THE MODERN DAY BLUE TICK COONHOUND
By Susan Lloyd
T
he modern day Blue Tick Coonhound can trace its origins to an importation of Grand Bleu de Gascognes from the Marquis de Lafay-
ette to George Washington in 1785. Th ese French Hounds where crossed on Wash- ington’s hounds which descended from hounds brought to America in 1650, by Robert Brooke. One Grand Blue owned by George Washington was recorded as giv- ing birth to 15 puppies, and Washington likened their musical voices to the “bells of Moscow”. Th e Grand Bleu was too slow on the trail to please the American hunter but, when bred to American hounds, it increased their cold-trailing ability and their endurance. In the beginning of the 20th century all hounds of Bluetick, Redtick and Walker type where all lumped into a group known as English Coonhounds. It is thought this was because they still resembled their heavy boned English ancestors, and where recognized by UKC as one breed as Eng- lish Fox and Coon Hounds. Th e Bluetick breeders of the day proud of their larger, cold-nosed and resolute, if slower hounds wanted to keep their old style of hunt- ing. Fearing this faster is better trend; the Bluetick Breeders of the ‘40’s pulled away from English Coonhound. Th ese breeders
The head is broad between the ears with a slightly domed skull, prominent stop with a long broad deep muzzle, square in profile with flews well covering the lower jaw.
o ffi cially broke away in 1945 and estab- lished the Bluetick Coonhound Breed. Th ere is a common misconception that the coonhound breeds have been sepa- rated by color alone. Th is is farthest from the truth. Th e currently recognized coon- hound breeds have been bred to make the most of the individual hunting style. Now that the Bluetick has been rec- ognized by AKC, there is a trend toward
rewarding smaller hounds. It seems that there is some confusion in the choice of wording of the general appearance descrip- tion in the standard. General Appearance “ Th e Bluetick should have the appear- ance of a speedy and well-muscled hound. He never appears clumsy or overly chunky in build. He has a neat, compact body, a
“HE NEVER APPEARS CLUMSY OR OVERLY CHUNKY IN BUILD. He has a neat, compact body, a glossy coat and clear, keen eyes.”
280 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , F EBRUARY 2014
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