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General Appearance
The Bluetick should have the appearance of a speedy and well-muscled hound. He
never appears clumsy or overly chunky in build. He has a neat, compact body, a
glossy coat and clear, keen eyes. In motion he carriers his head and tail well
up.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height at withers for adult males, 22 to 27 inches. For adult females, 21 to 25
inches. Weight for males 55 to 80 pounds, females 45 to 65 pounds. Proportion
(measured from point of shoulder to base of tail and withers to ground) is
square or slightly longer than tall. DISQUALIFICATIONS: Males under 22 inches or
over 27 inches. Females under 21 inches or over 25 inches. (Entries in puppy
class are not to be disqualified for being undersize.)
Head
The head is broad between the ears with a slightly domed skull. Total length of
head from occiput to end of nose is 9 to 10 inches in males and 8 to 9 inches in
females. Stop is prominent. Muzzle is long, broad and deep, square in profile
with flews that well cover the line of the lower jaw. Depth of foreface should
be 3 to 4½ inches.
Eyes – rather large, set wide apart in skull. Round in shape and dark brown in color (never lighter than light brown). Eye rims tight and close fitting. No excess third eyelid should be apparent. Expression is a typical pleading hound expression, never wild or cowering.
Ears – set low and devoid of erectile power. Should be thin with a slight roll, taper well towards a point, and reach well towards the end of the nose when pulled forward. Well attached to head to prevent hanging or backward tilt.
Nose – large with well-opened nostrils. Fully pigmented, black in color.
Teeth – scissors bite preferred, even bite acceptable. Undershot or overshot are disqualifying faults. Disqualifications: undershot or overshot.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck – muscular and of moderate length, tapering slightly from shoulders to
head. Carried well up but not vertical (goose necked). Throat clean with only a
slight trace of dewlap.
Body – the body should show considerable depth (extending well down toward the elbow), rather than excessive width, to allow for plenty of lung space. Forechest is moderate, fairly even with the point of the shoulder. Girth of chest for males is 26 to 34 inches, for females 23 to 30 inches. Ribs are long and well-sprung, tapering gradually towards a moderate tuck-up. Back is muscular and topline slopes downward slightly from withers to hips. Loin is broad, well-muscled and slightly arched.
Forequarters
Legs are straight from elbows to feet, well boned and muscular, with strong,
straight, slightly sloping pasterns. Legs should appear straight from either
side or front view. Length of leg from elbow to ground is approximately one half
the height at the withers. Shoulders are clean and sloping, muscular but not too
broad or rough, giving the appearance of freedom of movement and strength.
Hindquarters
Hips are strong and well muscled, not quite as wide as ribcage. Thighs have
great muscular development for an abundance of propelling power. Breeching full
and clean down to hock. Hocks are strong and moderately bent. Dewclaws are
removed. Rear legs are parallel from hip to foot when viewed from behind (no
cowhocks).
Feet
Round (cat-like) with well arched toes and thick, tough pads.
Tail
Set on slightly below the line of the back, strongly rooted and tapering to a
moderate length (in balance to the overall length of the hound). Carried high
with a forward half-moon curve. Well coated but without flag.
Coat
Medium coarse and lying close to the body, appearing smooth and glossy. Not
rough or too short.
Color
Preferred color is a dark blue, thickly mottled body, spotted by various shaped
black spots on back, ears and sides. Preference is to more blue than black on
body. Head and ears predominately black. With or without tan markings (over
eyes, on cheeks, chest and below tail) and red ticking on feet and lower legs. A
fully blue mottled body is preferred over light ticking on the body. There
should be more blue ticking than white in the body coat. No other colors
allowed. Disqualifications: Any color other than that described in the standard.
Albinism.
Gait
Active and vigorous, with topline carried firmly and head and tail well up.
Characteristics
Active, ambitious and speedy on the trail. The Bluetick should be a free tonguer
on trail, with a medium bawl or bugle voice when striking and trailing, which
may change to a steady chop when running and a steady coarse chop at the tree.
Disqualifications
Males under 22 inches or over 27 inches.
Females under 21 inches or over 25 inches.
(Entries in puppy class are not to be disqualified for being undersize.)
Any color other than that described in the standard.
Undershot or overshot.
Albinism.
Approved – November 2007
Effective – July 1, 2008
For More information visit AKC.org