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Hound Handbook
Insurance guide
Breed profile

Black and Tan Coonhound

A big, mellow American scent hound bred to tree raccoons at night. Easygoing indoors, single-minded on a trail, and loud when it finds one.

Black and Tan Coonhound with long ears standing on a clover lawn
Black and Tan Coonhound in a gardenPhoto: Krysta / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Weight
25–40 kg55–88 lb
Height
58–69 cm23–27 in
Lifespan
10–12 yrs
Group
Hound
Origin
United States
Popularity
#137 US#209 UK · 2025

Known for: Family dogsGood with other dogsLow grooming

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Easygoing, Friendly, Determined, Vocal.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Ear infections
  • Entropion and ectropion
  • Hemophilia B

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour of daily walking on lead or in secure areas, plus scent games. Brush weekly and check and dry the long ears often.

A good fit for

Calm country households with a large, well-fenced garden, older kids and patience for a dog that thinks for itself.

Probably not ideal for

Flats, close neighbours (they bay), owners wanting off-lead reliability, and homes where the dog is alone all day.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Black & Tan Coonhound (Imp)
  2. Vetstreet: Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Wikipedia: Black and Tan Coonhound

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
Head of a Treeing Walker Coonhound with a white blaze against a green park background

Treeing Walker Coonhound

A fast, tricolour American coonhound descended from foxhounds. Friendly and mellow at home, tireless on a scent, with a ringing bay.

A solid red Redbone Coonhound stands side-on in a grassy field, looking up and to the right

Redbone Coonhound

A solid red American scent hound bred to tree raccoons. Easygoing at home, nose-led and loud outdoors.

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a Bluetick Coonhound with black-ticked white coat, tan eyebrows and long black ears, against a brown backdrop

Bluetick Coonhound

Ticked American coonhound with a big bawling voice and a nose that runs its life. Sweet at home, single-minded on a scent.

A white American Foxhound with a single dark patch and light ear markings stands side-on, head raised

American Foxhound

George Washington's hound: rangier and lighter than the English Foxhound. Gentle with people, built to run all day.

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