

The Bluetick Coonhound is a tireless, razor-sharp pack hound—bred as a specialist in trailing by scent, capable of working tracks for hours on end and baying at prey up in trees until the hunter arrives.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the Bluetick Coonhound fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.
At a glance
The essentials — key facts, traits, and health priorities — before you dive deeper.
Lifespan
11–12 yrs
Shoulder height
53–69 cm
Weight
20–36 kg
Practical
Temperament
Daily life
What matters most
Especially with a Bluetick Coonhound, choosing the right breeder is the single most important decision you'll make. Serious breeders consistently test the parents for inherited conditions, prioritize healthy early socialization, and stay accountable long after handover. A cheap puppy without health screening tends to become the most expensive dog later on.
See HonestDog breeder standards →Colors & coat
The coat colors that occur in the Bluetick Coonhound — including which ones fall outside the breed standard and which carry genetic risk.
Eye colors
Coat type
The real vibes check
A Bluetick Coonhound is often as gentle and unobtrusive as a heavy rug in the living room—but out in the woods, he switches into work mode without compromise. As soon as his nose locks onto a trail, he turns a deaf ear to everything else and follows his ancient instincts. You aren't buying a dog that blindly follows commands, but a highly specialized tracker who will cooperate with you if you share his passion.
The Bluetick Coonhound is a large, muscular dog with an expressive head and strong jaws. His ears are long and droopy, which contributes to his friendly and gentle expression. The tail is strong at the base, tapering and carried cheerfully. The Bluetick Coonhound is known for its distinctive blue-spotted coat, often with black spots and tan markings. He is not recognized by the FCI, but counts among the scenthounds and is recognized by the AKC and UKC, among others. There are no distinctions between show and performance lines in this breed, as the Bluetick Coonhound is primarily valued as a working dog. His notable features are his powerful endurance and dedicated work style.
The Bluetick Coonhound is a dog full of opposites. Despite his robust and impressive appearance, he is a gentle and friendly creature with a great love for his family. He is intelligent and eager to learn, but also independent and sometimes a bit stubborn. Due to its original purpose as a hunting dog, the Bluetick Coonhound is a very active and energetic dog. He needs lots of exercise and mental stimulation to be happy and balanced. It is important to note that this breed is not suitable for apartment living. It needs a home with a large, well-fenced yard where she can pursue her natural instincts. The Bluetick Coonhound is a working dog through and through. His outstanding tracking skills have earned him an excellent reputation as a working dog, particularly when hunting raccoons and other wildlife. Therefore, it is not surprising that this breed also exhibits strong prey and hunting behavior. Without proper training and socialization, this can cause problems, especially if you live in an environment where wildlife is common. Like many other working dogs, the Bluetick Coonhound is very people-oriented and builds a strong bond with its family. He loves spending time with his people, whether playing in the garden, learning new tricks or just cuddling on the couch. This dog is also very friendly towards children and can be a great playmate. However, the Bluetick Coonhound may have difficulty staying alone, especially when young. He may develop separation anxiety if he is left alone for too long. It is therefore important that you are able to spend enough time with your dog and slowly and patiently get him used to being alone. The Bluetick Coonhound is an attentive and alert dog. Its origins as a working dog have given it a sharp mind and a high level of alertness. He will not hesitate to protect and warn his family if he notices something suspicious. It is important to understand that the Bluetick Coonhound is a working dog that requires a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Therefore, it is best suited to active people who are willing to invest the time and energy this breed requires. However, with the right leadership and training, the Bluetick Coonhound can be a loyal and loving companion that will bring you joy for many years to come.
| Watchfulness Reports unusual activity but stays controlled. | Moderate |
| Openness to Strangers Warms up quickly and is generally welcoming. | Friendly |
| Hunting or Herding Drive This drive runs deep — no amount of training eliminates it. | Very strong |
Fun Fact!
