Breeds / Large
Redbone Coonhound puppies
Even tempered, companionable and single minded on a scent, the Redbone Coonhound is an American trailing hound that is gentle at home and tireless in the field.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin United States
- Adult weight 20.4 to 31.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 45 to 70 lb
- Adult height 53 to 69 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the Redbone Coonhound
The Redbone Coonhound was built in the American South from Foxhound and red Irish hound stock, bred to trail raccoon and larger game over rough country and bay at the tree until the hunter arrived. The Redbone is a large, lean hound of 20.4 to 31.8 kg and 53 to 69 cm, solid red, with a short smooth coat and long drop ears. Redbones are even tempered and companionable, rated five out of five both with children and with other dogs, and far softer at home than the work suggests.
Exercise is the price of entry. This is a hound for runners, cyclists and hikers, and they need proper daily activity, though the coat asks only for a weekly going over with a mitt and monthly nail trims. The ears want checking often because they hang and trap moisture. Redbones are vocal and the bay carries. Never count on recall, because once the nose locks onto a line the dog is gone. A lead or a solid fence is not optional.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Redbone Coonhound puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by x-ray evaluation of breeding stock
- Ear infections, prevented by regular checking and cleaning of the long drop ears
- Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
- Eye conditions such as entropion, found by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Weight gain in a food motivated hound, picked up by regular weighing
Your Redbone Coonhound puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Redbone Coonhound.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 31.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 31.8 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Redbone Coonhound
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
- Health notes from Redbone Coonhound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/redbone-coonhound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Arlawson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.