Treeing Tennessee Brindles, also called TTB, are intelligent, brave hunting dogs specializing in hunting prey seeking refuge in trees. They originated in the surrounding provinces in the Ozark and Appalachian Mountains in the U.S. These breeds are categorized as Curs and have records in the Foundation Stock Services, a program designed by the AKC to keep breeding and maintain bloodline records for new and unrecognized canine breeds. The word ‘Cur’ has many definitions, but its modern usage describes treeing hound-type canine breeds initially developed for hunting and working purposes. TTBs are among the most sought-after Curs, excelling in treeing and farming work. Agile, alert, and fast, TTBs make for wonderful hunting dogs.
Table of Contents
Treeing Tennessee Brindle Overview
The Treeing Tennessee Brindle stands out among the hounds for their unique brindle coat. Still, their fanciers are more interested in their capability to send prey up a tree and hold it until the hunter reaches it. They have sharp sniffing skills and beautiful voices that sing out on the trail. They’re also devoted to their human families. The breed requires decent exercise to satisfy their built-in working drive and energy level. Their short, smooth, and low-shedding coats make grooming time a breeze, although routine brushing and nail trims are recommended. A generally healthy breed, the TTBs love training and activity and can excel at competitive canine sports.
If you’re looking for a hunting hound or an energetic companion who’ll keep you on your toes, this breed is for you.
The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a new breed, with its development beginning only in the United States during the early 1960s. Rev. Earl Phillips became acquainted with brindle Curs while examining a column he wrote for a canine hunting magazine and contacted the breed’s owners and fanciers. He discovered that this brindle Cur was highly treasured for its hunting abilities. In 1967, Rev. Earl spearheaded a movement to preserve and promote the breed. As a result, the Treeing Tennessee Brindle Breeders Association was founded, and the stock was gathered from the area on March 21, 1967, between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozarks.
Today, the Treeing Tennessee Brindle is still part of the AKC Foundation Stock Service and will be taken for recognition once the minimum number of registered dogs is met.
The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 2017.
Treeing Tennessee Brindle Highlights
Excellent hunting and family dog.
Because of being a Cur or mix of hunting and treeing dogs, the TTBs have more genetic variety than many other breeds.
Early socialization and training are essential, or they can become destructive.
They are known for their calm, loyal, and friendly temperaments.
TTBs may bark and howl if they need attention, mainly if they’re not being exercised enough.
They can herd livestock.
TTBs were developed in 1960
Treeing Tennessee Brindle Personality
Treeing Tennessee Brindle is recognized for their exceptional companionship and charming personalities and is still predominantly used as a working hound for hunters. It’s a playful and energetic puppy that can make an excellent pet for active families. They are not excessive barkers but will warn of the presence of strangers. They will track the scent of an animal and chase it up into a tree to make it more comfortable for the hunter to access. Also, these breeds have a loud, baying bark to alert the hunter that it has successfully found the quarry.
Treeing Tennessee Brindle is alert, friendly, lively, and obedient if you provide adequate, consistent training and leadership. However, ensure you use training methods to reward rather than punish; they can become sulky or timid when treated harshly.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
Medium to high
Family-friendly
Medium to high
Kid-friendly
Medium to high
Dog-friendly
Medium to high
Stranger-friendly
Medium
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
Low
Good for new owners
Low to medium
Sensitivity level
Medium
Tolerates being alone
Low to medium
Cold tolerance
Medium
Heat tolerance
Medium
Treeing Tennessee Brindle Physical Features
Head: The head is proportional to Tennessee’s size with a moderately large-sized, mesaticephalic skull type. They have a long and broad top skull with a slight median furrow, definite stop, full and deep muzzles, well-pigmented lips, black or self-colored noses, well-developed and well-muscled cheeks, oval to almond-shaped eyes, medium-sized ears, and bites are leveled, scissors, or reverse-scissors.
Neck, Topline, Body: Compact, deep, solid, medium-sized neck with a well-developed forechest, leveled or gently sloping topline, powerfully muscled, straight back, broad croup, taut and firm underline, and well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped ribs.
Tail: The tail is thick at the base and tapers towards the tip, often above the level of the topline or higher, but never tucked. Their tail may be sickled, sabered, or gently curved.
Forequarters: Well-angled and well-laid-back shoulders with closely fitted elbows, straight and sturdy forelegs, and the forelimbs seem straight with never weak or broken pasterns.
Hindquarters: Tennessees have well-developed hips and thighs withlong and equal length upper and lower thighs, well-angulated stifle joints with an excellent bend to well-let-down rear pasterns, balanced angulation, and compact and oval-shaped feet with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat: The coat is smooth, short, and close to the body, with a rough, fine, glossy texture.
Color: Solid brindle, brindle fawn, black with brindle points, black with creeping brindle, or black saddle with a brindled tan.
Gait: Elegant and effortless in action and moves with well-balanced reach and drive.