Did you know that the Bluetick Coonhound was so named because its fur has small, blue spots that look like ink stains? This unique coat color makes him one of the most striking dog breeds!
The lithe and beautiful Bluetick Coonhound is a sweet and affectionate charmer who may like to doze in the shade, but when hunting for prey he is relentless, courageous and determined. Its irrepressible prey drive must be channeled.
The Bluetick Coonhound is a dog that needs space to run and explore, so it is not necessarily suited to apartment or city life. However, he is a loving and people-oriented dog that gets along well with children and can make an excellent family dog. As for other pets, the Bluetick Coonhound can get along with cats and other dogs provided it has been properly socialized. However, it should be noted that he has a strong hunting instinct and should therefore always be supervised when around small pets.
Loves family life and thrives in a group.
Takes boisterous and affectionate children in its stride.
Usually gets on fine with other dogs.
Can manage in the city, but only with very active owners.
Owning a dog is a privilege, but it's also a real responsibility. Before you bring one into your life, be honest with yourself about the commitment it takes.
The Bluetick Coonhound is an intelligent dog, but sometimes has a mind of its own. Therefore, training can sometimes be challenging. It is important to begin training and socialization from puppyhood and always use positive reinforcement methods. They are high-energy dogs that require a lot of mental and physical stimulation to be happy. Therefore, activities such as tracking, agility or just long walks and playtime in the garden can be helpful in meeting their energy needs. It is important to maintain a balanced level of activity to avoid over-busyness, which can lead to stress. It can happen that the Bluetick Coonhound becomes a “ball junkie,” so it's important to vary play times and encourage him to enjoy other activities too.
When feeding your Bluetick Coonhound, it is important to use high-quality food that is tailored to his age, weight and activity level. As a high-energy breed, he may require a diet rich in proteins and healthy fats to keep him moving throughout the day. When it comes to grooming, the Bluetick Coonhound is fairly easy to care for. Its short, glossy coat is not prone to matting and only requires occasional brushing to stay healthy and clean. It has a dense undercoat and sheds moderately, especially during the spring and autumn seasons. Regarding the climate in Germany, the Bluetick Coonhound can tolerate both warm and cool temperatures well, provided it has a warm home and enough exercise in winter.
| Care Level Minimal effort — occasional brushing and bathing. | Low-maintenance |
| Exercise Needs Needs several hours of serious exercise every day. | Very active |
| Shedding Hair everywhere, always — no white clothing survives. | Very heavy |
| Trainability Has its own ideas and will test limits. | Strong-willed |
Our experts are still reviewing this information. Spotted something wrong? Email us at info@honestdog.de.
Solid
Health grade
With the Bluetick Coonhound, you need to pay special attention to the musculoskeletal system as well as severe hereditary nerve disorders. These include hip dysplasia (HD), elbow dysplasia (ED), and the genetically determined globoid cell leukodystrophy (galactocerebrosidosis). A health-oriented breeder will have the parent animals specifically screened for these risks before breeding. Before buying, ask to see the X-ray evaluations showing results of HD A–B and ED 0, as well as the genetic test for globoid cell leukodystrophy (galactocerebrosidosis), for which a carrier may only be mated with a clear partner.
Grade is relative to other breeds — AI-assisted and editorially reviewed.
Methodology and data: HonestDog Dog Breed Health Report 2026
By ensuring joint-friendly development, maintaining a healthy weight, and scheduling regular eye and heart check-ups, you can do a lot to ensure a long, active life for your dog.
Reputable breeders have the parents' hips, elbows, eyes, heart, and thyroid tested to specifically reduce hereditary risks in their lines.
Note: This health overview is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. It is for orientation only and does not replace veterinary advice.
What matters most for this breed — what's common, how much it affects the dog's life, and how to protect yourself as a buyer.
Tap a body region to see the inherited conditions linked to it.
The three most important risks
Pick a region on the map to explore other areas.
We sort tests into three tiers — from the core standard to a fully exemplary program.
