Things to Think About Before Adopting a Bluetick Coonhound

Bluetick Coonhounds have an awesome name, a gorgeous coat, and a lovely personality. They are a very well-rounded breed whose characteristics don’t tend to sway too far in either direction. They are neither hyperactive nor too passive, neither antisocial nor overly friendly, not too big and not too small, and they are also pretty affectionate without being outright lapdogs.

Does this mean that they are good family dogs overall? Do they have some hidden problems you need to know about? Here are the 22 questions to consider before getting a Bluetick Coonhound pet.

1. Are Bluetick Coonhounds good pets?

Most scenthound breeds make for amazing pets and the Bluetick Coonhound is no exception. Loyal and loving, this breed can work beautifully in both single-person households and big families. The only note for solo dog owners would be that this dog needs a lot of attention so you better work from home.

2. Do Bluetick Coonhounds like to cuddle?

Coonhounds are hunters first and foremost but that doesn’t mean that they don’t love to cuddle. Especially after a long exercise and play session that stimulates the thrill of the hunt, Bluetick Coonhounds will be more than happy to celebrate the job well done with a warm cuddle in your feet.

3. Are Bluetick hounds smart?

Shepherd and retriever breeds usually get most of the applause in the IQ department but scenthounds like the Bluetick are also highly intelligent. These dogs are bred as trackers, working dogs, and problem solvers, all of which have made them very smart. If you want a dog you can interact and play complicated games with, this is a good choice,

4. Are Bluetick hounds easy to train?

High intelligence doesn’t always equal an easy training process. Like other scenthounds, the Bluetick can be quite stubborn. It’s a part of its breed’s purpose – to be determined and single-focused on what they want to get. So, extensive obedience training from an early age is a must with this breed. However, there isn’t anything unmanageable about it and even a novice dog owner can go through the process successfully with a bit of research and patience.

5. Is the Bluetick Coonhound breed social?

The Bluetick Coonhound can be either very social or wary of strangers. It all depends on how you raise the pup and whether you allow for enough socialization. If you’ve purposefully denied your dog socialization, the Bluetick can make for a decent watchdog. However, for family pets, it’s typically recommended to socialize your dog well so that it can feel fine around your friends, guests, and strangers.

6. Are Bluetick Coonhounds good with children?

Bluetick Coonhounds are pack animals which means that they are very loyal and protective toward their whole families, including the smallest members. While some dog breeds can be too individualistic and jealous toward kids, the Bluetick doesn’t exhibit such qualities. Instead, these dogs love to both play and cuddle with kids of all ages.

Still, some supervision is recommended at first. You’d also want to teach your kid how to and how not to interact with the canine.

7. Do Bluetick Coonhounds get along with other dogs?

There doesn’t seem to be any dog aggression or desire for dominance in this breed. This makes them great for households with multiple dogs. After all, as scenthounds, these dogs were bred to hunt and live together with multiple other dogs. It’s still helpful if the dog is well-socialized first and/or raised together with the other dog.

8. Can you have a cat with a Bluetick Coonhound?

Almost no scenthound breed works well with cats and the same goes for the Bluetick. The prey drive of these dogs – especially toward small animals – is just too strong. If the dog is raised together with the feline you may get an exception, but, in most cases, scenthounds should be kept away from cats (or, rather – the other way around).

9. Do Bluetick Coonhounds bark a lot?

Bluetick Coonhounds are relatively vocal. Not as much of a howler as a Husky and not overly yappy, these dogs can nevertheless get in the habit of barking, especially if they are not socialized well enough. If you don’t want that, a combination of obedience training and no-bark training can solve the issue. This is particularly important if you live in an apartment.

10. How much exercise does a Bluetick Coonhound need?

Blueticks are a moderately active breed. They need about an hour or two of vigorous outdoor exercise every day if they are to grow up healthy and well-adjusted. Simple jogging can do the trick but Blueticks will especially appreciate some playtime and fetch in the dog park. Do make sure that the dog is always leashed unless in a fenced dog park, however. Otherwise, their prey drive may get the better of them and they can run away chasing a squirrel or anything else that moves.

