BLUETICK COONHOUND
Scenthound Group
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard

Revised January 1, 2003
Copyright 1986, United Kennel Club, Inc..............^(1)(1)(1)(1)View Registration Requirements

This standard has been framed for three real purposes: first, to act as a guide for the Judges at Bench Shows. Second, to furnish suggestions for breeders for improving the breed, and to promote higher ideals for their breeding programs. Third, to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the country.

It is most likely that the Bluetick is principally descended from the quick foxhounds of England with some introduction of the blood of various French hounds which were used for hunting big game. The French dogs were known as being very cold nosed. George Washington received five such French hounds from General Lafayette.
Blueticks were originally registered with UKC as English. In 1946, at the request of the Bluetick fanciers, UKC began registering Blueticks as a separate breed.

EARS: Well attached slightly below top of skull. Should be thin with slight roll, taper well towards a point, and should reach well towards end of nose. Ears set low enough on head and devoid of erectile power. Ears well attached to head to prevent hanging or backward tilt.

HEAD: Skull very slightly domed and broad between ears, never narrow. Stop prominent. Length from occipital to end of nose: males, 9 to 10 inches; females 8 to 9 inches.

EYES: Should be rather large, set wide apart at the stop, round. Dark brown, not lighter than light brown in color. Lids of eyes should be firm and close, without excess third eyelid showing, (no drooping).

MUZZLE: From stop to end of nose should be square, well proportioned in width with the skull, with depth and flews well covering the lower jaw. Depth of 3 to 41/2.

HEIGHT AT SHOULDERS: Slightly higher at shoulders than at hips, not lower at the shoulder than at hips. Adult males: 22 to 27 inches at shoulder. Adult females: 21 to 25 inches at shoulder.

LENGTH: Measured from point of shoulder to root of tail, should be equal to or slightly longer than height measurement.

NECK: Neck should rise with slight taper, not carried too high or too low, not thick as shoulders; muscular and of moderate length.

THROAT: Clean, with very small trace of dewlap (excess dewlap objectionable).

SHOULDERS: Clean, gradually sloped down from top of shoulder to point of shoulder and muscular. Not broad and protruding, but to appear as part of body, showing freedom of movement and strength.

CHEST: Should show considerable depth, rather than excessive width, allowing plenty of lung space. Fairly even with front of shoulders, extending well down toward the elbow in girth for adult males, 26 to 34 inches, and females, 23 to 30 inches.

RIBS: Should be well-sprung with good depth and taper gradually to floating ribs, resembling a curve in the chest, rather than a sunken drop-off between chest and belly.

BACK: Should be muscular, blending well with the neck when the head is held alert, sloping down slightly from withers to loins.

LOINS: Broad, well-muscled and slightly arched.

FORELEGS: Straight from the shoulders down to the feet, well boned and muscular, with a strong, straight pastern. Forelegs should appear straight from either side or front view.

FEET: Round with well arched toes. (No upward trend or toeclaw.) Thick, tough pads. When standing should appear to have cat-like feet. No hind dewclaws.

HIPS: Strong and well muscled, width slightly less than rib spring.

THIGHS: Of gradual taper with excess muscular development giving abundant propelling power. Breeching full and clean down to hock.

HOCKS: Firm and moderately bent not excessively bent (as cow hocks), hind legs to appear straight with the body when viewed from behind.

TAIL: Attached slightly below the back line, well rooted, and tapering to a moderate length as compared with length of hound. Carried high with a forward curve as of half moon. Tail well coated (not flagged), not rat tail.

COAT: Medium coarse and laying close to the body, to appear smooth and glossy. Neither too rough nor too short.

Males: 55 to 80 pounds. Females: 45 to 65 pounds.

Appearance of the Bluetick Coonhound should be that of a speedy, well-muscled individual, not clumsy or chunky built. Body should be neat, coat glossy; head carried well up but not goose-necked. Eyes clear and keen. Tail carried gaily above back, not curled or dropped between legs. Feet round and well padded. A pleading hound expression, not wild or cowering. Active, ambitious, and speedy on trail.

The Bluetick should be a free tonguer on trail, with a medium bawl or bugle voice when striking and trailing, may change to a steady chop when running, with a steady coarse chop at tree.

Preferred color of the Bluetick is a dark blue, thickly mottled body, spotted by various shaped black spots on back, ears and sides. Preference running to more blue than black on body. Head with black predominant, also ears. Tan dots over eyes and on cheeks with a dark red ticking on feet and lower legs below body line, on chest and below tail. Red may be eliminated as to the desire of the breeder, as well as the tan head coloring and amount of black on body. A majority of blue mottled body preferred to lighter ticking over the body. The amount of blue ticking should control over the amount of white in the body coat. Off colors not allowed.

Scissors bite preferred, even bite acceptable.

Only recognized pedigree and U.K.C.-registered bloodlines acceptable.