<P> Dr. Lathman is one of the hunters in the coonhunting competition, who owns a pair of Black and Tan Coonhounds . He treats Grandpa's sprained ankle back at the campground . After the contest, he takes him to the hospital . </P> <P> Old Dan is the bigger of Billy's two Redbone Coonhounds. Old Dan is a stout, brave dog, who almost always kills the coons he and Little Ann hunt . Old Dan is an eager hunter, but he has many strange quirks . He won't hunt with any hunter other than Billy, or any dog other than Little Ann, and he refuses to even hunt with Billy when Ann isn't along . </P> <P> Little Ann is the smaller of Billy's two Redbone Coonhounds . Little Ann is much smarter than Old Dan and she is the one who trees the ghost coon that had eluded so many dogs . She is unusually playful for a hound and was unable to have puppies due to being the runt in a big litter . Little Ann is much sweeter than Dan and is more like a pet than a hunting dog . </P> <P> Old Blue is a big, scruffy Bluetick Coonhound who belongs to the Pritchard boys . The ghost coon has fooled Old Blue many times . Little Ann and Old Dan maul Old Blue when he gets loose during the ghost coon hunt . </P>

Main characters in the book where the red fern grows