History of the Bluetick Coonhound By Cynthia Grooms Bluetick Coonhound
For those new to the Bluetick Coonhound, I am hoping this will give you a better insight to how and why the Bluetick came to be. Historical information for the Bluetick Coonhound is difficult to find prior to the 1920’s back to the time of George Washington. It is believed that General LaFayette brought 5 French hounds and gave them as a gift to General Washington. These hounds are believed to be the French Stag hounds that were pop- ular at the time. There were 2 types of stag hounds known during this time, a white hound: Grand Gascon Saintogeois and a blue hound: Grand Bleu de Gasconge. Gen. Washington probably used them for small game hunting and in packs. During this time and into the years that followed, several crosses were made with English Foxhounds in the Virginia area probably trying to get a faster, hotter-nosed hound. Big game hunters were more interested in a hound that could run a cold track (a track that is several days or weeks old) and come up with the game at the end. They wanted a more resolute (maybe slower) and colder nosed dog than was being bred at the time. This desire helped to begin the movement to separate the Bluetick from the English Coonhound. The Bluetick Coonhound was original- ly classified as an English Coonhound.
considered a separate breed from the Bluetick Coonhound. There are several theories of how the modern Blueticks came to be. Some of these theories are discussed below. The first theory is that the Grand Gascon Saintogeois and the Grand Bleu de Gasconge were bred together and then selectively bred for the blue color and other traits that were prized by hunters. These include: drive, fast-tracking, cold- nosed & hard hunting ability. These are some traits that are still bred for in the Bluetick today. There were some French hounds brought into the US via Florida and Louisiana as well. These were the French Tri-Colors, Porcelains, and Gasconges. Again, selective breeding to get the desired hunting traits and the blue color remained a top priority.
Bluetick and Redtick puppies were born in the same litter. The blue ones were classi- fied as Bluetick and the red ones were clas- sified as English. A group of breeders got together and in 1946 created the first breed standard and petitioned UKC to offi- cially recognize the Bluetick Coonhound as a separate breed. A select group of men are considered the foundation of the Bluetick Coonhound that we know today. Some of these breeders include: Bill Green, the Lee brothers, O.O. Grant, Henry O. Smith, and Elbert Vaughn among others. Bluetick breeders wanted larger, cold- nosed and more resolute dogs. They con- tinued to breed for the type they were looking for while maintaining the blue color. Blueticks were mainly used to put food on the table or hunt for hides. Because of the origins of the Bluetick Coonhound is not very clear until the 1920’s and later, the popular belief is that the modern day Bluetick is descended from the Grand Bleu de Gasconge. The Gasconge hound is still bred today and is Won the Paris dog show 1863, 1st prize.
A hound hunting today.
Another theory on the early breeding is that another cross was made with the Grand Gascon Saintogeois (the white hound) rather than the Grand Bleu de Gasconge (blue hound) during a period from 1934-1948. Thus began another series of selectively breeding for the blue color and the desired hunting traits. As years passed and more emphasis was put on hunting for raccoon, the size and shape of the Bluetick became more refined and sleeker than those that are considered the foundation stock. There are some breeders that want to try to get back some of the larger hounds of yesteryear. In order to do this, they are breeding high quality Bluetick stock with the Grand Gascon Saintogeois in an attempt to recreate the original line of Blueticks. ■
A modern day pack of Grand Gasgon Saintogeois.
Some of Bill Green’s dogs, foundation.
S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE • J UNE 2011 • 187
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