Plate 114 · The Americas
Bluetick Coonhound
蓝斑猎浣熊犬
“A blue-speckled hound with a 'cold nose'.”
- Origin
- United States
- Louisiana
- Region of origin
- Wikipedia places its origin in Louisiana; the marker is the state's reference point.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Bloodlines said to predate US independence; a separate breed from 1946
- Today
- Hunting dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Louisiana
A mottled-blue American coonhound with a 'cold nose' that can follow an old trail.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunting raccoon, and in packs on bear, boar and cougar.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Developed from the Grand Bleu de Gascogne of south-west France, the English and American Foxhounds and other hounds. The UKC first registered it with the English Fox and Coonhound and recognized it separately in 1946.
04 · Today
Hunting dog · Companion
A hunting hound and a companion.
Personality
- Devoted
- Smart
- Tenacious
- Vocal
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Plenty of exercise: long walks on lead and play in a fenced yard.
- Grooming
- Weekly brushing; moderate shedding.
- Training
- Smart but scent-driven; treats and early socialization help.
Living with one
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 11–12 years
- Coat
- Short, glossy coat, dark blue with black spots (ticking)
Field note
In coon-hunting slang, a 'cold nose' is a dog that can work a trail that is hours or days old.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Hound Group
- Also recognized by
- United Kennel Club
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Hound Group, recognized 2009.
Popular with raccoon hunters in the United States. AKC registrations: ranked 132 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Bluetick Coonhound — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bluetick-coonhound/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Bluetick Coonhound — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetick_Coonhound
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Louisiana origin, Grand Bleu de Gascogne and foxhound ancestry, UKC recognition as a separate breed (1946), AKC acceptance (2009).
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Wikipedia places its origin in Louisiana; the marker is the state's reference point.