What Are the Cons of the Bluetick Coonhound?
The Bluetick Coonhound, despite its many positive attributes, isn’t the right breed for everyone. The downsides of owning a Bluetick Coonhound include their loud vocalizations, high exercise needs, strong prey drive, and potential for stubbornness.
Introduction: The Bluetick Coonhound – A Breed with Personality
The Bluetick Coonhound, instantly recognizable by its striking mottled coat and soulful bay, is a breed steeped in American history and bred for the specific purpose of trailing and treeing raccoons. While their hunting prowess and loyal nature make them appealing, prospective owners must understand that owning a Bluetick Coonhound comes with its own set of challenges. They are not easy dogs, and careful consideration is paramount before bringing one into your home. This breed demands commitment, consistency, and a realistic understanding of its unique characteristics.
Understanding the Bluetick Coonhound Breed
Before diving into the specific cons, it’s important to understand the breed’s inherent traits. Blueticks are scent hounds, bred to follow their noses and vocally alert their owners to the presence of prey. This drive, combined with their independent nature, shapes many of their behavioral tendencies.
The Drawbacks: Addressing the Cons
So, what are the cons of the blue tick hound? Several key challenges are frequently mentioned by Bluetick owners and experts:
-
Excessive Vocalization: Blueticks are notorious for their barking, baying, and howling. This vocalization is instinctual and serves as their primary method of communication while hunting. In a suburban or urban environment, this can lead to noise complaints and strained relationships with neighbors.
-
High Exercise Needs: Bred for long hours of tracking, Blueticks require significant daily exercise. A simple walk around the block is rarely sufficient. They need space to run, explore, and engage their powerful noses. Without sufficient exercise, they can become bored, destructive, and even more vocal.
-
Strong Prey Drive: Their intense prey drive makes them challenging to keep off-leash in areas with wildlife or other small animals. Even with extensive training, the lure of a scent can override their obedience. This requires owners to be vigilant and proactive in managing their dog’s environment.
-
Potential for Stubbornness: While intelligent, Blueticks can be remarkably stubborn. Their independent nature makes them less eager to please than some other breeds. Consistent, positive reinforcement training is essential, but even then, they may occasionally choose to follow their own agenda.
-
Shedding: Blueticks have short, dense coats that, while relatively low-maintenance, shed moderately year-round. Regular brushing can help minimize shedding, but it is a consideration for those sensitive to dog hair.
-
Susceptibility to Certain Health Issues: Like all breeds, Blueticks are prone to certain health problems, including hip dysplasia, bloat (gastric torsion), and ear infections. Responsible breeders screen their dogs for these conditions, but owners should still be aware of the risks.
Comparing the Cons: Is a Bluetick Right for You?
The following table summarizes the common cons and provides context for comparison:
| Con | Description | Impact | Management Strategies |
|---|---|---|---|
| ———————- | ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————— | ————————————————————————————————————————- | —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— |
| Excessive Vocalization | Frequent barking, baying, and howling, especially when following a scent. | Noise complaints, strained relationships with neighbors, indoor disturbance. | Consistent training, soundproofing efforts, addressing underlying anxiety, appropriate exercise. |
| High Exercise Needs | Requires significant daily exercise to prevent boredom and destructive behavior. | Destructive behavior, excessive barking, obesity, restlessness. | Daily walks, runs, hikes, scent work, interactive games, secure fenced yard. |
| Strong Prey Drive | Intense urge to chase and hunt small animals. | Difficulty keeping off-leash, risk of injury to wildlife, potential for chasing cars. | Secure fencing, leash training, recall training, management of environment, muzzle training in high-risk areas. |
| Potential Stubbornness | Can be independent and less eager to please than some other breeds. | Challenges during training, inconsistent obedience, potential for ignoring commands. | Consistent, positive reinforcement training, early socialization, patience, understanding of breed characteristics. |
| Shedding | Moderate year-round shedding. | Allergies, need for regular cleaning. | Regular brushing, appropriate diet, vacuuming frequently. |
| Health Issues | Prone to hip dysplasia, bloat, and ear infections. | Vet bills, potential discomfort and pain for the dog. | Choosing a reputable breeder, regular vet checkups, maintaining a healthy weight, appropriate diet, proactive ear cleaning. |
Making an Informed Decision
Before welcoming a Bluetick Coonhound into your home, carefully consider these potential drawbacks and honestly assess your ability to meet their needs. They are wonderful dogs, but only for the right owners. Consider if the pros outweigh these cons for your lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bluetick Coonhound Drawbacks
What are the cons of the blue tick hound that are most commonly overlooked?
