Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
Redbone Coonhound is an even-tempered dog best known for being an American original.
This is a kind and mellow dog who enjoys strong activities such as hunting and swimming. They are medium-to-large hound dogs, of muscular bodies and beautiful red coats.
Their houndy head is flanked by ears long enough to reach the nose.
The Redbone Coonhound has brown eyes and a gentle expression telling that he needs to be handled softly, and only trained by using positive reinforcement methods.
They are fast, confident, and proud dogs with a protective coat that requires a minimum of care.
It’s important to use the best grooming tools to keep the Redbone’s short and smooth coat healthy and clean.
The Redbone Coonhound is an energetic dog who loves being physically active. They will enjoy a good run, long hike, and even a bike ride.
To keep this breed happy and healthy you need to provide enough exercise, next to good nutrition, and a proper environment.
This breed has a very strong instinct to follow his nose and chase his prey, so in uncontrolled situations, this breed shouldn’t be off the leash.
Redbones are great companions and loyal dogs, but they still need the proper training to learn how to behave.
Proper training is mandatory if you want to have a well-behaved Redbone Coonhound.
Since they are among the best tracking dog breeds alive, you might want to put extra attention to the personality and training section.
Quick Facts
Real name: Redbone Coonhound
Other names: Reds
Origin: Southern United States
Breed type: Hound Dogs
Weight: 45 to 70 pounds
Height: 21 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 10 – 12 years
Litter Size: 6 – 10 puppies
Color: Solid red or chestnut, white may be present on the paws and chest
Coat: Short and dense coat
Redbone Coonhound History
When Scottish immigrants arrived in Georgia, back in the early 19th century, they brought dogs with them.
In fact, they brought red-colored foxhounds, dogs who later become the foundation for the modern Redbone Coonhound. Their name is linked with an early breeder of the breed, a man called Peter Redbone of Tennessee.
Over time, the main purpose of Redbone evolved. These dogs were used for wild-game.
For them fighting a bear or a mountain lion is like standing in front of domestic animals, such as a chicken. They are that much fearless.
This dog may be a hound, but that won’t stop him from swimming. In fact, this breed is one of few hounds with webbed feet.
The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1902, while the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 2010.
Redbone Coonhound Physical Appearance
Redbone Coonhounds are easy to spot.
They are muscular and lean with a lean body. Their legs are straight, while the head and tail are held high and proud.
Their eyes are brown, usually dark brown or hazel. The coat is short and smooth on touch, but strong enough to protect the skin.
Paws in this breed are large and come with webbed toes. The nose is commonly black, while the eyes are surrounded by the black area, called ‘masking.’
The ears are floppy, while the coat is rich red. As for the size, males tend to have between 45 and 70 pounds, while males stand 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder.
Females are slightly smaller, standing 21 to 25 inches.
Redbone Coonhound Personality
The Redbone Coonhound is a calm dog who is above average loyal. This is an intelligent breed that is eager to please.
They are easy-going and affectionate. When they are not outside running and being active, they will love to snuggle next to their legs and watch a TV show with them.
They won’t be overly demanding, but they will demand your attention. The Redbone Coonhound loves being around children.
Still, children should know how to behave around dogs. They should know the following:
- Not to pull dog’s ears
- Not to pull a dog’s tail
- Not to punch a dog in the face
- Not to disturb a dog while he is eating, sleeping, resting, drinking water, or just chilling in his crate
Children should know how to interact with dogs safely, while at the same time dogs should follow basic dog house rules.
No matter how great children may be with dogs, their interaction with dogs should always be supervised. This is how accidents are prevented.
These dogs will be wary of strangers and won’t be scared to bark to let you know that an unfamiliar person is around.
Their voice is deep and musical.
Like all hounds, the Redbone Coonhound may be a bit stubborn and as such challenging to train. This is why well-structured training and early socialization are important.
Redbone Coonhound Training
Training should start as soon as you bring your Redbone home.
Training sessions should start early, and they should be fun, short, and consistent.
Always use positive reinforcement methods, and never punish your dog. No dog should ever experience any negative training approach.
If you feel like you need help training your Redbone Coonhound, think about puppy classes or hiring a professional dog trainer.
This way you can make the training process faster and much easier. Plus, getting some professional input on how to train your dog is always a plus.
Did you know that dogs are capable of mastering basic commands as of eight weeks of age?
Use that period to teach your dog to ‘sit’, ‘come’ and behave properly around snares.
As soon as your veterinarian gives you a green light, you should take your Fido to a dog’s park and let him mingle with other dogs.
Redbone Coonhound Exercise Needs
Dogs need regular physical activity to stay fit.
Not only that regular activity keeps them active and their joints strong, but it keeps their mind busy as well.
Dogs study the world by exploring. A short walk around the block after rain may not be too much for you, but it will mean the world to your Coonhound.
Dogs learn by exploring different smells. Enable that.
Exercise is a great way to keep your dog in form. Obesity in dogs is on the rise across the States and weight gain is something that may appear in any breed. That being said, regular running and walking sessions are a great way to keep your Redbone fit.
So… How much exercise you should provide to keep your Redbone Coonhound fit? This breed will demand up to one to two hours of vigorous physical activity each day.
You may not be a hunter, but this breed will enjoy hunting activities. That being said, keep your Redbone on a leash when on walks no matter what.
To satisfy their need for intense activities, think about dog sports such as agility.
Redbone Coonhound Grooming
If you are not a big fan of heavy brushing or grooming sessions, you are in luck.
The Redbone Coonhound is a breed known for easy maintenance. Brushing them once a week should be enough to keep the dog’s coat neat, clean and debris-free.
Have the right grooming tools on hand to make the grooming process easier and faster.
If you are not sure which brush to use, talk to your veterinarian or with a professional at the pet store.
The Redbone has long and floppy ears that should be cleaned.
Learn when and how to clean a dog’s ears and how to do it safely.
The rest is basic care:
- Trim or grind nails monthly
- Bathe when needed
- Check gums and eyes weekly
- Brush weekly
Redbone Coonhound Health
Redbone Coonhounds are considered to be healthy dogs.
If you want a truly healthy dog, you should deal with responsible dog breeders only. This way you will know the exact health of your puppy, you will be given medical documentation on the dog, and the breeder will inform you of the possible health issues in the future.
Health-wise Redbone Coonhound is a breed with a long lifespan. However, some of them may be diagnosed with hip dysplasia. These conditions usually appear in dogs’ senior years and are something that can be treated.
Coonhounds are dogs with floppy ears, which is why they are prone to ear infections. When on the walk make sure that you choose terrain with soft ground, to avoid any hip-related injuries.
Overall, this breed is susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, such as parvo, distemper, and rabies.
Luckily, many of these infections are preventable through vaccination.
This is why you should stick to recommended vaccination schedule and parasite control.
Is Redbone Coonhound For You?
Redbone Coonhounds are hard-working dogs who love being active.
They thrive when it comes to large hunts and small games. By their nature, these dogs are easy-going and good-natured.
Consistent and intense physical exercise is what will keep this breed happy. If you want a dog who has an easy-care coat, who is medium to large, and is great with people and other dogs this breed may be for you.
On the other hand, this breed isn’t for you, if you don’t want to deal with regular and vigorous exercise requirements, regular jumping, and strong instincts to chase other creatures.
Another thing to take into consideration when getting this breed is their stubbornness and a hound odor.
If this sounds too much for you do not get this breed.
It’s far fairer to think about getting a bred that will be more suitable for your living space and overall lifestyle.
When getting a dog the most important factor is to be honest, if you are ready to be a dog owner.
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