluetick Coonhound is great with children, although possibly better with older children as they can get quite boisterous and rough when excited.

A fully fenced yard is best for these dogs, who can wander away following an interesting scent trail. They do well living indoors, although they need their exercise. So rather than buying a dog or puppy for sale from a dog breeder or buying a cat or kitten for sale from a cat breeder, we encourage people to adopt a dog, adopt a cat, adopt a puppy or adopt a kitten at their local animal shelter, SPCA, humane society or pet rescue group.The Bluetick Coonhound is a loyal and intelligent dog who is devoted to their family. Yet animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats who must find homes.

Some people are interested in a very specific breed of dog, cat, puppy or kitten and they think the only way to find that specific breed is to buy a dog for sale or buy a cat for sale from a puppy breeder or a kitten breeder. When someone is breeding puppies or breeding kittens, they are creating new dogs and cats who need homes. What is the difference between adopting a dog, adopting a cat, adopting a kitten or adopting a puppy versus getting dogs for sale, cats for sale, puppies for sale or kittens for sale from a dog breeder or a cat breeder? Adopt a dog or adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life. Dog adoption and cat adoption saves lives.

Blue tick hounds