What Is the Difference in A Red Bloodhound & A Bluetick Hound?

The red bloodhound is a color variation of the standard bloodhound breed, and like the bluetick coonhound is an excellent tracking and hunting dog. Both breeds are hard working animals that have been selectively bred for generations to produce desired traits. The two dogs are, however, markedly different in appearance and have differing origins. The bloodhound was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885; the bluetick is a more recent member being accepted in 2009.

  1. History

    • The two breeds both originate from Europe, the bloodhound being the older breed. Records of bloodhound-like dogs date back to the 3rd century A.D. Around the 12th century the dog began being selectively bred as a hunting breed in England. The bluetick descends from the French staghound, which was brought to the U.S. in the 18th century. George Washington was a noted owner of these French hounds. The French import was a slow tracker, so it was bred with local American hounds. The resulting cross-breeds were called English hounds and were either red or blue in variety. The breeders of blue dogs splintered off in the 1940s over disagreements on how the breed should progress and were renamed bluetick coonhounds. The red varieties maintained the English hound name.

    Description

    • The two breeds are both large, muscular dogs bred for endurance and as fast-moving trackers. The bloodhound tends to have a heavier, broader body type compared to the more slender bluetick and generally weighs 10 lbs. to 20 lbs. more on average. The bluetick's skin is tight to the body, unlike the bloodhound, which has large amounts of loose-sagging skin. The slender body type of the bluetick makes it slightly more agile than the bloodhound, which is more stout and solid.

    Coat and Color

    • The red bloodhound, as the name suggests, has a dark, reddish-colored coat. It is medium-length and dense to afford protection from undergrowth. The bluetick's coat is a dark blue base color with pale ticking or mottling all over. It also has a medium-length, coarse protective coat, but it tends to appear smoother than the bloodhound's.

    Temperament

    • The two breeds both exhibit a hard-working temperament and need to be kept active to avoid them becoming bored and problematic. The bloodhound has a slightly more amiable character, so if it is raised right and has a defined dominance structure it can be a family pet. The bluetick tends to be more geared to working and using its tracking instincts.