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Redbone Coonhound Dog Breed Introduction
Redbone Coonhound is a medium-to-large sized hunting dog from Southern United States. It is well known for its distinctive reddish mahogany color, webbed feet, baying sound, and large floppy ears. Redbone Coonhounds have a face that is often described as having a pleading expression. They are vocal dogs that communicate their feelings by whining, grunting, groaning, grumbling, and baying. The Redbone Coonhound is a scent hound that tends to follow its nose. Therefore, it should exercise in a securely fenced yard where it can’t bound over. Redbones should also go for walks while on a leash.
Redbone Coonhound Origin | History
Redbone Coonhounds were descended from the red foxhounds that were brought to Georgia, in the USA in the late 18th century by Scottish immigrants. Around 1840, bloodhound and Irish-bred Foxhound lines were added. This breed gets its name from Peter Redbone of Tennessee, an early breeder credited for naming and popularizing Redbones for hunting. However, George F. L. Birdsong should be credited for the development of the breed in its early years. He resolved in developing a hound that was capable of chasing and deterring red foxes. George based his breeding on the hunting pack that he had obtained from Dr. Thomas Y. Henry.
Over the years, early breeders followed a selective program that led to a coonhound that was great at treeing wild-game, agile enough to track in the mountains, courageous enough to go after large games like cougar, boar, and bear, and could swim if necessary. Initially, Redbones had a black saddleback. However, by the early 1900s it was replaced by an uninterrupted red tone.
Occasionally, some Redbone Coonhounds have a white mark on the chest or paws. These dogs are great at pack hunting both large and small prey. The United Kennel Club recognized Redbone Coonhounds in 1902. This breed was recognized by AKC in 2009. Apart from Redbone, other Coonhounds include Plott Hound, Bluetick Coonhound, Black and Tan Coonhound, and Treeing Walker Coonhound.
Redbone Coonhound Lifespan
A Redbone Coonhound has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
Redbone Grooming
A Redbone Coonhound sheds at minimal levels all-year round. Weekly brushing using a grooming mitt or a hound glove will go a long way in keeping the coat healthy and glossy. Brushing helps to remove dirt, loose hair, and evenly distributes the natural oils present on the skin.
Redbone Coonhounds need a bath every 4 to 6 weeks to keep the musky odor at bay. Use a high fragrance hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner to bath and moisturize the coat. After a bath, thoroughly rinse of the shampoo from the coat to prevent skin irritation. Make a habit of wiping the eye corners using a damp clean washcloth or unscented canine wipes.
Trim the nails and the declaws every 3 to 5 weeks to prevent cracking, overgrowth, and splitting. Overly grown dewclaws can curl back to the leg of the dog which is painful. Brush the teeth of a Redbone at least twice a week if not daily using a dog formulated toothpaste and toothbrush to get rid of tartar buildup. Clean the large floppy ears on a weekly basis to remove debris and wax. While cleaning the ears, lookout for signs of dog’s ear infection such as odor, dark discharge, or redness.
Redbone Coonhound Shedding
A Redbone Coonhound is a low-maintenance dog that sheds at minimal level all-year round. It needs a weekly brushing to remove dirt, loose hair, and promote new hair growth.
Redbone Coonhound Coat
A Redbone Coonhound has a smooth and short coat that is coarse enough to provide protection.
Redbone Coonhound Hypoallergenic
Although a Redbone sheds minimally throughout the year, it is not a hypoallergenic breed. It has a moulting coat that releases dander and fur into the environment aggravating allergies. Dog’s saliva, mucus, and urine also contain an allergen that triggers an allergic reaction.
Redbone Coonhound Training | How To Train A Redbone Coonhound
Redbone Coonhounds are intelligent dogs that are willing to please their owners. However, they also have a mind of their own which makes training a bit difficult. They require patient, consistent, and gentle training. Early training and socialization is recommended in order to raise a well-mannered, well-adjusted Redbone Coonhound. To socialize a Coonhound, expose it to a wide variety of people, surfaces, places, animals, sight, situations, smell, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, sirens, lawn mowers, and whistles.
Enrolling a Redbone Coonhound in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes create a controlled environment where dogs interact with each other. Puppy classes also enable the parent to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Socialization training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pooch has already settled in its new home. Normally, parents take their pets home from the age of 8 weeks. Socialization can be a life-long process to ensure a Coonhound has an all-rounded temperament and personality.
As a hunting dog, Redbone Coonhounds have short attention spans and easily get distracted. Keep the training sessions short, fun, and challenging for a span of 5 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom and distraction. Use positive reinforcements methods to encourage positive behaviors through the use of treats, toys, playtime, petting, and verbal praise. This is also a sensitive breed that will shout down during training if harsh correction methods are used on them. Examples of harsh correction methods include kicking, shoving, beating, yelling and the use of choke or prong collars.
Instill the habits that you want your pet to carry on to its adulthood. Never allow a pup to lay on the couch or your bed if you will dislike the same habits once the dog is all-grown-up. Start teaching basic command words like come, sit, stay, leave it, heel, lie down, etc. one at a time until the Redbone is well-acquainted before proceeding to the next command word. Avoid issuing a command while too frustrated or excited since it does not sound the same for your dog. Effectively housebreak a Redbone by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training.
A crate is an invaluable tool that enables the parent to closely monitor the dog for signs of elimination such as sniffing, circling, squatting, whining, restlessness, and trying to lift a leg against the crate door. To get positive outcomes while potty training, take a dog to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 2 to 3 hours, following an exciting activity, before bedtime, and after naptime. The bladder and bowel muscles of a puppy strengthens as the dog matures. Therefore, after the age of 8 months, Redbone Coonhounds should go for potty breaks every 6 to 8 hours.
