Scent hound Large size 25-34 kg

Black And Tan Coonhound

An easygoing, nose-driven American hound that is great with family but bays loudly and follows scents anywhere - fenced space and patience required.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Large
Size
25-34 kg, 58-69 cm tall
High
Activity
Needs long daily walks and sniffing outlets
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Fairly independent but may bay when bored
Moderate
Trainability
Independent nose; recall off scent is hard
Very low
Coat care
Short coat; minimal upkeep
Good
Fit with kids
Gentle and tolerant with children
Moderate
Other pets
Prey drive; supervise with small animals
Moderate
Health burden
Hip dysplasia, bloat, ear infections

The Black And Tan Coonhound typically weighs 25-34 kg, stands 58-69 cm, and lives 10-12 years.

Consider this breed if…

you want a mellow, affectionate large dog that is genuinely good with kids,
long sniffy walks, hikes or tracking games are part of your life,
you have a securely fenced yard and neighbors out of baying range,
a low-maintenance coat matters more to you than obedience-trial polish.

Do not consider this breed if…

you live in an apartment or dense suburb - the bay is loud and carries,
you expect off-leash reliability; a hot trail beats your recall,
cats or rabbits share the home and the dog was not raised with them,
houndy realities like drool, ear cleaning and counter-surfing annoy you.

A typical day with a Black And Tan Coonhound

  1. 7:00 · Morning
    Long leashed walk with heavy sniffing time
  2. 9:30 · Midmorning
    Sprawls somewhere soft and snores
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Yard patrol, nose to the ground
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Scent games or a food puzzle
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second long walk or trail outing
  6. 21:30 · Night
    Dead asleep on the sofa, paws twitching

Temperament and training

Hunting drive Very high
Independence High
Vocality High
Gentleness with people High
Stamina High
Sensitivity Moderate
Common owner mistakes
Letting it off leash in open country and being surprised it vanished on a scent · Neglecting weekly ear cleaning until chronic infections take hold · Punishing baying instead of managing boredom and giving the nose real work

Family and environment

Kids Good
Patient and tolerant; big enough to bowl over toddlers.
Dogs Good
Pack heritage makes most of them dog-friendly.
Cats Conditional
Raised together can work; outdoor cats get chased.
Apartment Poor fit
The bay alone rules out shared walls.
House with a yard Suitable
Needs a truly secure fence; it digs and roams.
City Manages
Possible with effort, but noise and leashes constrain it.
Countryside Ideal
Room to roam and scents to work - its home turf.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock
Bloat (GDV) Deep-chested breeds are at risk
Chronic Ear Infections Long ears trap moisture; check regularly
Hypothyroidism Manageable with medication

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Bigger, droolier cousin with the ultimate nose
Bloodhound
The ultimate tracking nose in a gentle giant - loving with family, but drooly, stubborn, prone to bloat and one of the shorter-lived large breeds.
View profile →
Fellow coonhound, similar life in a red coat
Redbone Coonhound
An easygoing, affectionate American hunting hound that needs space and daily exercise - its baying voice and nose make off-leash and close-neighbor life tricky.
View profile →
Leaner pack hound with comparable needs
American Foxhound
A sweet, easygoing pack hound with tireless stamina and a loud voice, best for active rural homes rather than apartments.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Black and Tan Coonhound cost in the US?
One of the more affordable purebreds: $500-$1,200 from most breeders, with show lines higher, and coonhound rescues regularly have adults for adoption fees under $400. Over a 10-12 year life, food and routine vet care for a large dog typically add $14,000-$20,000 or more, and bloat surgery or chronic ear treatment can add thousands.
Do Black and Tan Coonhounds bark a lot?
They bay - a deep, musical howl bred to carry across miles of woods, and it does exactly that in a subdivision. A well-exercised, mentally busy hound is reasonably quiet indoors, but boredom, loneliness or an interesting smell will bring the voice out. If close neighbors are part of your life, take this seriously.
Can a Black and Tan Coonhound ever go off leash?
Assume no. This breed was designed to lock onto a scent trail and follow it for miles independently of its handler, and even well-trained individuals go deaf to recall on a hot track. Leashes, long lines and fenced areas are lifetime equipment, not a training phase you graduate from.
Are Black and Tan Coonhounds good family dogs?
For the right setup, genuinely yes - they are among the most easygoing and kid-tolerant large hounds, affectionate without being clingy. The friction points are practical: the voice, the wanderlust, counter-level food theft and an independence that reads as stubbornness. A fenced rural or exurban family home suits them best.