Hightower,

I would get a dog that would tree a coon on a consistent basis no matter what breed first. Starting out with pups can be a loong road of disappointment. A straight coon treeing dog will be much more pleasurable for someone just starting out than trying to raise and train a pup, let alone two.

After you get a good idea of what a coon dog is and the traits you desire, it is much easier to select a breed or specific line that will meet your demands.