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Hound Handbook
Insurance guide
Breed profile

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.

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a Bluetick Coonhound with black-ticked white coat, tan eyebrows and long black ears, against a brown backdrop
Bluetick CoonhoundPhoto: bark / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Weight
20–36 kg44–79 lb
Height
53–69 cm21–27 in
Lifespan
11–12 yrs
Group
Hound
Origin
United States
Popularity
#132 USNot ranked in UK · 2025

Known for: Family dogsWorking dogsLow grooming

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Friendly, Affectionate, Determined, Vocal.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
  • Ear infections
  • Lysosomal storage disease

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

Daily care

A couple of long on-lead walks a day plus a securely fenced space to run. Weekly brushing and regular ear checks, as the long ears trap moisture. Expect a houndy smell that baths reduce but don't remove.

A good fit for

Rural or semi-rural homes, families with children, and owners who hike, track or enjoy scent work.

Probably not ideal for

Close neighbours, homes with cats or small pets, and owners who want off-lead freedom or quick obedience.

Sources

  1. Vetstreet: Bluetick Coonhound
  2. PetMD: Bluetick Coonhound
  3. AKC: Hound Group Health Testing Requirements
  4. Wikipedia: Bluetick 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
Profile close-up of a red Bloodhound with long ears and loose facial folds, trees behind

Bloodhound

Gentle giant of the scent hounds, all folds, drool and nose. Placid at home and completely single-minded once it finds a trail.

Black and Tan Coonhound with long ears standing on a clover lawn

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.

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.

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