Three new breeds – Bluetick Coonhounds, Boykin Spaniels and Redbone Coonhounds – have been given full recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC) bringing the number of AKC fully recognized breeds to 164. Full recognition entitles each of these breeds to now participate in the thousands of events –  from shows to sporting trials – hosted by the AKC each year.
 
 
Bluetick Coonhounds
Bluetick Coonhounds are athletic and vigorous dogs noted for for their distinctive and long-travelling “bawling” bark. Bluetick Coonhounds are hard-working and determined, able to track and tree raccoons and small animals with enormous skill. Mike Hayworth, President of the Bluetick Breeders of America, states, “Blueticks are happiest on the hunt and make excellent hunting and tracking buddies. Hayworth also pointed out that “each Bluetick has a marvelous but distinct personality.”
 
Bluetick Coonhounds have short coats that are dark blue with ticking or a mottled pattern. Their large and wide-set eyes give them a particularly sweet expression whether on the hunt for small game or begging at the dinner table.
 
It is thought that Blueticks descended from French Staghounds and English Foxhounds. In the United States, Blueticks used to be referred to as English Coonhounds. However, in 1945, because of a dispute with English breeders who were beginning to develop faster and larger English Coonhounds, American breeders broke away from the English Coonhound association and began calling their dogs Bluetick Coonhounds.