Black and tan coonhound (Dog standard)

The black and tan coonhound is first and fundamentally a working dog, a trail and tree hound, capable of withstanding the rigors of winter, the heat of summer, and the difficult terrain over which he is called upon to work.

FCI-Standard N° 300 / 04. 10. 2002 / GB

BLACK AND TAN COONHOUND

ORIGIN : USA.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD : 30.01.1991.

UTILIZATION : Hound.

FCI-CLASSIFICATION : Group 6 Scent hounds and related breeds.
Section 1 Large-SIZEd hounds.
Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : The Black and Tan Coonhound is first and fundamentally a working dog, a trail and tree hound, capable of withstanding the rigors of winter, the heat of summer, and the difficult terrain over which he is called upon to work. Used principally for trailing and treeing raccoon, the Black an Tan Coonhound runs his game entirely by scent. The characteristics and courage of the Coonhound also make him proficient on the hunt for deer, bear, mountain lion and other big game. Judges are asked by the club sponsoring the breed to place great emphasis upon these facts when evaluating the merits of the dog. The general impression is that of power, agility and alertness. He immediately impresses one with his ability to cover the ground with powerful rhythmic strides. Considering their job as a hunting dog, the individual should exhibit moderate bone and good muscle tone. Males are heavier in bone and muscle tone than females.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
Measured from the point of shoulder to the buttocks and from withers to ground the length of BODY is equal to or slightly greater than the height of the dog at the withers.
Height is in proportion to general conformation so that the dog appears neither leggy nor close to the ground.
BEHAVIOUR/ TEMPERAMENT : Even temperament, outgoing and friendly. As a working scent hound, must be able to work in close contact with other hounds. Some may be reserved but never shy or vicious. Aggression toward people or other dogs is most undesirable.

HEAD : The HEAD is cleanly modeled. From the back of the skull to the nose the HEAD measures from 9 to 10 inches in males and from 8 to 9 inches in females.
Expression : Is alert, friendly and eager. The SKIN is devoid of folds.

CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Tends toward oval outline. Viewed from profile the line of the skull is on a practically parallel plane to the foreface or muzzle.
Stop : Medium stop occuring midway between occiput bone and nose.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Nostrils well open and always black.
Flews : The flews are well developed with typical hound appearance. Teeth : Fit evenly with scissors bite.
Eyes : Are from hazel to dark brown in color, almost round and not
deeply set.
Ears : Are low set and well back. They hang in graceful folds, giving
the dog a majestic appearance. In length they extend naturally well
beyond the tip of the nose and are set at eye level or lower.

NECK : The NECK is muscular, sloping, medium length. The SKIN is devoid of excess dewlap.

BODY :
Back : The back is level, powerful and strong.
Chest : Chest reaches at least to the elbows.
Ribs : The dog possesses full, round, well sprung ribs, avoiding flatsidedness.

TAIL : Is strong, with base slightly below level of backline,
carried free and when in action at approximately right angle to back.

LIMBS :

FOREQUARTERS : The forelegs are straight .
Shoulders : Powerfully constructed.
Elbows : Turning neither in nor out.
Pasterns : Strong and erect.

HINDQUARTERS : Quarters are well boned and muscled. From hip to hock long and sinewy, hock to pad short and strong. When standing on a level surface, the hind FEET are set back from under the BODY and the leg from pad to hock is at right angles to the ground.
Stifles and hocks : Well bent and not inclining either in or out.

FEET : Are compact, with well knuckled, strongly arched toes and
thick, strong pads.

GAIT : When viewed from the side, the stride of the Black and Tan Coonhound is easy and graceful with plenty of reach in front and drive behind. When viewed from the front the forelegs, which are in line with the width of the BODY, move forward in an effortless manner, but never cross. Viewed from the rear the hocks follow on a line with the forelegs, being neither too widely nor too closely spaced, and as the speed of the trot increases the FEET tend to converge toward a center line or single track indicating soundness, balance and stamina. When in action, his HEAD and TAIL carriage is proud and alert; the topline remains level.

COAT

HAIR : Short but dense to withstand rough going.

COLOR : As the name implies, the color is coal black with rich tan
markings above eyes, on sides of muzzle, chest, legs and breeching,
with black pencil markings on toes.


SIZE :
SIZE : Measured at the shoulder Males 63, 5 to 68,5 cm (25 to 27 inches);
Females 58 to 63, 5 cm (23 to 25 inches).
OverSIZEd dogs should not be penalized when general soundness and proportion are in favor.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
HEAD : Excessive wrinkles.
Bite : Excessive deviation from scissors bite.
Eyes : Yellow or light eyes.
Ears : Ears that do not reach the tip of nose and are set too high on the HEAD.
HINDQUARTERS : Rear dewclaws.
FEET : Flat or splayed FEET.
COLOUR : lack of rich tan markings, excessive areas of tan markings, excessive black coloration. White on chest or other parts of BODY is highly undesirable.
SIZE : UnderSIZE.

Note : Inasmuch as this is a hunting breed, scars from honorable
wounds shall not be considered FAULTS.

ELIMINATING FAULTS:
Aggresive or overly shy.
A solid patch of white which extends more than one inch in any direction.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.

Source: FCI >>>