Bluetick Coonhound vs Drever

People compare Bluetick Coonhounds and Drevers because both are scent-driven hunting dogs with short coats, loud voices, and big personalities packed into medium-sized frames. On paper, they seem like cousins. both bark, both track, both need space. But in real life, they’re built for very different rhythms of living. The Bluetick is the all-American hunter’s companion. At 45 to 80 pounds, it’s a powerhouse built to trail raccoons through Southern swamps all night. It’s smart and tenacious, yes, but that focus comes with volume. four out of five on barking means you’ll hear it, and so will your neighbors. It bonds deeply with its people but isn’t what you’d call clingy. Kids aren’t its priority, and apartment walls won’t contain its drive. This dog thrives where land is wide and the woods are close. The Drever, meanwhile, is a Swedish import built for colder forests and family integration. Smaller at 35 to 40 pounds and standing under 15 inches, it’s a low-slung barker with serious stamina. What sets it apart isn’t just size. it’s temperament. Exceptionally good with kids and more affectionate than the Bluetick, the Drever fits better into active family life. It’s also rated higher for trainability, not because it’s smarter, but because it’s more eager to please. That makes it better for scent work or hunting without the single-minded intensity of a coonhound. Here’s the real insight: the Bluetick lives to hunt, and everything else is secondary. The Drever hunts, yes. but it also wants to come home and be part of the pack. If your life revolves around the chase, go Bluetick. If you want a hunting dog that also acts like a family member, the Drever might be the rare hound that truly does both.