Overview
Developed in the southern United States to track raccoons through the night and bay once the animal was treed, the Black and Tan Coonhound is a heavy-boned, long-eared hound with a glossy black coat and tan trim. Bloodhound in its background shows in the loose skin, the serious nose and the deep carrying voice.
Owners describe them as sofa dogs with a switch. At home they sprawl and snore; outside, a cold scent pulls them forward like a rope. They are uncommon in Britain, so you will usually meet one through an enthusiast who knows the breed well.
Exercise and walking needs
An adult wants around an hour and a half a day, and it needs to be interesting rather than fast. A woodland or riverside path full of smells engages a coonhound in a way laps of a playing field never will.
They are not natural running partners; the gait is a loping, methodical one. Give them time to work a patch of ground and the walk tires them more than you expect.
On the walk
- Recall: Poor to non-existent on a hot scent. Even well-trained dogs will follow a trail across a road. Off lead means a fenced field and nothing else.
- Pulling: Heavy and persistent once the nose engages. Walk on a front-clip harness and keep both hands free.
- Other dogs: Pack-bred and tolerant, often uninterested in play. They rarely start trouble and tend to ignore rudeness from smaller dogs.
- Ears and jowls: Long ears drag through puddles and bowls. Wipe them, look inside after wet walks, and expect a shake that redistributes drool.
Tips for professional walkers
- Lay a short treat trail in the grass at the start; it gives the nose a legal outlet and takes the edge off.
- Use a fixed-length lead rather than a retractable. A fifty-kilo hound hitting the end of a flexi can pull you over.
- Be patient with stopping and sniffing. Dragging a coonhound off a scent is a tug of war you will lose.
- Carry a cloth for the face and water for the dog; they drool more when working hard.
What to ask the owner
- Does the dog have any ear problems, and how does the owner want them cleaned after a wet walk?
- Has it ever slipped a collar or harness while on a scent?
- Any hip or joint concerns given the dog's weight, and is there a limit on stairs or steep ground?