If properly socialized from a young age, they can be family pets. Being bred to bay while hunting, they are highly vocal. Something first time pet owners should be aware of is the daunting task of "voice-training" these dogs. Once trained, the members of the breed are very mindful of their owner. They are, like their hound counterparts, a very intelligent breed that has the uncanny talent for problem-solving. They can be challenging to train and they should be monitored around cats or other small animals. They are athletic, hardy, and need a full-time job or activity such as hunting, obedience, or agility to stay happy. Temperament īluetick Coonhounds are bred to be hunting dogs. Gascon blues are larger than standard Blueticks, with males a minimum of 27 inches and a maximum of 30 inches, per the American Blue Gascon Hound Association's breed standard. All legs should be straight from the dog's body to the ground when viewed from the front or rear.
Rear legs should have a moderate bend at the hocks. Their paws are larger than those of nearly all other breeds of dogs. Feet should be cat-like, rounded with well-arched toes. Females are considerably smaller at an average weight of 45 to 65 pounds. Bluetick Coonhounds should be 21 inches to 27 inches tall at the shoulder and males weigh approximately 55 to 80 pounds (25 to 36 kg). There is generally a ticked blaze running up the face. Without markings means their color consists of only black and white fur. With markings means they will have brown markings above the eyes, along both sides of the muzzle, on the chest, and down all of the legs. Bluetick Coonhounds can come either with or without markings. Black should predominate on the head and ears. Preference runs to more blue than black on the body.
This ticking covers the body and can be interspersed with variously-shaped black spots on the back, ears and sides. The Bluetick Coonhound gets its "blue" coloring from black ticking on a white background, which gives the impression of a navy blue color. The Bluetick coat should be moderately coarse and glossy. The head is carried up and the tail carried over the back, without signs of fear or nervousness.
The overall build of the Bluetick Coonhound is muscular and speedy. A head shot of a Bluetick Coonhound, showing tan muzzle and blueticked blaze.