Raccoon hunting is a popular sport in some parts of America. And to most coon hunters, using dogs is the only way to do it. The United Kennel Club recognizes seven breeds of coon dogs.
American Black and Tan
The American black and tan is descended from the American Foxhound and the Virginia Foxhound with some bloodhound mixed in. The mostly black coat has tan trim on 10 to 15 percent of the body; a small white patch on the chest is acceptable for the breed standard. The black and tan relies solely on its nose to find the quarry. A typical dog stands 21 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh 40 to 75 pounds.
American Leopard Hound
The American leopard hound, an all-around tree dog, was known as the leopard cur until 2008. The early specimens were brought from Spain to Mexico and then to America for bear hunting. The breed now hunts squirrel, opossum and raccoon. Some are still used to hunt feral hogs. These dogs vary in color and range in from 21 to 27 inches and 35 to 75 pounds.
Bluetick Coonhound
Blueticks were first registered as a separate breed in 1946. The bluetick has a mottled blue coat. This breed also runs between 21 and 27 inches but can get up to 80 pounds. It has a free tongue on the trail, meaning it is very vocal with a squall or chop mouth.
English Coonhound
This breed started as a foxhound, but adapted to American life by learning to hunt raccoon, opossum and cougar. The explorer Hernando DeSoto brought the breed to North American and used it to hunt Indians rather than game. These dogs fall in the same height range as the other breeds. All hound colors are acceptable, though redticked dogs dominate the breed.
Plott Hound
The Plott hound and the American leopard hound are the only coondogs without English ancestry. The Plott breed was started by German Jonathon Plott, who came to America in 1750. The dogs were originally bred for hunting wild boar, but quickly became adept at hunting raccoons. Plott hounds are brindle colored and the same size as the other breeds.
Redbone Coonhound
Any red coondog was originally called a redbone until the 1840s when a breeding campaign was started. Today, these dogs are almost entirely red colored. This breed is the same size as the other breeds, and is considered the best when it comes to trailing game across water.
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