11. Do Coonhounds make good house pets or apartment pets?

Any dog can be raised in an apartment if you give them enough time in the dog park every day. However, a spacious house with a large and properly fenced yard can be even better. Just make sure that the dog can’t jump over or dig under the fence.

12. How much does a Bluetick Coonhound cost?

Coonhounds are a fairly new but not too expensive breed. Most of the time you should be able to find such pups for about $500 to $600 from reputable breeders. With most other breeds, that’s the price you’d get from a puppy mill or a pet store, not from a quality breeder. Plus, the breed has gotten popular enough so that you can even find such puppies in local shelters and rescues.

13. How long do Bluetick hounds live?

The average life expectancy of Blueticks is about 11 or 12 years. However, that’s just the average. With the right care, a healthy pup can live far beyond that.

14. Are Bluetick Coonhounds a healthy breed?

Overall, this breed is very healthy, more so than most other popular family pets nowadays. The most notable condition you should watch out for is bloating or Gastric Dilatation Volvulus. Ear infections can also be an issue so you should inspect and clean your dog’s ears almost daily.

The only other major issue would be physical trauma or skin parasites if you hunt with your dog. Aside from that, these dogs are just quite healthy. That’s especially the case if you get your pup from a reputable breeder. Such breeders will offer health certificates for all their dogs and allow you to check out the whole litter and its parents in their normal environment before buying anything.

15. What type of coat do Bluetick Coonhounds have?

Blueticks’ coats are short and glossy. When properly groomed, they are soft to the touch and a pleasure to cuddle or pet.

16. Do Bluetick hounds smell?

Not any more than other breeds. With proper grooming and the occasional bath, these dogs should only have the signature soft scent of a dog.

17. What colors do Bluetick Coonhounds come in?

These dogs get their name from their signature coats. The head will usually be a solid black color or black and tan. The rest of the body, however, will be either be fully blue ticked or blue ticked and tan.

18. Do Bluetick Coonhounds shed a lot?

Blueticks’ coats shed only moderately. They are pretty short too which also makes their hairs less problematic when they float around the air. All this is pretty manageable with regular brushing and grooming.

19. Are Bluetick Coonhounds hypoallergenic?

Not really. No breed is actually hypoallergenic but Blueticks aren’t even a little bit easy to be around for people with allergies.

20. How much grooming do Bluetick Coonhounds need?

Blueticks don’t have that high of grooming requirements. As an outdoorsy breed, they will need regular brushing (every other day) to keep their coats clean as well as a bath or two a month. The rest is pretty normal for any dog breed – eye and ear maintenance and cleanup, dental care once a week, nail clipping if the dog hasn’t filed its nails outside, and so on.

21. How big are Bluetick Coonhounds?

The average height at the shoulders for male Blueticks is 22 to 27 inches (56 to 69 cm). For females, that’s 21 to 25 inches (53.3 to 63.5 cm). As for their weight, males can get as heavy as 55 to 80 pounds (25 to 36 kg) and females – 45 to 65 pounds (20 to 30 kg). That’s pretty much in line with other popular family breeds such as Labrador retrievers. Do make sure to keep your dog within these boundaries, however, and avoid getting it overweight.

22. Do Bluetick Coonhounds like to swim?

They can and they love to. While they aren’t a dedicated water dog breed and are more of a raccoon hunting breed, these dogs will still love a good swim. That’s especially the case if they’ve been introduced to swimming adequately and at an early age.

All in all, Bluetick Coonhounds not only look awesome but make for pretty great family pets too. Social, playful, and gentle with those they love, Bluetick Coonhounds can make most people and families exceptionally happy.

Blueticks are also quite healthy and well-rounded in most regards. They can be barkers, however, and you’ll need to watch out for their strong prey drive. Avoid those problems as well as the potential of separation anxiety and you’re going to have one awesome dog.