Redbone Coonhound

Thinking about purchasing an Redbone Coonhound? Then read our breed profile including a brief description, information on height, weight, color, coat, temperament, grooming, activity and history. Purchasing a new puppy is a commitment that may last ten or more years so please educate yourself on the Redbone Coonhound breed, including all stages of their life from puppy hood to older dog.

Ask yourself will I be a good owner? Do I have the time it takes to train a new puppy? Do I have the resources to give my new dog a rewarding life. Do I have a local veterinarian that I can take my new dog to? Do I have a groomer or can I do the grooming myself on a regular basis. Fundamental requirements for a being a good Redbone Coonhound owner;

properly feed your new dog,
house them comfortably
train them in basic obedience.

Before making a purchase talk to the breeder, ask them many questions about their dogs and the breed in general. A good breeder will teach you about the Redbone Coonhound and they will have many questions for you about your home and life style and if this breed is suited for you and your family.

Questions you may want to ask an Redbone Coonhound Breeder:

When were your Redbone Coonhounds born? When will they be allowed to leave?
Have your puppies received their first shots? being wormed? had a puppy check up with your veterinarian?
What type of socialization have the puppies received? with children? with other pets? in the home?
Have you seen genetic problems in previous litters? What are your health guarantees?
Are there any health certifications on the sire or dam?
What is the temperament of the puppies, of the mother? shy? boisterous? aggressive? skittish?
If you become unable to care for your new Redbone Coonhound, will the breeder help you find a new home?

It is recommended that you sign a contract with the breeder so that there will be no misunderstandings on the arrangements made. Then bring home your new Redbone Coonhound and enjoy as "there is no greater love then a dog's devotion."

Other Breed Profiles
Puppy Care & Training
Breeder Listings

Redbone Coonhound Profile

The Redbone Coonhound is a dog of breathtaking beauty with its short, deep, rich, red coat, its muscular body and its long floppy ears that can reach their nose. They have large eyes that beg to please you, and feet of elegance that look more like that of a cat paw. The feet are webbed, so swimming is a must, being a sport they very much enjoy. For a time they were simply bred for looks, being one of six American coonhounds. The Redbone Coonhounds are happy dogs with a pleasing voice. They are highly specialized in treeing prey, and they have excellent scenting abilities that they obtained from the Bloodhound. They are kind and friendly at home, and as long as they are raised in the home, they make just as great house pets as they do hunters. Some drool significantly. Gentle and docile, this breed gets along well with children and other pets. They are also highly trainable. "Reds", as they are sometimes called, are intelligent, rugged, and adapt to many terrains. They have a natural instinct to hunting and treeing coons but are equally proficient trailing and treeing bear, cougar and bobcat. Not only an excellent hunting dog, Redbones make a wonderful family pet.

Other Names: Reds

Type: Scenthound

Height: Males 22 - 27 inches; Females 21 - 25 inches.
Weight: 45 - 70 lbs.

Colors: Solid red. White traces on chest and feet are permitted, as well as a darker muzzle.
Coat: Short, smooth, soft, shiny, and fine.

Temperament: Redbone Coonhounds are happy, eager to please, kind hearted, and loyal. They are very friendly, good with children and get along well with most people and animals. They are not good for guarding, as they have never been in that field nor are they protective enough. They do make excellent watchdogs, however, with very alert senses. They have endurance and stamina built for a hound, and it has been said of them by a major breeder in the 1940s that they are, "always ready for a hunt, no woods is strange to him, no night too dark or water too deep or too cold." They are exceptionally good at scenting, being related to the Bloodhound, as well as treeing. They are intense and hard working in the field, but easygoing and gentle in the home. They are intelligent and more trainable than most hounds.
With Children: Yes, they are good with children.
With Pets: Yes, they are good with other pets.

Watch-dog: High. Coonhounds will alert you to visitors.
Guard-dog: Low. Not generally used as a guard dog.

Redbone Coonhound Care and Training: Minimal care is required. Occasional brushing of the coat will keep it gleaming. Keep ears in check to avoid infection. Redbone Coonhounds need to be exercised daily. Redbone Coonhounds are a great dog to take on long walks, jogs or hiking, as they have a high endurance level. Webbed feet are great for their love of swimming. Hunting comes naturally, but one should start them on scenting when they are young.
Learning Rate: High. Redbone Coonhounds are very intelligent, quick and eager to learn. Obedience - High. They are very eager to please. Problem Solving - High.

Activity: High. They are an energetic breed.
Living Environment: Redbone Coonhounds enjoy Indoor and Outdoor living, but are not well suited for an apartment. They need activity and exercise. The best owner for this breed would be an active owner living in a rural or suburban environment.

Redbone Coonhound Health Issues: Very healthy. At present, no known health issues are being reported.

Life Span: 12 - 15 years.
Litter Size: 6 - 10 puppies.

Country of Origin: United States (Georgia)
Redbone Coonhound History: Some red breeds that resembled the Redbone were brought with Scottish and Irish immigrants to America in the 1700s, in which the Irish heritage may have been the source of the occasional white markings that appear on Redbone Coonhounds. During the 18- and 1900s, breeders were on the quest to create faster and more hot-nosed hounds in the United States. In the 1800s when the Foxhounds weren’t efficient enough, they were crossed with a Bloodhound and later on with an Ancient Irish Hound (which is probably the reason for occasional white on the chest and feet). They were originally bred for hunting raccoons, and excelled in this. This produced a beautiful, smart, fast, efficient scent hound with the nose of a Bloodhound and a voice unique to its own. In 1840 George F.L. Birdsong obtained the foundation stock of today’s red dogs. Nearly all Redbone pedigrees can trace back to Birdsong's stock. The naming of the breed is unclear. Some believe the name comes from their deep red color, while others believe the name came from a prominent breeder at the time named Peter Redbone. Today the breed has spread from the United States into Canada, Mexico, and even across the seas to Japan, South Africa and South America. The breed was also featured in the Walt Disney film, The Hound That Thought He Was A Coon.

First Registered by the AKC: 2001
AKC Group: Miscellaneous
Class: Hound
Registries: UKC, AKC

Redbone Coonhounds

Home Page

Rate Chart
Directory of Breed Profiles.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008