Bluetick Coonhound facts for kids
Bluetick Coonhound
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| Origin | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Bluetick Coonhound is a special type of dog breed that comes from the United States. These dogs are known for being super friendly. They have an amazing sense of smell, often called a "cold nose." They also make a loud, deep barking sound. While they are often used for hunting raccoons, they also make wonderful family pets.
Contents
About Bluetick Coonhounds
What They Look Like
Bluetick Coonhounds are strong and fast dogs. They hold their heads high and their tails curl over their backs. Their fur is a bit rough but shiny.
The "blue" color comes from tiny black spots on a white coat. This mix makes them look navy blue. These spots cover their whole body. They can also have bigger black patches on their back, ears, and sides.
Most people prefer more blue than black on the body. But the head and ears should have more black. Bluetick Coonhounds can have extra markings or not. Markings are brown spots above their eyes, on their muzzle, chest, and legs. Without markings, they are just black and white. They usually have a spotted stripe up their face.
Male Bluetick Coonhounds are usually 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder. They weigh about 55 to 80 pounds (25 to 36 kg). Females are smaller, weighing around 45 to 65 pounds. Their paws are rounded, like a cat's, with arched toes. Their paws are bigger than most other dog breeds. Their legs are straight and strong.
There's a type called "Gascon blues." They are even bigger than regular Blueticks. Males can be 27 to 30 inches tall.
How They Act
Bluetick Coonhounds are born to hunt. They are very active and tough. They need a lot of exercise or a "job" to do. This could be hunting, training, or dog sports like agility. This helps them stay happy.
They can be a bit tricky to train at first. It's good to watch them around cats or other small animals. Like other hounds, they are very smart. They are great at solving problems.
Once they are trained, they are very loyal to their owners. New dog owners should know that these dogs are very vocal. They were bred to bark loudly while hunting. But if you teach them from a young age, they can be great family pets.
Bluetick Coonhounds usually get along well with kids. They are caring and friendly dogs. However, their strong noses can get them into trouble! So, always put food and trash away.
People sometimes think they are aggressive because they howl at strangers. They also sniff people until they are satisfied. This is just how they get to know someone. Because of their amazing sense of smell, they are excellent hunting dogs. They will chase and tree (make an animal climb a tree) almost any animal smaller than them. Blueticks are often easier to manage in the field than some other hunting dogs.
History of the Breed
The Bluetick Coonhound started in Louisiana, USA. It was developed from several different dog breeds. These include the Grand Bleu de Gascogne hound from France. Other breeds used were the English Foxhound, the cur dog, the American Foxhound, and the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound.
At first, Bluetick Coonhounds were grouped with the English Foxhound and Coonhound in the United Kennel Club. But in 1946, they were recognized as their own separate breed. Other groups that recognize them include the Australian National Kennel Council and the New Zealand Kennel Club. In 2009, the American Kennel Club also accepted the breed. This meant they could compete in AKC coonhound events.
The American Blue Gascon Hound is a special group of Bluetick Coonhounds. They are bigger, heavier, and look more like old-fashioned hounds. People often call them "old-fashioned" Blueticks. This is because of their looks and their "colder" nose. A "colder" nose means they track animals more slowly than other modern coonhounds.
Famous Bluetick Coonhounds
- Smokey, the mascot for the University of Tennessee, is a Bluetick Coonhound.
- A Bluetick Coonhound named Tet was the dog of Stringfellow Hawke. He was the main character in the 1980s TV show Airwolf.
- Old Blue, a Bluetick Coonhound, was in the 1960 movie Wild River.
- Bando in Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco was played by a Bluetick Coonhound.
- Old Blue was a Bluetick Coonhound in the book Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.
- A female Bluetick Coonhound is mentioned in the George Jones song "Ol' Red". Blake Shelton later sang this song too.
- Huckleberry Hound is a Bluetick.
- Savage Sam, the book after Old Yeller, is about a Bluetick Coonhound.
- Lillian's dog, Gideon, is a Bluetick Coonhound in the song "Red Dirt Girl" by Emmylou Harris.
- A Bluetick Coonhound is mentioned in the song "Long Haired Country Boy" by Charlie Daniels.
- A Bluetick Coonhound is mentioned in the 2016 song "Church Bells" by Carrie Underwood.
- A Bluetick Coonhound named Nash is in the song "Sun Shines on a Dreamer" by Wade Bowen.
- A Bluetick Coonhound is mentioned in the song "Rednecker" by Hardy.
- A Bluetick Coonhound is mentioned in the 2020 song "I Love My Country" by Florida Georgia Line.
See also
In Spanish: Bluetick coonhound para niños
