Bluetick Coonhound is a scent hound breed originating from the United States. It became popular as a raccoon hunting because of its scenting ability but is also kept as a pet dog for its friendly and smart temperament.

In this article, you’ll learn about the training methods and strategies of the Bluetick Coonhound.

When to Start Training Your Bluetick Coonhound?

You should begin the training of your Bluetick Coonhound the moment you bring them home. The appropriate time to begin is when your puppy reaches 4 weeks old. Start with basic commands and home training so that your little pup will learn with ease.

Bluetick Coonhound should be trained when they are a puppy.
PC: AKC

Continue training your dog and make sure they master obedience training and basic commands until they become 4 months old. After that, it’s time for you to raise the bar and start the pre-agility training of your Bluetick Coonhound.

The agility training should be started as soon as the Bluetick Coonhound reach their adolescence or become 6 months old.

Where to Start Training Your Bluetick Coonhound?

Like every new learner, the training of your Bluetick Coonhound begins at home. Start teaching basic commands and obedience training the moment you bring them home. You can make your pup master all the basic training at home until they become 4 months old.

When the time for advanced and agility training comes, you can train them in the backyard. Moreover, you can also take them to a park or an open area so that it’ll be easy for both parties. You can also take your Bluetick Coonhound to a dog training center if you don’t have time training them.

How to Define Task to Your Bluetick Coonhound?

If you are a first-time dog owner, you might find it difficult to define tasks to your Bluetick Coonhound. You’ll have to be very patient and consistent in this. First, make the proper use of verbal commands and hand gestures. Your dog finds it way easier to understand commands by reading your body gestures.

Teaching Bluetick Coonhounds scent trailing.
Image Source: Instagram@girlswithhounds

To teach scent trailing to your Bluetick Coonhound, you have to first let your dog have a good smell of a thing, probably a cloth. After making sure that your dog remembers the scent of the cloth, hide the cloth and make them find it by sniffing. Use sign languages and body gestures to help them understand.

Before expecting your Bluetick Coonhound puppy to perform a complex or difficult task, you’ll have to demonstrate them how it’s done. Repeat the demonstration many times so that your pooch can memorize them. Lastly, when your dog succeeds in performing the task nicely, reward them with delicious treats immediately.

Training Process

Here are some of the best training processes to help you train your Bluetick Coon accurately:

Positive Reinforcement

One of the most reliable training methods, Positive Reinforcement is recommended by dog owners all over the world. Whenever your Bluetick Coonhound shows a desired behavior or act, praise them or reward them with treats instantly.

By appreciating your dog’s effort by rewarding or praising them, they will be happy and develop a positive mindset. They will think that their hooman will praise ad feed them if they behave according to their desire and will.

Mirror Training

Mirror Training is another effective training method for training your Bluetick Coonhound. As they naturally want to please their owners, they will try to mimick each and every thing their owners do.

A proper way to train dogs using Mirror Training method.

For this method, you’ll need a person (other than you) who will work as a model in this training. Keep your dog in front of you and start giving commands to the model as if he/she is a dog. Praise and treat for correct behaviors and scold for bad behaviors that the model does. Your dog will learn what to do and what not to do by observing you.

Electronic Training

The Electronic Training method is a lot similar to the widely popular clicker training method. The only difference is that we use an electronic collar on your Bluetick Coonhound’s neck. What you’ll have to do is to produce sounds through the collar according to the behaviors of your puppy using a remote.

It might concern you that electronic gadget is not safe for your canine. But don’t worry, they are totally safe for them. Though the stimulation of the collar may irritate your Coonhound, it doesn’t harm them. Just produce two different sounds; one for positive and next for negative actions of your dog.

Training Strategies

You’ll have to apply some strategies so that you get positive results every time. To help you train effectively, here are some training strategies:

Avoid Punishment: Your Bluetick Coonhound cannot learn tasks properly if you are forcing and punishing them if they don’t perform accordingly. You’ll have to handle with love and care so that they will want to learn things by their own will.

Use Treats: Treats are one of the most important strategies while training your dog. You can use them both as a reward or motivation for your Bluetick Coonhound to learn tasks easily. Treat them when they successfully do a wanted behavior but don’t feed them unless they do it well.

Go Slow: Every learner needs time to learn and perform new skills based on their capabilities. Though the Bluetick Coonhound is a fast learner, you’ll have to go slow and steady so that they won’t face difficulties while learning. To clarify, teach one command per one or two days but make sure your puppy masters. Remember that the motive is to teach your dog, not force them.

Visit Doglime if you want to know the training methods of other dog breeds.

Tags