Quick Take
- Maintaining Foundation Stock Service records is required for American Kennel Club recognition.
- The 60-minute daily exercise quota makes apartment living impossible for this breed.
- Oddly, the cur achieved higher health standards than most purebreds despite its mixed lineage.
- Reputable breeders must prioritize scouting the puppy’s parents to prevent congenital issues.
The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a medium-sized cur-type breed that is a mix of hunting and treeing dogs, including the Plott Hound. Its records have been kept since 1995 by the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service Program. The breed is a sturdy, healthy, energetic dog with hunting and treeing skills, a keen sense of smell, speed, and intelligence. It is as loving, loyal, brave, easygoing, and sensitive as a family pet or companion animal.
3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Treeing Tennessee Brindle
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| Great hunting and family dog: He loves to hunt, people, and other dogs. A wonderful all-around breed. | Needs space: It’s not suitable for apartment living or a house with no yard. You may have to make him an outdoor dog house. |
| Unusual breed: Not many people know about it because it’s a local breed. | Needs exercise: This is an energetic breed and is not suitable for overly busy owners. |
| Healthy: Because of being a cur or mix of several hunting and treeing dogs, it has more genetic variety than many other breeds. | Strong prey drive: It must always be kept on a leash while walking outside, or it will run to chase smaller animals. |

The Treeing Tennessee Brindle needs about an hour of exercise each day.
©Michael O'Keene/Shutterstock.com
Size and Weight
The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a medium-sized short-haired dog with a withers height of 18 to 24 inches for males and a withers height of 16 to 22 inches for females. Males weigh 35 to 50 pounds fully grown, while females weigh 30 to 40 pounds fully grown. Treeing Tennessee Brindle puppies weigh between four and eight pounds at eight weeks of age and are considered to be fully grown at 12 months of age.
Common Health Issues
As a cur, the Treeing Tennessee Brindle has a mix of Plott Hound and other hunting and treeing breeds. As a result, it is very sturdy and healthy. While the Treeing Tennessee Brindle is generally considered a healthy breed, potential health issues such as hip dysplasia and obesity have been reported, so responsible breeders screen for these conditions. Its average lifespan is 10 to 12 years, which is normal. Bloat is an issue any dog breed can face, while breeds with long ears are at risk of ear infections.
Temperament
The temperament of the Treeing Tennessee Brindle is easygoing and energetic. It has a loyal, sensitive, brave, and affectionate personality and social, affectionate behavior. Like a hunting hound with traits of athleticism, speed, intelligence, and keen smell, its personality shines during the hunt, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a great family pet or companion animal. It can get along with people, children, other dogs, and pets. It does have a strong prey drive, however, and so tends to chase smaller animals.
How To Take Care of Treeing Tennessee Brindle
New pet owners looking for how to care for treeing Tennessee brindles, especially treeing Tennessee brindle puppies, must consider their range of unique factors. Whether it’s about care related to being an athletic hunting hound, its medium size, or age, Treeing Tennessee Brindle owners must consider needs specific to the breed.
The Best Dog Food
Treeing Tennessee brindles, especially puppies, have certain needs that are different from those of other dog breeds. Always opt for high-quality dog food that covers the nutritional bases, even though the exact prevalence of certain health conditions in this breed isn’t totally clear yet. Therefore, new owners should consider the following factors when choosing food for their pet:
Puppy food: Although this puppy is a medium-sized breed and very healthy, it might develop hip dysplasia with age due to overuse. Eye problems, especially due to poor nutrition or old age, are also possible issues. Its food should be AAFCO-compliant, formulated for growth (puppies) or all life stages, and specifically for medium-sized dogs. Animal protein should be the first and main ingredient. Calcium and vitamin D for bone strength, skin, and coat, vitamins A and E, and omega fatty acids are important for developing puppies. If you choose to feed your dog a raw diet, include vegetables and no grains, and start during puppyhood for early familiarity. Do not overfeed to prevent excessive growth and overdevelopment.
Adult dog food: Healthy, medium-sized breeds such as the Treeing Tennessee Brindle do not have any special dietary needs, except for nutrients to prevent possible health issues that are generally common in dogs. His diet should be formulated for medium-sized dogs at all life stages or adult dogs, and have animal protein as the first and main ingredient. Low phosphorus will prevent kidney or bladder stones and urinary tract infections. He needs less calcium as an adult, too.
Maintenance And Grooming
The Treeing Tennessee Brindle has a short, dense, soft coat. There is no special maintenance or grooming for the breed standard. Hence, regular cleaning of teeth and ears, and clipping of claws are similar to those of other dog breeds. He only needs brushing once a week and rarely needs a bath, except when he’s muddy or dirty.
Training
The Treeing Tennessee Brindle has a medium aptitude for training and does especially well when training for hunting, especially tracking prey that goes up trees. It is also very intelligent. However, it is sensitive and so does best with positive reinforcement for ease of training.
Exercise
The energy level of the Treeing Tennessee Brindle is medium to high, and the breed needs space to run around in. A long, daily walk or jog, especially at a park or in the woods, is great. Using exercise training also accomplishes the teaching of new tasks and behaviors.
Puppies
Treeing Tennessee Brindle puppies cost anywhere from $800 to $1,500. Factors that affect their price include age, breeder location, breeder reputation, parents’ health, litter size, lineage, and the dog’s quality. On the other hand, some puppies and adult dogs of the breed might be available at a rescue, and their price would be the adoption fee.
Treeing Tennessee Brindle And Children
The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is excellent with children. Its social, playful, sensitive, easygoing, and affectionate personality makes it a great family pet.
Dogs similar to Treeing Tennessee Brindle
- Plott Hound: One of his ancestors, the Plott Hound, is larger in size and has longer ears. This large scenthound was originally used for hunting bears. As with the Treeing Tennessee Brindle, it does not have baggy skin, unlike other hounds.
- Redbone Coonhound: Used for hunting raccoon, deer, boar, bear, cougar, and other large game, it is descended from red-colored foxhounds. It is likewise a scenthound, but with physical features common to coonhound breeds.
- Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound: Bred for hunting foxes by scent, this hound has saggy skin and is native to the state of Virginia. A related breed, the Black and Tan Coonhound, is a cross between it and the Bloodhound.
Treeing Tennessee Brindle Pictures
View all of our Treeing Tennessee Brindle pictures in the gallery.
Michael O'Keene/Shutterstock.com
Sources
- Wikipedia / Accessed October 9, 2021
- Dog Care Knowledge / Accessed October 9, 2021
- the sprucePets / Accessed October 9, 2021
- DOGELL / Accessed October 9, 2021
- Dog Food Guide / Accessed October 9, 2021
- Dog zone / Accessed October 9, 2021
- Pet Guide / Accessed October 9, 2021
- The Dog Vvisitor / Accessed October 9, 2021
- Dog Breed Standards / Accessed October 9, 2021