Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Focus on the Black and Tan Coonhound

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

These medium-sized dogs stand up to 27 inches at the withers and can weigh as much as 75 pounds. They have a black and tan coat and the appearance of a typical hound dog, with long, hanging ears, loose fitting skin and long legs.

The original Black and Tans were created by crossing Talbot Hounds, Foxhounds, and Bloodhounds. The idea was to create a dog for treeing racoons, but the Black and Tan proved such an able tracker that it was soon being used to hunt larger game, including deer, mountain lions, and even bear.

These are loyal, affectionate and good-natured dogs who form close bonds with humans. The are also intelligent and fast learners which makes them excellent pets for an appropriate owner.

They do however need a great deal of exercise and will therefore do best with an active family. Without proper exercise Black and Tans can become destructive and are prone to howling when left alone.

Consistent pack leadership is a must with this breed, as are training and socialization. Dogs that have not been socialized may be aggressive towards other dogs. The hunting instinct is still strong, and these dogs will follow any scent they encounter.

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.

The Black and Tan is generally a robust, healthy breed and suffers from few inherited diseases. There is a risk of hip dysplasia and, as with many long eared breeds, they may suffer ear infections. Eye problems also occur occasionally.

Black and Tans love to eat and are therefore prone to obesity. Strict portion and treat control is therefore advised.

Grooming is quite easy as the short coat only needs to be brushed once a week. You should also take care to inspect and clean the ears and eyes regularly.

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 dog names can be hard to find. The best advice is to try one of the online dog names, sites. My personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ, a site that has tons of excellent dog names to pick from, including thousands of cute dog names.

Black and Tan Coonhound

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Black and Tan Coonhound History and origin:

First used in Medieval England, the Black and Tan Coonhound was perfected in the southern United States.  This breed is one of six types of Coonhound and was used as a tracker of opossum, raccoon, and bear.  It is a working hound that is not usually seen in the show ring.

Description:
Standing 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 70 and 90 pounds, this is a big, strong, agile scent hound.  The shedding coat is short, dense, and requires regular brushing with a hound glove.  Regular ear check is important with this breed.

About the Black and Tan Coonhound:

This is a very strong, hardy, active, driven breed that is primarily a” hunting dog and should not be considered for use as a family pet.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is not as adaptable to the home as the Beagle or Basset.  He is best owned by a hunter who can put his natural abilities to the best use. The Black and Tan is eager, alert, and possesses a superb sense of smell and will be easily distracted by any scent wafting through the neighborhood.  Similar to the Bloodhound and to a lesser extent, the Basset, this breed can be provoked to aggression if required to obey when he does not want to or when he does not understand what he is expected to do.  This is an explosive, non-thinking type of aggression that comes with very little warning.  The instinct to track in this breed is usually stronger than his owner’s ability to control; the dog goes into a driven, trance-like state that is hard to break through.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is normally suspicious of strangers and is not recommended for families with children because of his potential for aggression.  Though bred to be a pack hunter, he can be very dog-aggressive.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is also very vocal, making him best suited to life on a farm or in the country.  He is susceptible to hip dysplasia and ear infections and must have his ears cleaned regularly.  His owner must handle the dog liberally from day one or risk being bitten.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of branded meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry food.

Ideal Home:
A house with a fenced yard or a kennel is essential.  This breed does not make a good family pet because he does not understand and will not tolerate children.  He does much better if owned and used by a hunter on a regular basis.  He is a working hound that needs regular exercise as well as supervision and firm no-nonsense leadership.  Obedience training and socialization from day one are necessary for the Black and Tan Coonhound.

Medical Problems In Golden Retrievers

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Epilepsy In Golden Retrievers

Also known as seizures, epilepsy disorders normally occur from viral infections, and environmental factors as well.  Even though an inaccessible seizure isn’t always a problem, dogs that have recurring seizures should never be bred.  Vets can recommend medicines that control recurring seizures, although medicine isn’t always effective.  Although epilepsy doesn’t affect the health of a Golden Retriever, it does have an effect on breeding.  You can never tell if it is indeed heredity, therefore breeding is pretty much out of the question – to avoid passing it on to the litter.

Golden Retrievers Skin allergies

Skin allergy is the most common medical issue with Golden Retrievers. Skin allergy is normally the result of allergens such as flea bites, dust, airborne pollen, food, and even mold.  Symptoms will vary, although they can include bits, scratching, licking, and even ear infections.  Diet is extremely important here, as it can help to prevent a lot of these problems.  If you consult with your vet, you can more than likely eliminate the risks your pet has of getting a skin allergy.

Hypothyroidism In Golden Retrievers

Hypothyroidism is a condition that causes the thyroid gland to malfunction.  Golden Retrievers that are affected by this disease will normally show such symptoms as coat problems or obesity.  This medical problem can also result in a lack of fertility as well.  A lack of fertility can be a big problem for breeders, as it makes it very hard for the affected Golden Retriever to breed.

The treatment of hypothyroidism involves taking the oral supplement for hypothyroidism on a daily basis.  Once it has been treated successfully, the prognosis will appear to be normal and dog will have a normal, healthy life span, providing there are no other medical problems.  This condition is somewhat common with Golden Retrievers, and can be diagnosed by your vet.

Some Golden’s who suffer from hypothyroid problems will have seizures, although this will stop once they go on the oral treatment medicine.  Even though the hypothyroid condition isn’t associated with epilepsy, you should monitor your dog to be on the safe side.  You don’t want to take any chances with your dog coming down with epilepsy, which is why you should always have your vet do routine checks.

Even though medical problems are somewhat common with Golden Retrievers, you can help to prevent them by making sure your dog is healthy.  If you do your part and make sure that you treat your Golden well, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.  Golden Retrievers are generally healthy dogs, although they can get ill from time to time.  If you take your dog to the vet and get him treated as soon as he gets sick – like any dog, Golden Retrievers will be better and back to his normal self in no time at all.

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