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 and Tan Coonhound runs his game entirely by scent. The characteristics and courage of the Coonhound also make him proficient on the hunt f or deer, bear, mountain lion and other big game. Judges are asked 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.
Their coat is short but dense to withstand rough going. As the name implies, the colour is coal black with rich tan markings above eyes, on sides of muzzle, chest, legs and breeching, with black pencil markings on toes. Penalise lack of rich tan markings, excessive areas of tan markings, excessive black coloration.
Now the key is to prepare this functional hound into an appealing showdog whilst respecting the correct requirements of the breed standard.
When washing faces always use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. It’s no tear formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing, yet complete cleaning. Leave this on until all the shampooing of the body is done and then rinse off.
For the rest of the dog use Plush Puppy Herbal Whitening Shampoo on the white areas at the dilution ratio of 1:5 (1 part shampoo to 5 parts water). This shampoo is in fact not a lightening shampoo but a toning shampoo adding those same cool tones lost in transition! Use Herbal Whitening Shampoo for that crisp white finish. This will not lighten or bleach but instead tone with optical brighteners. This is the same for darker colours as it reduces any warm tones hence intensifying the depth of colour.
Now there are times where either sun bleaching or coat changing creates an overabundance of reddish/browning to the coat. For these times use Plush Puppy Black Opal Shampoo which is a strongly cool toned shampoo. Apply lightly diluted 50/50 and leave on for as long as the dog will stay still and then rinse. Note however that it is recommended only for black coats. It works much the same as the Whitening Shampoo but has stronger cool tonal qualities so don’t go overboard. The more you use this, the stronger the tonal qualities. Keep this only onto the black areas of the coat and not the rich tan markings.
While the standard does specifically ask for shine, all black dogs look better with a natural sheen to their coats. For this use Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo. We call this the ‘Shine’ shampoo as it features natural Henna stalk extracts that impart a beautiful gloss and shine to your dog’s coat. All Purpose Shampoo is primarily derived from organic sources and also features Alpine and Lichen herbs. It is wonderful to use on normal to slightly dehydrated coats. Again apply at a dilution rate of 1:5. A quick lather and rinse.
As an energetic outdoors working dog, a Black and Tan Coonhound is often exposed to the outdoor elements. How to hydrate, moisturise and protect their coat without resorting to conventional means such as a conditioner will certainly flatten but they also soften and will tend to make the coat generally fluffy and not smooth lying as required. Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil allows you to maintain healthy vigour to coat and skin without all the negatives of conditioners.
Use Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil to add shine, hydrate and condition to the coat. It is a truly beneficial blend of using extracts of Calendula oil, Wheat germ oil, and Evening Primrose.
Add 1 tablespoon to 4 Litres of water, then either sponge on or sluice well through the coat, and down to the skin, and LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE. This is quite a unique product in that it is not greasy and totally water-soluble. It gives an outstanding healthy vigour to the skin and coat. It will maintain the texture and moisture in the coat and help protect from the elements. Use the oil at this dilution rate after shampooing. Again leave in and do not rinse. You will get a nice healthy sheen on the coat with this routine.
Seabreeze Oil also helps keep any scurf at bay and leaves the coat smelling wonderful and with great healthy vigour and shine. You will be addicted to this product once you see the amazing results it gives not only short term but more importantly, long term to your dogs’ coats and skin.
We believe it is important to the overall result and outcome, to blow dry this coat weekly. Yes, we know, most people view the short coated breeds as easy no blow dry dogs but, if you can discipline yourself to doing this as a regular routine, shampoo, oil and blow dry you will never go through those moth eaten stages of coat shedding. The coat will surely shed but never the same as before, always now shedding smoothly and without affecting the overall show presentation of the coat. Use a cool strong force type dryer to get those dead hairs out – no amount of zoom or glove grooming will ever get out what a good blast can do. For in between shows, your job is to maintain the healthy vigour and texture to this coat. If the coat dehydrates, then the coat will start to bunch and fluff up and not stay close lying as is required and desired.
Use Plush Puppy Coat Rescue which is a naturally sourced treatment with a vast array of coat moisturising ingredients that are designed to soak into the coat and to help repair by filling up the open areas within each hair. Apply liberally along the top-line and head at a dilution rate of 2 tablespoons to 250ml water, leave on and don’t rinse for as long as you can. Let the dog run around outside with this on for a few hours or, if you cannot wait, then minimum of 10 – 15 minutes and rinse. Do this once a week or fortnight and follow with Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil once more. Remember, we need to hydrate not soften and all these products will do just what is required.
On Show day I like a spray of Plush Puppy Odour Muncher for a nice clean smelling dog. It literally munches the odour and works well for smelly problems such as emergencies in transit etc. Leaves a light fragrance – certainly not too much and definitely not too little. These were often dogs of kings and noblemen – why shouldn’t they deserve the royal treatment?
For a final boost of shine and lustre, spray a light mist of Plush Puppy Shine and Comb 30cm above the top-line, head and rear for a fine, natural sheen that exhibits those hairs of the coat to their utmost. Let the mist fall onto the coat then rub your hand over to blend. By keeping shine to the coat, you instantly give the appearance of deeper and richer colour as the light reflects off a smoother surface better than a rough surface.
Keep on hand Plush Puppy Wonder Wash to instantly clean up disasters which always occur within 5 minutes of ring time … don’t they just? Spray and lather up with your hands and wipe clean with a towel.
This striking breed of dog is gaining popularity in the show ring and with their black and tan markings along with their ground covering with powerful rhythmic strides gait is sure to catch a judges eye.
