Redbone Coonhound Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Traits & Facts
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Height:
21 – 27 inches
Weight:
45 – 70 pounds
Lifespan:
11 – 12 years
Colors:
Red, red and white
Suitable for:
Families, guarding, sporting, large homes
Temperament:
Loving affectionate, down to earth
The Redbone Coonhound is an American purebred created for hunting raccoons in the early days of American Colonial expansion. It likes to relax during the day but becomes a tireless hunter at night. It’s a surefooted dog that moves quickly through many types of terrain.
The Redbone Coonhound has a red or red and white coat, and its height is in proportion to its length. It has dark brown or hazel eyes set far apart. Its floppy ears are set low on the head and can almost reach the nose if stretched out. Its nose is black with large open nostrils.
Redbone Coonhound Puppies — Before You Bring One Home…
3 Little-Known Facts About the Redbone Coonhound
1. Existed before the Civil War.
The Redbone Coonhound descends from the Red Foxhounds brought to America before the Civil War.
2. Have a superb hunting game.
Redone Coonhounds hunt by “treeing” game, which means it chases raccoons and other game into trees where hunters can easily snag them.
3. Favored for their gorgeous looks.
Some breeders bred the Redbone Coonhounds for looks over hunting skills, which is why they have such a striking red color.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Redbone Coonhound 🧠
The Redbone Coonhound is an even-tempered and relaxed dog at home during the day. It gets much livelier at night and becomes a perfect watchdog. It likes to please its family members and will usually play games, go for walks, or learn new tricks without too much encouragement. It will chase small animals like squirrels and rabbits that run through the yard, and we recommend early socialization if you have other pets.
The Redbone Coonhound is smart enough to learn several tricks, and you can also train them to do small tasks around the home.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡
The Redbone Coonhound makes a great family dog because it mostly lounges around all day, hanging out with whatever family members will allow it. It’s not necessarily a lap dog, but you will often find it at your feet watching TV, or watching you watch TV. At night it becomes more alert and makes a great watchdog that only barks when it needs to, or if it sees a raccoon. It’s cautious around strangers but not aggressive.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽
Early socialization is the best way to keep all our pets in harmony as the Redbone Coonhound has generations of breeding telling it to chase small animals into the nearest tree. It will often chase cats, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, and even birds. With proper training, you can get it to leave the cats alone, and it usually doesn’t bother other dogs, but it will be hard to stop it from chasing animals in the yard.
Things to Know When Owning a Redbone Coonhound
These are some of the more important things to consider before you purchase a Redbone Coonhound.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
The Redbone Coonhound is a medium-sized dog with a healthy appetite. It will require high-quality dog food with whole meat listed as the first ingredient and no artificial dyes or preservatives. We recommend foods fortified with antioxidants, omega fats, and other helpful ingredients but recommend consulting your vet before using a specialized food, like a grain-free, puppy, or senior dog food.
Always follow the feeding instruction on the package, so you don’t overfeed, which can lead to obesity. We also recommend spreading the food out over several meals, so you don’t overload their digestive system. More small meals also lessen the chance that a dangerous condition known as bloat will occur. Bloat is when your dog’s stomach fills with air, usually because they eat too fast, which can lead to a life-threatening condition.
Exercise 🐕
The Redbone Coonhound is energetic and requires a moderate amount of exercise. It makes a fantastic running companion and will even run along with a bike. It also enjoys long hikes and is surefooted enough to climb in most terrains. Fetch and catch are also great ways to burn off excess energy and help keep your pet healthy and happy.
Training 🦮
The Redbone Coonhound is an intelligent dog that is easy to train and rarely becomes stubborn during training sessions. We recommend early socialization to help them get along better with pets and to cut down on how aggressively they chase yard animals. Puppy classes can be even more effective, and many times these classes can help you as well by showing you tips and tricks you may not have discovered on your own.
If you intend to train the dog yourself, we recommend a positive reinforcement training style, which means lots of praise and treats. Holding your training sessions at the same time every day is also essential to help your dog get into a routine for maximum effectiveness.
Grooming ✂️
The Redbone Coonhound requires a minimum amount of grooming, and you will only need to use a grooming mitt or brush once a week to keep shedding to a minimum. This action will also help to distribute natural oils more evenly over the hair leading to a softer, shinier coat.
Your Redbone Coonhound will also need its nails trimmed every few weeks. Well-groomed nails will make it easier for your pet to walk and will reduce scratched and torn furniture. You’ll know it’s time to trim the nails when you can hear them clicking as your dog walks.
Health Conditions ❤️
The Redbone Coonhound is a healthy dog that usually doesn’t suffer from too many ailments, especially for a purebred dog. However, there are still a few conditions that tend to affect the Redbone Coonhound, and we’ll look at them here.
- Obesity
Obesity is a major problem among the dog population, with up to 45% weighing more than they should. Obesity can lead to several other health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. You can prevent obesity by following strict feeding guidelines and making sure your pet gets plenty of regular exercise.
- Ticks
Ticks are dangerous because they can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and many other diseases. The Redbone Coonhound is especially at risk because they like to play in the tall brush, and ticks can often find a home in their floppy ears. Therefore, it’s best to check the ears daily if they like to go outside.
- Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a term used for a condition very common in dogs where the hip doesn’t form right. An improperly formed hip joint will not allow the leg bone to move smoothly, which will cause the bone to wear down. As the bone wears down, it will affect the amount of weight that your dog can place on it. Symptoms include difficulty getting up from a resting position, decreased range of motion, and a reduced activity level.
- Ear Infections
The Redbone Coonhound is prone to ear infections because its large floppy ears can hold moisture. Symptoms that your dog might have an ear infection include shaking their head, scratching the ear, and a bad odor. Medication, usually in the form of a topical cream, will ease most ear infections, but you can help prevent them by making sure the ears are clean and dry at all times.
Male vs Female
The male and female Redbone Coonhound are very similar in temperament, but the males are slightly larger.
Summary
The Redbone Coonhound is a good all-around dog that’s relaxed during the day and keeps watch over the house at night. They have very few health problems and require very little grooming. A puppy school may help prevent them from chasing animals around the yard, and they are never aggressive.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over our look into this purebred as American as the frontiersmen that settled it. If it has helped you find your new pet, please share this guide to the Redbone Coonhound on Facebook and Twitter.
Featured Image: Crystal Alba, Shutterstock
