The Black and Tan Coonhound, is an impressive distinctive looking dog that excels as a hunting companion.

Standing up to 27 inches and weighing between 55 and 75 pounds, these medium-to-large sized dogs have the typical hound features – loose fitting skin, gangly legs, and long hanging ears. As the name suggests the coat is mainly black, with tan markings.

The progenitors of the Black and Tan Coonhound were the Talbot Hound, Bloodhound and Foxhound. The Black and Tan was bred originally for tracking racoons, but proved such an able hunter that it has since been used for much larger game, including mountain lion and bear.

Besides his value as a working dog, the Black and Tan also makes a great pet for the right owner. They are loyal, good-natured dogs, who bond very strongly with their human pack. They are also intelligent and quick to learn.

Be warned though that this is a dog that requires a lot of exercise and can become destructive if those needs are not met. The ideal owner is an active individual or family that involves the dog in lots of activities. Black and Tans also suffer separation anxiety and are prone to howling if left alone for too long.

Training and socialization are important with these dogs, while strong and consistent alpha leadership is a must. An unsocialized dog may become either aggressive or timid. As a hunting dog, the Black and Tan will chase small animals, so it is important to keep your dog leashed.

While they are generally good with people they are not really suited to small children as they may be too boisterous for them.With the right amount of exercise though, plus a good training program, this is a wonderful pet and loving companion.

This is a healthy dog breed with few of the dread diseases that are often found in purebred dogs. Hip displaysia is known to occur, while the long ears are prone to infections and the dog may also suffer eye problems, like cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy.

They also tend to be enthusiastic eaters, so they can become obese if you do not control their food intake.

This breed requires only minimal grooming and a weekly brush down is all it takes to keep the coat looking its best. A check on ears and eyes, to keep them clean and free of infection, should also form part of your weekly grooming routine.

It should be obvious that this is not a dog for apartment living. The Black and Tan needs lots of space to move around in as well as vigorous daily exercise. These dogs are tough enough to live outdoors, but are softies at heart and will much prefer to be inside, and close to those they love.

Good names for a Black and Tan Coonhound can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of cool dog names to pick from.