10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Black and Tan Coonhound

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Black and Tan Coonhounds are hounds meant for hunting raccoons and a number of other arboreal animals. Nowadays, they still see plenty of use in hunting by people living all around the United States. However, it is interesting to note that they have managed to make a successful transition to being pets as well, not least because they possess a pleasant temperament that enables them to get along well with a wide range of families living in a wide range of environments. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Black and Tan Coonhound:

1. One of Six Coonhound Breeds

The Black and Tan Coonhound was the first breed of coonhound to be recognized by the kennel clubs. However, it has been joined by other breeds since that time, which is why there are now six such breeds.

2. Scent Hound

Black and Tan Coonhounds were created for the purpose of hunting raccoons and other North American animals that can climb trees. As a result, while they are reliant on their sense of smell when out on the hunt, they stand out from their Old World counterparts in that they won’t get confused when their quarries leave the ground.

3. Treeing Hound

One of the most interesting behaviors in Black and Tan Coonhounds is that of treeing. In short, Black and Tan Coonhounds are meant to harass their quarries until they climb into trees, at which point, they become very vulnerable to human hunters armed with guns. With that said, it isn’t exactly unknown for Black and Tan Coonhounds to either attack or be attacked by their quarries.

4. Brave

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Black and Tan Coonhound is a brave breed. In part, this is because cornered raccoons are perfectly capable of putting up a fight. However, it should be mentioned that Black and Tan Coonhounds are sometimes expected to go up against much bigger, much more capable quarries such as bears and cougars.

5. First First Dog

George Washington was fond of hunting, which is why he owned a number of hounds. Included in those hounds were Black and Tan Coonhounds, meaning that the breed has a claim to being one of the first First Dogs of the United States.

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6. Bred from the Bloodhound

One of the breeds used to create the Black and Tan Coonhound was the Bloodhound. While the Bloodhound is used to finding humans rather than animals, it possesses an incredible sense of smell as well as an excellent set of instincts for tracking, which it has managed to pass onto its descendant. After all, both the Bloodhound and the Black and Tan Coonhound are famous for their ability to pick up on trails that have gone cold.

7. Bred from the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound

Meanwhile, the other breed used to create the Black and Tan Coonhound was the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound, which was meant for, well, hunting foxes. Supposedly, the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound was taller but lighter than its English counterparts, which combined well with a much improved agility.

8. Good Pets

Black and Tan Coonhounds possess a number of characteristics that can make them good pets for interested individuals. For example, they tend to be both cheerful and mellow in nature, which make them much better-suited for indoor living than a lot of people would expect. With that said, while Black and Tan Coonhounds are friendly with their family members, they tend to be more stand-offish when it comes to strangers.

9. Chase Instincts

With that said, there is a potential complication in the Black and Tan Coonhound’s chase instincts. Simply put, they are hounds, meaning that unless their owners train them well, they can become excessively aggressive towards dogs and other household pets. Fortunately, this is something that they can be trained out of by using positive training methods, with the use of food being a particularly efficacious example.

10. Needs Exercise

Confining Black and Tan Coonhounds to indoor spaces is a terrible idea because they are energetic dogs that need plenty of human interaction as well as plenty of exercise. Please note that Black and Tan Coonhounds can be somewhat boisterous when playing around, meaning that they might not be suitable for younger children.