Redbone Coonhound Temperament | Personality | Traits
- Intelligent.
- Gentle.
- Affectionate.
- Loving.
- Loyal.
- Independent.
- Even-tempered at home.
- Aggressive hunter.
- Friendly.
- Playful.
- Energetic.
- Vocal.
Redbone Coonhound Intelligence
A Redbone Coonhound is an intelligent dog that has a stubborn streak which makes training a bit difficult.
Redbone Coonhound Exercise
This is an energetic and athletic breed that makes a great companion for someone who is a hiker, biker, or an active runner. Redbone Coonhounds need a lot of physical activity to stay healthy and happy. This is a scent hound that has a strong instinct to follow its nose and go after a prey. Therefore, they should never be allowed off leash.
Redbone Coonhound Barking
A Redbone Coonhound is a vocal breed known for a loud baying or barking sound when it is hunting, curious, or excited. Some find the bay sound rather sweet while others find it annoying. The baying sound helps the hunters to locate their pet and its prey.
Redbone Coonhound Height
A female Redbone has a height of 21 to 26 inches ( approx. 53 to 66 cm ) while the male Redbone has a height of 22 to 27 cm ( approx. 56 to 69 cm ).
Redbone Coonhound Weight
Full grown Redbone Coonhounds have a weight of 45 to 70 pounds ( approx. 20 to 32 kg ).
Redbone Coonhound Size
A Redbone Coonhound is a medium to large-sized dog that has a weight of 45 to 70 pounds ( approx. 20 to 32 kg ). However, Male Redbone Coonhounds are slightly taller with a height of 22 to 27 cm ( approx. 56 to 69 cm ) while their female counterparts have a height of 21 to 26 inches ( approx. 53 to 66 cm ).
Redbone Coonhound Health Issues
Generally, Redbone Coonhounds are healthy and robust dogs that have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. However, they may suffer from certain health issues such as ear infection, eye disorders like progressive retinal atrophy, and hip dysplasia.
Redbone Coonhound Names
A Redbone parent may decide to get a name for the pup before it joins them home from the breeder or days after the pet has settled home to ensure they understand the personality and behavior of a particular dog. Owners may get name inspirations from the heritage of the breed, the coat color, personality, books, movies, food, nature, and historical figures.
Regardless of where the parents will source the name, they should ensure it freely rolls off their tongue. The name chosen should not be a source of embarrassment if uttered out loud in the public places. Redbone Coonhounds and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels. If a parent settles with a long name, he or she should find a cute nickname for Redbone.
Avoid giving a Redbone a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If a Redbone shares a name with any household member or guests that frequent the household, it may result to confusion. Some of the names that Redbone parents give to their pets include:
- Sawyer.
- Remi.
- Trooper.
- Ruger.
- Weatherby.
- Daisy.
- Sandi.
- Birdie.
- Ella.
- Pearl.
- Jenny.
- Lolo.
- Hattie.
- Sasha, etc.
Redbone Coonhound Food
The amount of food that a Redbone feeds on depends on its age, metabolism, size, activity level, and body build. Redbones puppies have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults or senior dogs. Therefore, a puppy should feed 3 or 4 times a day immediately they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Redbone Dogs feed a total of two meals for life with snacks in between.
Like other dogs, Redbone Coonhounds should feed on the right amount of minerals, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, water, and fats to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Depending on the budget and the time of preparation needed, parents may feed Redbones with dry food, wet food, home made meals, or a raw diet. Parents who prefer commercial dry or wet food should ensure the first three ingredients that are listed are proteins from a known source.
Commercial foods should neither have fillers, chemicals, meat by-products, additives, nor preservatives. The same goes to the snacks given to the pets. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for medium-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of your Redbone. Check the physique of your dog to tell whether it is underweight or overweight.
The pooch is underweight if the ribs are visible. However, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, a Redbone has an ideal weight. Although, if the ribs cannot be felt after pressing, the pet is overweight and should be exercised. Owners who want to switch to another pet food should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing old food with new food. As the week progresses, the amount of old food decreases as the amount of the new food increases until the Redbone is only feeding on the new food.
Apart from Redbone Coonhounds, other dog breeds include:
Redbone Coonhound Colors
The preferred coat color a Redbone is a solid red color. Although, some may have a red coat that has white markings on the chest and feet.
Redbone Coonhound Tail
A Redbone has a medium-length tail that is saber-like with a very slight brush.
Are Redbone Coonhounds Good Family Dogs
Yes. Redbone Coonhounds are intelligent, loving, affectionate, playful, energetic, and loyal dogs that make good family dogs for active families. However, they have a stubborn streak that may make training a bit difficult.
Are Redbone Coonhounds Smart
Yes. Redbone Coonhounds are smart, loyal, energetic, athletic, playful, and affectionate dogs.
Are Redbone Coonhounds Hypoallergenic
No. Redbone Coonhounds have a moulting coat that sheds all-year round at minimal levels. Shedding releases fur and dander into the environment aggravating allergies. Redbones also drool a bit. Dog’s dander, saliva, and mucus contain a protein allergen that triggers allergic reactions.
Are Redbone Coonhounds Aggressive
No. Redbones are playful, friendly, loyal, affectionate, and energetic dogs. However, they are only aggressive while pursuing a prey.
Are Redbone Coonhounds Protective
No. Redbone Coonhounds are not wary of strangers. They also don’t perceive other dogs as a threat. They make poor guard dogs.
Redbone Coonhound Interesting Facts
- It is one of the few Coonhounds that have webbed feet.
- Redbone Bloodhounds have a pleading facial expression.
- They are gentle and affectionate dogs that strive to please their owners when they are not hunting.
- The Muscles of a Redbone undulates beneath the stunning red coat.
