American Black and Tan Coonhound
Large, athletic hunters who work nights, Black and Tan Coonhounds are friendly, easygoing hounds who love company. They are snoozy by the fireside but tenacious when on the trail of the wily raccoon. The Black and Tan Coonhound is a real American original.
Black and Tans have an amazingly sensitive nose, long, velvety ears, and a sweet disposition. The coal-black coat features rich tan accents, including the distinctive 'pumpkin seeds' above keenly expressive eyes. These are big, strong hounds: A good-size male can stand 27 inches at the shoulder and cover ground with effortless, eager strides. Black and Tan Coonhounds are sociable hounds. A lonely Black and Tan Coonhound will serenade the neighborhood with loud, mournful 'music.' Black and Tan Coonhounds can keep pace with the most active family, but they also can hog the sofa for hours on end. Hounds will be hounds: A passing squirrel can arouse Black and Tan Coonhound prey drive in no time flat, so a strong leash and sturdy fence are must-haves. Black and Tan Coonhounds might be too much hound for the lifestyle of every owner.
The Black & Tan is one of many tracking breeds that were developed in the southern United States. The breed can trace its immediate ancestry to the American Foxhound and the Virginia Foxhound of colonial days, with probably the introduction of some Bloodhound stock. This latter would not only explain the coloration of the Black & Tan, but its tendency toward being larger boned than other breeds, its long ears and its famous cold nose.
The American Black & Tan can probably be traced to the English Foxhounds, and before that to the Tolbot Hounds and St. Hubert hounds of France. These hounds were first brought to England following the Norman invasion in the eleventh century. The American Black & Tan was the first coonhound breed to be admitted into the registry with UKC. When they were first registered in 1900, and for several years after that, they were registered as American Black & Tan Fox and Coonhound.