Redbone Coonhound Dog Breed

Members of this breed are recognized by the United State's two major Kennel Clubs-- the AKC and the UKC. They are a member of the AKC's Hound Group and are one of 6 recognized Amerian hounds. The breed is named after one of the early breeder, Peter Redbone. The name was also chosen due to the main quarry of the Redbone being raccoons-- a dietary staple of early settlers during the 1700's-1800's. The breed may be determined and tenacious when tracking but indoors they are gentle family companions. They are best suited to owners/families that are active and outdoorsy, live in a suburban or rural area, and have a large property or fenced yard. Read our list of interesting Redbone Coonhound facts made specifically to help you decide if the breed could be your perfect match.

Overall, the Redbone is large and muscular but well-balanced. Their most notable physical attributes include an eye-catching red coat, long ears and expressive eyes that are said to have a "pleading" look. If you're looking for a versatile tracking and treeing hound that is also an eager to please companions, this may be the breed for you! All Redbone Coonhound info you come across is in agreement on several important traits: they are enthusiatic and determined on the trail, they are calm and agreeable indoors, and they are excellent with kids. This section will give you the 101 on the Redbone Coonhound dog's intelligence, temperament and exercise needs.

Members of this breed are willing to learn and eager to please. They may be stubborn and their noses tend to get distract them from time to time. Gentle correction along with praise and treats are recommended over intimidation. Many owners say they need little training to be excellent on the trail. A Redbone that is trained and socialized early makes for an excellent family companion.

These hounds are calm, gentle playmates for children and are notorious for being wonderful companions for outdoorsy families. They will most certainly bark at strangers but are not aggressive by nature. Redbones get along well with other dogs but will retain prey instincts toward cats and other furry, non-canine creatures.

Outdoors, the Redbone will seem to have an endless supply of energy. He/she will need daily outdoor exercise-- at least an hour. A fenced yard or large property is recommended. Keep your hound on leash when in public as his/her nose may lead them into dangerous situations.

The origin of the Redbone Coonhound is pretty straightforward and well documented. During the late 1700's settlers and their canine companions were expanding into the western and southern area of the US. Dogs were priceless to the settlers both for protection and hunting down food sources. The Scottish were said to have brought red Fox Hounds to the South. These hounds later mingled with Irish Fox Hounds and Bloodhounds during the early-mid 1800's to produce the first type of Redbone Coonhounds. Although there were several prominent breeders of this hunting favorite, the breed was named after Peter Redbone, a breeder from Tennessee.

The first Redbone Coonhounds had black saddle markings and were fast, versatile trackers of raccoon (a primary foodsource). They were selectively bred until the rich, mahogany coat no longer contained the dark markings. Redbones also developed honed other abilities such as taking on larger game and even swimming!

The history of the Redbone Coonhound is still being written. They are extremely rare to find outside of the United States; even within the United States they are not known much outside the South. The breed is recognized by the AKC and UKC and competed in its first Westminster Kennel Club as recently as 2011.

There are no standard variations within the Redbone Coonhound breed. This means there are no mini Redbone Coonhounds-- a purebred hound bred done for size often involves breeding the smallest dogs of the litter; this method can produce many health problems in the smaller Redbones.

The Redbone Coonhound temperament is even-tempered, gentle and loving indoors while being determined, enthusiastic and eager to please outdoors. A Redbone Coonhound's traits make them one of the best gundogs-- they are top contenders at tracking and treeing raccoons as well as other varmint. Many owners agree on the fact they are easily trained and eager to please. These traits plus their loud, resonating bark make them indispensable for night hunting.

The Redbone Coonhound's temperament is unflappable. They stay calm and even-tempered most of the time regardless of what's going on around them. This quality makes them excellent choices for families with young kids (although unsteady toddlers may get knocked over a time or two). A well trained Redbone is the perfect companion for a family. Keep in mind, baby Redbone Coonhounds may stay in the puppy stage for two years! This means their need for exercise will be even higher and an underexercised and bored canine can be a quite a handful.

These dogs should get along well with visitors after the initial enthusiatic baying has subsided. They do well with other dogs, too, but probably shouldn't be introduced to a household with cats; Redbones raised with cats might possibly be able to live with them. They should be kept on leash when not on a hunting expedition or within a fenced area due to their strong prey drive. Although not clingy, they are very companoinable and will want to live indoors with their family.

The Redbone Coonhound dog breed is a healthy one. Generally, these dogs live 12-15 years with issues. We've listed the most prominent ones below and there are a few things you can do at home to keep him/her healthy. Scheduling regular veterinary check ups is necessary for all canines as is dental care. Bad teeth can lead to gum disease which, in turn, can affect vital organ like the heart. Finally, since this breed is prone to obesity, it's important to feed them as the veterinarian or company's feeding guidelines instructs.

• Hip dysplasia is a joint problem common in medium and large dogs.
• Eye disease increases in likelihood as your Redbone ages.
• Obesity is a major concern for the breed-- they are prone to it and it can worsen the joint problems mentioned above.

• The AKC offers breeder listings for those in search of a purebred Redbone Coonhound. Pondholler Redbone Coonhounds is one such breeder whose dogs are able to be registered with the AKC and UKC.

• The breed makes Field & Stream Magazine's list of the "21 Best Gundogs". Tracking and treeing is exactly what these dogs were made for. Not only do they hunt raccoons but also rabbits, squirrels, badgers and even bear. Owners of the breed love the loud, resonating bark that is perfectly suited for the country.