Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound was originally bred to be the best possible scenthound and a great hunter. These dogs are alert and quick, and can easily adapt to hunting in the most difficult terrain such as swamps and mountains. These dogs have a square built which means they are equally tall as they are long.

They are slightly taller at the withers than at the hips. Their eyes are set wide apart and can come in various shades of brown from hazel to dark. Dark eyes are preferred in the show ring.

The Redbone Coonhound has long ears that are set fairly low and, when stretched out can easily reach the tip of the nose. They have medium-long tails that have a slight brush.

Grooming

Their coat is short and smooth with just enough coarseness to provide protection. The color of the coat should be solid red and small white patches on the toes and chest are tolerated but not encouraged.

These dogs shed year-round and weekly brushing is required to keep the amount of hair under control and to keep the dog looking good.

 The rest is basic care; trim their nails when needed (if they don't wear them down naturally), brush their teeth weekly to prevent tartar buildup and bacteria development. Regularly check their ears for any sign of redness or a bad odor that can indicate an infection. You can wipe their ears with a cotton ball dipped into an ear cleaner.

The key for your dog to get used to everything mentioned above is to start early with them. Make a positive experience for the dog, full of praises and rewards, and you can be sure that your dog will enjoy all these things when they grow up.

Exercise

This is a high-energy dog that requires daily activity to spend his energy. Redbone Coonhounds will enjoy all the fun activities such as long walks, hiking, canine sports, or just playing with their owner. To make this dog happy, you will have to devote your time to playing sessions if you don't want him to develop behavior problems. In fact, they will become bored and destructive if they don't spend all their energy outside.

Redbone Coonhound temperament

You should always keep in mind that this is a hunting breed and those traits can always show through. The Redbone Coonhound is one of the eight Coonhound breeds, and it is by far the most laid-back. They can be rather easy to train and handle if they are properly socialized while they are still young. They are typical scenthounds, and that means that there is nothing more that they like than following a scent.

It is important that you walk them on a leash and keep them in a secure area as they are likely to wander off following an interesting scent.

They can be a family pet just like they can be a great hunting breed. These dogs usually get along great with kids, but older kids are usually a better fit for them. They can be quite enthusiastic when it comes to playing so older kids won’t get afraid or accidentally get injured by the dog’s enthusiasm. They can be enthusiastic barkers, so try and teach your dog to stop barking on command.

Redbone Coonhound training and socialization

When training a Redbone Coonhound, make sure you use positive training methods. Never use fear, punishment, or pain because not only is it cruel, it can result in an overly shy or even aggressive dog. These dogs don’t like to concentrate for long so keep training sessions short and interesting. They have an interesting way of obeying commands, and you should correct the unwanted behavior right away.

Socialization should be a huge part of every dog’s life, and the Redbone Coonhound is no different. Socialization can make a hunting breed get along great with even cats as well as other dogs and strangers. Expose your dog early to different situations, people, sights, and sounds. Make sure it is a positive experience, and your Redbone Coonhound puppy will develop into a stable, well-rounded, and well-behaved dog.

Health problems

Like any other dog breed, the Redbone Coonhound can potentially develop health problems. If you are buying a dog, make sure the breeder can provide you with the necessary health tests and guarantees. Always ask to see the results of tests from the puppy’s parents. The health problems these dogs are associated with are: 

• Hip dysplasia - Genetic problem affecting hips resulting from an improperly formed hip joint.
• Gastric Torsion - Also known as bloat. A dangerous condition that causes the stomach to twist (torsion).

The Redbone Coonhound is generally considered a very healthy breed that can live 12-15 years. 

Breeders

If you decided that this is the right dog for you, now it's time to find a good and responsible Redbone Coonhound breeder. Buying a dog from such a breeder will provide you with a healthy puppy who will not have health and temperament problems.  

Buying a dog from a responsible breeder will cost you more money, but you can be sure that you will get a healthy puppy. If you are unable to buy a dog, we advise you to search for local animal shelters because there is a chance you can find a Redbone Coonhound dog in it.

When you bring your new puppy home, start with the training and socialization immediately. By doing so, you will end up with a well-behaved dog whom you can trust. Provide him with enough daily exercise for him to be happy.  If you devote your time and energy to this dog, you can be sure that you will end up with a companion for life

World Dog Finder team

Redbone Coonhounds are one of the six dog breeds that were developed by the American settlers for raccoon hunting. They were excellent at their job, at many dogs are still used for hunting purposes even today.