Instructions
Spay/Neuter your Coonhound. Spaying females before the first heat prevents breast cancer and decreases the likelihood of uterine infections. Neutering males before the age of four prevents testicular cancer, helps maintain a healthy prostate and curbs aggression.
Stay current on your Coonhound's vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventative and schedule regular medical exams, including eye exams, since the breed is prone to entropian and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Both are inherited eye disorders that could lead to blindness. You can also do a monthly home exam of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, teeth and gums.
Have your Coonhound's teeth professionally cleaned and scaled on a regular basis as suggested by your veterinarian.
Feed your Black and Tan a quality dog food with meat listed as the first ingredient and the proper balance of protein, carbs, fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals or a homemade diet...and don't overfeed. Their ideal weight should be between 55 and 75 lbs.
Give your Coonhound plenty of exercise and playtime. At home, your Black and Tan may seem like a couch potato, but when you get her outside, forget about it. It's an energetic breed.
Grooming the Black and Tan is pretty easy. Their short, shiny coat requires minimal brushing. But give them a break every once in a while because they enjoy it.
Bathe your Coonhound when necessary. Every three to four months is a good rule of thumb, unless of course, they take mud baths. Their coat has a tendency to get dry from too much bathing.
How to Care for a Black and Tan Coonhound
Just as humans come in different varieties--so do Coonhounds--six to be exact: Black and Tan, Bluetick, English, Plott, Redbone and Treeing Walker. For this little article, we will focus on the Black and Tan (the dog, not the brewskie), which traces its origins to the good old American South--where some crafty breeder decided to cross a Foxhound with a Bloodhound. Here are some ways to care for this gentle and loyal dog.