Recommended standard. These tests make up the recommended health standard for this breed — the baseline of any careful breeding program. Ask any reputable breeder for the results.
No entries in this tier.
No entries in this tier.
Note: This health overview is AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. It is for orientation only and does not replace veterinary advice.
A Bluetick Coonhound costs around ~€180 per month (€100 – €350, depending on your setup). The first year adds up to roughly ~€4,800 including purchase, equipment and puppy school; across the dog's life (11.5 years) it comes to about ~€28,080.
With surgery cover, running costs come to about ~€180 per month — in return, your share of a major operation drops from several thousand euros to around 20 percent.
Per month
~€180
In the first year
~€4,800
Across the dog's life
~€28,080
Estimated purchase price from a breeder: €1,000 – €2,500
Estimate at a mid-range setup (suburban, dry food, 1–2 hours of daily exercise), average German prices, as of July 2026.
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Illustrative imageOriginally from the United States, the Bluetick Coonhound is a relatively young breed, first emerging in the early 1900s. The name "Bluetick" refers to the dog's distinctive, blue-spotted coat. The breed was created by crossing Foxhounds, Harriers, English Coonhounds and other dogs with good instincts and hunting instincts. Originally, these dogs were bred in the southern United States to hunt raccoons (English: "coon") and other wild animals, hence the name "Coonhound". They proved to be very effective in tracking game through dense undergrowth and over challenging terrain. The American Kennel Club (AKC) only recognized the Bluetick Coonhound as a separate breed in 2009. Before this time, Bluetick Coonhounds were grouped together with English Coonhounds in one breed group. The breed is still quite rare in Europe, but is slowly gaining popularity due to its strong skills and friendly nature.
Bred to hunt raccoons and other game at night, the Bluetick Coonhound is known for its endurance and "blue" spotting.
USA
1900
At home, the Bluetick Coonhound surprises many owners with a striking split personality. Outdoors it is tireless, yet indoors many owners describe it as a balanced, very cuddly and affectionate companion that is happy to doze on the couch for hours. With children and people it knows, it is considered gentle and patient.
Owner reports, however, also point to two recurring challenges of living with one: noise and a tendency toward separation problems. The breed's typical howling and barking, known as "baying," is deeply ingrained, and these dogs use it loudly not only when something catches their attention in the yard but also out of frustration or boredom. Several owners therefore say an apartment with thin walls is hardly a good fit, and that being left alone has to be built up with a lot of patience from day one.
On training and walks, owners agree on how much the nose drives a Bluetick Coonhound's behavior. Once it finds an interesting trail, it switches into what owners call "selective deafness." Reliable off-leash time in open country is therefore hardly possible with many of these dogs, and many owners rely permanently on long lines, GPS trackers or well-fenced off-leash areas.
Loose-leash walking in particular comes up in owner accounts as a long test of patience. Because prey drive and arousal around outdoor distractions run very high, many of these dogs pull hard on the leash. Experienced owners consistently recommend positive reinforcement and reward-based training. Since the breed is very food-motivated, the best way to build cooperation and focus on the handler is with high-value treats and scent work such as tracking or mantrailing.
Sources:reddit.comrundum.dogdogdna.de
Paraphrased from real owner reports · translated from German
The Bluetick Coonhound is an active dog that needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Research the temperament, grooming needs, and space requirements before deciding.
The average life expectancy of a Bluetick Coonhound is 11-12 years. With proper care and regular vet visits, your dog can live a long, healthy life.
Bluetick Coonhound grooming requirements include regular brushing, nail trimming, and dental care. HonestDog provides detailed grooming tips for every breed.
The Bluetick Coonhound can be a great family dog. Proper training and socialization are key. HonestDog provides family suitability information for every breed.
The Bluetick Coonhound comes in these colors: Blue and tan, Roan, Tricolor, Spotted.
Showcase your kennel on HonestDog and reach families searching for a responsibly bred Bluetick Coonhound.