Treeing Tennessee Brindle Temperament
Perfectly groomed, elegant, and athletic, Treeing Tennessee Brindles are winning hearts. Their sensitive spirit makes them more conscious of their surroundings, but they can also be fun and playful. Treeing Tennessees are well-mannered, but they need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to achieve this. However, their high energy levels and playfulness make them ideal pets for active families, especially families that spend much time hiking and outdoors.
If you are getting a Treeing Tennessee Brindle puppy, ensure you have enough time and energy to keep them engaged. They might exhibit separation anxiety, which most commonly manifests as nervous barking. In addition, you can change their stubborn temperaments with proper and continuous training.
Treeing Tennessee Brindle Training
The Treeing Tennessee Brindle is a brilliant hound that does exceptionally well when trained for hunting. However, TTB is more sensitive than other dogs, so you must be careful about your chosen training method. Positive reinforcement training is advised. TTBs are expert vocalizers. Their tendency to howl and to bay is expected in the home environments.
Here are some of the training activities that you need to do with your Treeing Tennessee Brindle dog:
Due to their hunting nature, TTBs have high energy levels that must be burned off daily. You can keep your dog content by hiking in the woods, mile-long walks, and doing canine sports. These breeds benefit significantly from having off-leash roaming, so consider having a fenced-in area for your pup to enjoy without worry.
You can meet your Treeing Tennessee Brindle’s daily exercise essentials by:
Treeing Tennessee Brindles are a short-haired, non-hypoallergenic breed that sheds a moderate amount year-round, so you will always find some hair on your clothes or around the house. TTB’s grooming needs are as follows:
Brush their coat regularly to reduce shedding and prevent matting.
Like many Cur dogs, the Treeing Tennessee Brindle is known for being a hardy and healthy breed. However, given that it’s a relatively new dog breed, it is not known for having any specific inheritable health disorders. Reliable breeders will, however, perform examinations and screening on potential parents to detect any potential problems.
Health Overview
General health
Medium to high
Weight gain tendencies
Medium
Size
Medium
Ear Infections: Several environmental and hereditary factors lead to ear infections in dogs. Some of these include:
Allergies
Autoimmune disorders
Wax build-up in the ear
Excessive cleaning
Signs of ear infection in dogs:
Excessive scratching or shaking of dog’s heads
Odor
Dark discharge
Redness or swelling in the ear canal
Eye Diseases: Some TTBs may develop various eye disorders. The breeder from whom you purchase your pup should have eye clearances dated within the past year for both parents, ensuring their eyes are normal.
Obesity: TTBs are prone to obesity if proper diet and exercise are not provided. They may also get diabetes, which may be another cause of obesity.
Patellar Luxation: When the patella (kneecap), which generally lies in the cleft of the femur (thighbone), slips out of position, it is referred to as the luxating patella. If the patella luxates, your dog may feel periodic hind limb “skipping,” lameness, or locking up the leg at an irregular angle.
Bone cancer: In dogs over ten, cancer is the prime reason for mortality. However, if diagnosed early, you can rectify half of all the malignancies in your dog.
Symptoms of cancer:
Unusual discharge from the mouth, eyes, ears, or rectum
Weird odors emanating from the mouth, ears, or any other part of the body
Hip dysplasia: When a dog’s thigh bones fail to fit into the pelvic socket of the hip joint, it results in hip dysplasia, a genetic condition.
Recommended Health Tests
Hip Evaluation Tests
Knee Evaluation Tests
Ear examination
Blood Tests
X-rays
Physical Examination
Treeing Tennessee Brindle Diet and Nutrition
TTBs are high-energy, working hounds requiring a calorie-rich, high-protein dry kibble diet with minerals and vitamins for optimal nutrition. Buy foods formulated for hunting and working dogs to ensure your TTB will get the nutrients it needs daily. We recommend consulting a vet with experience with hunting and hound-type canines for the best result. Each breed is unique, and the correct quantity and quality of food depend on age, weight, activity level, health, and more.
Here are a few canine foods that meet your TTB’s nutrition needs:
TTB has been approved to compete in AKC Companion Events since January 1, 2010.
Treeing is a kind of hunting that uses canines to force prey to climb into a tree. The phrase ‘barking up the wrong tree’ comes from this kind of hunting.
TTB has been assigned the Hound Group designation.
AKC/FSS – American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service® Program
DRA – Dog Registry of America, Inc.
NAPR – North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
Adding a Treeing Tennessee Brindle to Your Family
Things to Remember Before Getting a Treeing Tennessee Brindle
Getting a Treeing Tennessee Brindle puppy from a reputable breeder is best to prevent inevitable circumstances like health diseases and provide you with vaccination certificates. In addition, it is best to check with the puppy’s parents to ensure their health and happiness.
Cost of a Treeing Tennessee Brindle
A Treeing Tennessee Brindle puppy may cost around $800 to $1500.