The most frequently overlooked con is the intensity of their scent-tracking drive. Many owners underestimate how powerfully this instinct influences their behavior, even in domesticated settings. It can be incredibly challenging to train a Bluetick to ignore a compelling scent, requiring significant time, patience, and specialized training techniques.
Are Bluetick Coonhounds good apartment dogs?
Generally, Bluetick Coonhounds are not well-suited to apartment living. Their high energy levels, need for space, and tendency to vocalize make them challenging to manage in a confined environment. Without access to ample exercise and mental stimulation, they can become restless, destructive, and prone to excessive barking, which can lead to complaints from neighbors.
How much exercise does a Bluetick Coonhound need daily?
Bluetick Coonhounds require a significant amount of daily exercise, typically at least one to two hours of vigorous activity. This could include long walks, runs, hikes, or time spent playing in a large, securely fenced yard. Mental stimulation through scent work or interactive games is also crucial to prevent boredom and destructive behavior.
Can a Bluetick Coonhound be trained to be quiet?
While it’s unrealistic to expect a Bluetick Coonhound to be completely silent, training can help manage their vocalizations. Consistent training, positive reinforcement, and addressing any underlying anxiety or boredom can all contribute to reducing excessive barking and baying. However, it’s important to understand that vocalization is an inherent part of their breed and cannot be completely eliminated.
What are the health concerns specific to Bluetick Coonhounds?
Specific health concerns for Bluetick Coonhounds include hip dysplasia, a genetic condition affecting the hip joint; bloat (gastric torsion), a life-threatening condition where the stomach twists; and ear infections, due to their long, floppy ears which can trap moisture and debris.
How does the Bluetick Coonhound’s prey drive affect their behavior around cats?
A Bluetick Coonhound’s strong prey drive can make living with cats challenging, especially if the dog was not raised with cats from a young age. While some Blueticks can learn to coexist peacefully with cats, it requires careful introduction, consistent training, and vigilant supervision. It’s essential to ensure the cat always has a safe space to retreat to and never leave them unsupervised together, especially during the initial stages of introduction.
Are Bluetick Coonhounds good with children?
Bluetick Coonhounds can be good with children, particularly if they are raised together. However, it’s crucial to supervise interactions between children and dogs, especially young children, as Blueticks can be boisterous and may accidentally knock them over. They also require training and socialization to ensure they are comfortable and well-behaved around children.
How much does it cost to own a Bluetick Coonhound?
The cost of owning a Bluetick Coonhound varies depending on several factors, including the cost of the puppy, food, vet care, training, and supplies. Owners should budget for ongoing expenses such as food, vet bills, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, and toys. Unexpected vet bills can also arise.
What is the best way to manage a Bluetick Coonhound’s shedding?
The best way to manage a Bluetick Coonhound’s shedding is through regular brushing, ideally several times a week. A good quality deshedding tool can help remove loose hair and minimize shedding. A healthy diet and regular bathing can also contribute to reducing shedding.
What are the benefits of owning a Bluetick Coonhound despite the cons?
Despite the cons, Bluetick Coonhounds are incredibly rewarding companions. They are loyal, affectionate, and intelligent dogs with a zest for life. Their hunting instincts make them excellent scent work partners, and their playful nature provides endless entertainment. For the right owner, the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
How does the Bluetick Coonhound’s stubbornness impact training?
The Bluetick Coonhound’s stubbornness can make training more challenging than with some other breeds. They may require more patience, consistency, and creative training techniques. Positive reinforcement methods, such as rewarding desired behaviors with treats or praise, are generally more effective than punishment-based methods.
If considering a Bluetick Coonhound, what questions should be asked to the breeder?
When considering a Bluetick Coonhound puppy, it’s crucial to ask the breeder about the health history of the parents and grandparents, including any instances of hip dysplasia or other genetic conditions. Inquire about the temperament of the parents and how they are raised, as well as what socialization the puppies receive early on. A reputable breeder will be transparent and happy to answer your questions, showing they prioritize the health and well-being of their dogs. Also, ask What are the cons of the blue tick hound‘s parents temperament?