Overview
Named for the dense black ticking on a white coat that reads as blue from a distance, the Bluetick Coonhound came out of Louisiana from French and English hounds. It is a cold-nosed breed, meaning it can pick up and follow a trail long after the animal has passed, and it was bred to bay loudly once the quarry is treed.
Blueticks are affectionate, playful and a bit goofy with people. They are also loud, stubborn and absolutely driven by scent. Most Blueticks in Britain belong to enthusiasts who imported them, and the owner will know the quirks far better than a general guide can.
Exercise and walking needs
Give an adult about ninety minutes a day with plenty of scent in it. A quiet woodland walk where the dog can follow trails on a long line satisfies it far more than a brisk march.
Young Blueticks are gangly and slow to mature, so keep them off hard repetitive exercise until the owner says they are ready. Fit adults can go for hours and will not tell you when to stop.
On the walk
- Recall: Unreliable by design. A scent takes priority over you and the dog can be a field away before it registers your voice. Off lead only behind a fence.
- Voice: The bawl is distinctive and loud. Dogs bay when they find scent, when excited and sometimes when bored. Pick routes where that will not cause problems.
- Pulling: Determined. A front-clip harness and a short, strong lead help. Avoid retractable leads altogether.
- Other dogs: Pack hounds are usually easy company. Most Blueticks are more interested in the ground than in another dog, though the bay can startle nervous ones.
Tips for professional walkers
- Let the dog sniff. It is the point of the walk for this breed and fighting it makes both of you miserable.
- Use a long line in parks rather than gambling on recall; ten metres of freedom keeps everyone safe.
- Look inside the long ears after every walk, especially after wet ground, and dry them.
- Watch for scavenging. Coonhounds are food-driven and will eat things they find.
What to ask the owner
- Does the dog have any ear trouble, and how does the owner want it handled after a muddy walk?
- Has it ever got out or run off following a scent, and how did they get it back?
- Is there a recall cue or whistle it has been trained to, and how reliable is it, honestly?