The Black and Tan Coonhound has a short, dense coat. It’s easy to groom, but it sheds a lot. Brush the coat with a hound mitt or rubber curry brush one to three times a week to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils.
Regular brushing should keep your Coonhound pretty clean, but if he has a houndy odor you can bathe him to help reduce the smell. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. The shampoo left on the coat can cause dry, flaky skin.
Keep those droopy ears clean and dry to prevent bacterial or yeast infections from taking hold. Plenty of Coonhounds like to swim, so dry the ears thoroughly any time they’ve been in the water.
The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually every few weeks. Brush the teeth frequently for good overall health and fresh breath.
Black and Tan Coonhounds require a moderate amount ofexerciseevery day, whether it’s a play session in the yard or a long walk. Of course, these hounds were bred to hunt and have a very strong instinct to chase after any small animal they smell, so the yard has to have a tall, solid fence, and the walk has to be on a leash.
An obvious option for exercise is, of course, a hunting trip, and not just for raccoons—the Black and Tan can be trained to help out hunting just about any kind of game, from squirrels to deer, if local ordinances permit. And, as one might expect, Black and Tans also enjoy participating in coonhoundfield events.
Your Black and Tan Coonhound will have quite an appetite, so be sure to feed your dog a quality dog food with a meat listed as the first ingredient. As well, any diet should have the proper balance of protein, carbs, fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals, whether it’s store-bought or homemade food. And make you don’t overfeed your Black and Tan Coonhound, as it can lead to serious health issues.
The Black and Tan is typically a sturdy breed with few health problems, and aresponsible breederwill screen breeding stock for health conditions such aship dysplasia, cataracts, and thyroid issues.
Black and Tan’s ears should be checked weekly for any signs ofinfection. As with all breeds,the teethshould be brushed regularly.
If you’re using your Black and Tan Coonhound to hunt, it will require specialized training in scent discrimination. There are professional hunting and gun dog trainers that can provide this type of training for both you and your dog.
When it comes to obedience training, you’ll need to employ consistent, positive training methods and lots of repetition (Tip: Most coonhounds are food oriented and will do almost anything for a treat).
Black and Tan Coonhounds are smart but can be easily distracted. You may get frustrated at its ability to focus on a scent, so work with the dog rather than against its natural tendencies. Like any kind of larger dog, start training and socialization early.
