How Much Does a Bluetick Coonhound Cost? (2026 Guide)

Purchasing a Bluetick Coonhound from a responsible breeder who health-tests breeding stock — OFA hip and thyroid certifications at minimum — typically costs between $800 and $1,500. Dogs from proven field trial or hunting lines, or from breeders with particularly deep health documentation, can reach $2,000 or above. Prices below $500 from online listings or pet stores should prompt serious questions about the quality of the breeding program and the health of the parents.

Monthly food costs for a Bluetick run meaningfully higher than small or medium breed dogs given the 45 to 80 pound size range. A 40-pound bag of a quality large-breed kibble — brands like Purina Pro Plan or Hill's Science Diet, which are frequently recommended by veterinarians for their AAFCO feeding trials — costs roughly $55 to $75 and lasts an average Bluetick approximately three to four weeks depending on activity level. Budget $55 to $80 per month for food, with working or highly active dogs requiring more caloric density and landing toward the higher end.

Grooming costs for the Bluetick are among the lowest of any breed in its size class. The short, dense coat requires no professional trimming, and most owners manage coat maintenance entirely at home with weekly brushing and monthly bathing. The recurring professional grooming expense that defines ownership of many other breeds is essentially absent here. That said, ear cleaning supplies — quality ear cleaning solution, cotton balls, and occasional veterinary ear cleanings — should be factored in. A routine veterinary ear cleaning runs $25 to $60 depending on your clinic and whether any infection treatment is needed simultaneously.

Annual routine veterinary care — wellness exams, core vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and flea and tick prevention — typically runs $400 to $700 for a healthy Bluetick. Heartworm prevention is particularly important given the breed's Southern heritage and continued concentration in heartworm-endemic regions; monthly preventatives cost approximately $8 to $15 per month. The breed's known health issues create real potential for higher veterinary expenditures: a single hip radiograph and OFA evaluation costs approximately $150 to $300, thyroid panels run $80 to $120, and a GDV emergency surgery — should that worst-case scenario occur — can cost between $3,000 and $8,000.

Pet insurance is worth serious consideration for this breed given the GDV and hip dysplasia risk profile. Providers like Healthy Paws, Trupanion, and Embrace typically quote monthly premiums of $45 to $85 for a Bluetick depending on the dog's age, your location, and the deductible and reimbursement level you select. Enrolling before any conditions are diagnosed is essential, as pre-existing conditions are universally excluded.