With the floppy ears and droopy jowls, the Black & Tan Coonhound closely resembles a bloodhound. They are gentle, good natured, and patient with children.

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog used principally for trailing and treeing. The Black and Tan Coonhound runs its game entirely by scent. This dog rarely barks unless the hunted game has been cornered. The courage of the Coonhound make it proficient on the hunt for deer, bear, cougar and other big game.

The general impression is that of power, agility and alertness, with the ability to cover ground swiftly with powerful rhythmic strides. Each hound has its own distinctive voice which is often recognizable to its owners from great distance.

In 1945, the Black & Tan became the only one of the six varieties of Coonhound to be recognized in the Hound Group by the American Kennel Club. The Redbone Coonhound and the Plott Hound have since been recognized in the Miscellaneous Class. The other three varieties of Coonhound are the Bluetick Coonhound, the English Coonhound, and the Treeing Walker Coonhound.

A quick-to-follow, intelligent, loyal and good-natured hunter and companion, the Black and Tan Coonhound pleases hunter and owner alike. They may howl if they are left alone too much. The Black & Tan Coonhound is extremely active and is best exercised freely outdoors for several hours a day. This breed drools and slobbers. The normal height is 23-27 inches and the weight is 50-75 pounds.