They are friendly, big hound dogs from America. The Black and Tan Coonhound was developed to track and tree raccoons, but given their enthusiasm for work and size, they were used for bigger game as well, such as bears and wild boars. The Black and Tans, for short, can also be great family pets if you give them the proper amount of physical and mental stimulation. It is important to remember that they do bark, which might potentially upset some of your neighbors.
Origins: 18th century, USA; the breed was recognized by the kennel clubs in the 19th century
AKC: Hound group
RKC: Hound group
FCI: Group 6 (scent hounds)
UKC: Scenthound group
Photo by Canarian
Physical Traits
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a large dog with only one coat color. As the name suggests, this coat color consists of black and tan points. The Black and Tans are robust hound dogs capable of covering a lot of ground with their long and powerful strides. Males are slightly taller than females, but they can weigh the same.
Height: males – 25 to 27 inches (63 to 68 cm);
females – 23 to 25 inches (58 to 63 cm)
Weight: 65 to 110 pounds (30 to 50 kg);
Coat: smooth and short
Color: black and tan
Eye color: hazel to dark brown; eye shape is round
Tail: strong, long, and carried free
Ears: hanging in folds, long
Head: teeth in a scissor bite, nose is black, muzzle is long and hound-like
Photo by ViVi van Wilcora
Social Traits
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a people-oriented dog. They love being with people and become sad quickly if you forget them or don’t involve them in daily activities. These dogs also get along well with other dogs and large animals. However, with their strong prey drive, small animals outside their family circle are not welcome.
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a friendly, adaptable dog that can get used to both city and country living.
High prey drive
Great with children
Good with other dogs
Their high prey drive can be a problem if you have small animals such as rabbits
They are friendly dogs
Very loyal
Adaptable
They bark
They need proper fencing
Affectionate
Love to be a part of the family
They drool, but not profusely like a Mastiff
Photo by Canopener Sally
Don’t forget that these are hound dogs people bred to bark when they get the prey up on a tree. That means they are vocal, which is not great for your neighbors or you if you didn’t expect this from a dog.
Activity Needs and Training
The Black and Tan Coonhound needs moderate amounts of daily activity. The Royal Kennel Club states they need up to 1 hour of daily activity. This means they need their daily potty walks and one hour of a good and long walk or a solid run.
If you will not use a Black and Tan Coonhound dog for hunting, you will need to find some other way to satisfy its Hound needs. You can take them out on a hiking trip or try some of the Dog Sports available. Of course, coon hunting is perfect for them.
Just like other Hounds, the Black and Tan Coonhound is an obedient dog. Until it smells prey somewhere in the bushes. When this happens, a Black and Tan dog will follow the trail until it finds the prey or the trail ends. That’s why you should always walk your Black and Tan Coonhound on a leash, especially in an area where there are lots of cars, people, and other dogs.
But hey, you can’t blame a dog for doing what it was made to do. We just have to adjust to our surroundings and use the tools we have. Besides a proper leash on walks, a sturdy and tall fence is a must!
Medium-energy dog
Activity Needs: around 1 hour a day
of physical and mental stimulation
Trainability: Obedient, but high prey drive causes bad recall
Good choice for families with children
It will benefit from walks where it can use its nose
Suitable for the city or the country
Photo by Jim Frazee
Health and Nutrition
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a sturdy dog with few genetic disorders. Unlike some other large dog breeds, the Tan and Black doesn’t have a great prevalence of hip disorders, such as hip dysplasia.
However, there is one issue noticed in the breed: Hemophilia B. According to the study, this type of Hemophilia is common in around 20 dog breeds, but it is “a severe diathesis in larger breeds”, such as the Black and Tan Coonhound. That means this breed has an extreme predisposition to the mentioned condition.
Depending on your dog’s age, health, and activity levels, an adult Black and Tan Coonhound needs from 3 to 5 cups of kibble every day. You should divide the amount into two meals: one in the morning and the other in the evening.
A healthy dog breed
Needs 3 to 5 cups of kibble a day
Life expectancy: from 10 to 12 years
Grooming
The Black and Tan Coonhound is easy to maintain. They have a short and smooth coat, but it’s rather dense, so you will need to brush them at least once a week to keep the hair from getting all over you and your furniture. You can use a hound glove or a bristle brush.
During shedding seasons (in fall and spring) they shed more profusely, so you will need to brush them more often.
The Black and Tan Coonhound can have a dog odor characteristic of most Hounds, but if you give them a regular bath, there shouldn’t be any issues. Don’t forget to check their ears for any foreign objects.
They shed all year round (moderately) + profusely during shedding seasons (fall and spring)
- Brushing: once a week; often during shedding seasons
- You can use a combination of a hound glove and a bristle brush
Baths: occasionally (to get rid of the dog odor)
Photo by B&TCoonhounds from Red Castle
Final Thoughts
You either love Hound dogs or you don’t; there is no in between. The same goes for the Black and Tan Coonhound. These dogs are friendly, easy-going, and happy to be a part of the family, but they come with the “hound traits”. That means they will bark, dig, sniff and run after a potential prey, and they won’t stop until they get to the bottom of that scent! If someone said to you they don’t shed, they were not telling the truth! Coonhounds shed, and that includes the Black and Tans. However, you’ll get a dog that is naturally friendly, loyal, and obedient in all manners unless on a trail for prey when recall might not work.
Cover Photo by Jim Frazee
