Coonhound (Black and Tan)

Hound Group Large (50-100 lbs)
Height 23-27"
Weight 65-110 lbs
Lifespan 10-12 years
Price $500-$1,200

About the Coonhound (Black and Tan)

Weight and deliberation set this coonhound apart from its faster relatives. The Black and Tan works a cold trail methodically, nose down, with long ears sweeping scent upward, and it carries visible Bloodhound influence in both build and manner. At home the result is a mellow, affectionate, faintly lazy dog that sprawls across furniture and greets everyone as a friend, making it a poor guardian and a pleasant companion for households that meet its needs. Those needs centre on exercise and scent. An hour or more of daily activity with real sniffing opportunities keeps the breed content, while confinement without stimulation produces howling and destruction. Recall is unreliable once a trail appears, so fenced ground is essential and off-lead walking in open country amounts to a gamble. Training rewards food and patience rather than repetition, since this is a slow, steady, stubborn worker rather than an obedience prospect. Grooming is easy in principle, a short dense coat brushed weekly, but the long pendulous ears need frequent cleaning, drool is present and the houndy odour is unmistakable. The voice is deep and enormously loud, used freely, which rules out close neighbours. Long absences produce vocal protest. Rural or roomy homes suit them. Distinctively, the breed is prized for working cold trails hours old, a talent shared with very few dogs.

Temperament

Affectionate Great with Kids Dog-Friendly Playful Highly Intelligent
Affection Level
Good with Children
Good with Other Dogs
Playfulness
Protectiveness
Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Intelligence
Adaptability

Physical Characteristics

Size Category Large (50-100 lbs)
Height 23-27"
Weight 65-110 lbs
Coat Type Smooth
Coat Length Short
Colors
Hypoallergenic No

Care Requirements

Exercise Needs

High (60-90 min/day)

60 minutes per day recommended

Grooming

Moderate - Weekly

Shedding:

Mental Stimulation

Needs plenty of mental challenges

Drooling

Living Conditions

Apartment Friendly
Good for First-Time Owners
Tolerates Being Alone
Cold Weather Tolerance
Hot Weather Tolerance

Cost of Ownership

Purchase Price $500-$1,200
Annual Cost $1,200/year

Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.

Health Considerations

Like all breeds, Coonhound (Black and Tan)s may be prone to certain health conditions:

Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.

Best For

  • Families with Children
  • Active Owners

May Not Be Ideal For

  • Apartment Living
  • Long Work Hours Away
  • Sedentary Lifestyles

Guides for your Coonhound (Black and Tan)

The story behind the Coonhound (Black and Tan)

Coonhounds descend from English and French hounds brought to colonial America, and the Black and Tan draws particularly on the Talbot hound and the Bloodhound, whose scenting power and build show clearly in the modern dog. Southern and Appalachian hunters developed the type through the 1800s to trail and tree raccoon and opossum at night, and to work larger quarry including bear and deer across rough mountain ground, selecting for cold-nose ability, endurance and a carrying voice rather than speed. Working families maintained the type, American registries recorded it, and it became the first coonhound variety recognised by the AKC in the 1940s. It remains chiefly a hunting dog in the southern and midwestern United States, with a modest presence as a companion elsewhere.

Originally bred for: Hunting, Treeing, Trailing. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.

Feeding a Coonhound (Black and Tan)

A large scenthound with a hearty appetite and a talent for lying around needs measured portions of a quality adult food, since this breed gains weight easily outside hunting season. Working dogs need greater energy density, and the deep chest favours divided, unhurried meals.

Watch for: Long heavy ears make recurrent ear irritation a familiar complaint that is often unrelated to diet, and coonhounds scavenge enthusiastically, which muddies any assessment of intolerance. No ingredient pattern has been established. Restricted diets and elimination trials should begin only on veterinary advice.

Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.

Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.

Living with a Coonhound (Black and Tan)

Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.

For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.

Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.

Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.

Compare Coonhound (Black and Tan) with Other Breeds

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