Bluetick Coonhounds were developed in the American South from French and English hounds to trail raccoons at night and hold them up a tree with a ringing bay. The short, glossy coat is thickly mottled black on white, which reads as deep blue, often with tan points over the eyes and red ticking on the legs. Adults typically weigh 45 to 80 pounds and are built for endurance.
At home, many Blueticks are affectionate and happy to lounge near their people. Outdoors, a scent can make one single-minded and deaf to commands. In Alexandria, where raccoons and foxes turn up in parks and neighborhoods, that nose will have plenty to follow, so a leash and secure fencing matter. Dogs vary, but expect daily exercise, patient training and neighbors who can live with some howling.