Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound is a medium to large scenthound bred in the United States for hunting raccoon and other game. It is the only coonhound with a uniform red coat, which sets it apart from its American cousins. Dogs typically stand 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weigh 45 to 70 pounds, a fair size for anyone used to native Irish breeds such as the Kerry Beagle.

At home the breed is friendly and even-tempered, though it keeps a strong working drive once out in the field. Redbones hunt by scent, work well in a pack, and bay or bark to announce a find, which is part of the job rather than a flaw. They are affectionate with their own family and generally good with children raised alongside them from puppyhood.

This is not a breed for a quiet life. Without proper daily exercise and something to occupy its head, a Redbone will grow bored and noisy fast. Owners who hillwalk, run, or take up scentwork or trailing get the best out of the dog, and there is no shortage of forestry trails and boggy fields around Ireland to put that nose to work.

Who it suits

The Redbone Coonhound suits people who want a sociable, energetic dog and can commit to real exercise every day. It fits well with hillwalkers, runners, or anyone keen on hound trailing or scentwork, and it takes to Ireland's mild, damp climate without much bother thanks to its short coat. The breed is vocal and led by its nose, so a secure garden and solid recall are essential. It is a poor match for apartment life or for owners who are out at work all day.

The Redbone Coonhound traces back to red-coloured foxhounds brought to North America by Scottish and other European settlers in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Breeders crossed these dogs with imported hounds, including stock from Ireland, to build something suited to American terrain and quarry, so there is a genuine, if distant, Irish thread in the breed's ancestry.

Through the 1800s, breeders in the southern states worked toward a hound that was quick on the trail, sure on scent, and able to tree raccoon and bigger game such as bear and cougar. The name is often tied to early breeders who shaped the line, and over the decades the breed settled into its now familiar solid red colouring.

Selective breeding gradually bred out the black saddle markings common in earlier red hounds, leaving a hound with a clean red coat. That focus on a single colour, alongside working ability, marked the Redbone out from the other American coonhound types.

The American Kennel Club recognised the Redbone Coonhound in 2009, placing it in the Hound Group. The breed is not registered with the Irish Kennel Club and remains rare on this side of the Atlantic, though individual dogs are kept here both as working hounds and family companions by owners who import or arrange breeding privately.

The Redbone Coonhound has an athletic, well balanced frame with a deep chest, straight legs, and a body a touch longer than it is tall. The look is built for speed and stamina, not bulk. The head is moderately broad with a clean muzzle, and the long, low set ears hang close to the cheeks. The expression is soft, almost pleading, which is typical of scenthounds generally.

Coat and colours

The defining feature is the solid red coat, ranging from a light red to a deep mahogany. A small white marking on the chest or feet is allowed under the breed standard but should be kept to a minimum. The coat is short and smooth, lying flat against the body, and gives a bit of protection against briars and weather while working. Irish weather being what it is, owners should not mistake that short coat for one that copes well with a soaking; a towel by the back door earns its keep. The nose is dark, and the dark pigment around the eyes adds to the breed's steady, watchful look.

The Redbone Coonhound is an even-tempered, amiable dog that bonds closely with its family. Around the house it is affectionate and often happy to flop down near its people once the day's activity is done. The breed is generally good with children and tends to be patient, though given its size and energy, play with small children is best supervised.

With strangers, Redbones tend to be friendly rather than wary, so they make poor guard dogs, even if that loud bay will let a household know someone is at the gate. They are pack hounds by history and usually get on well with other dogs. Cats and smaller pets are a different story, since a strong prey drive can be set off by anything small and fast, so introductions need care.

The breed is vocal, and there is no getting around it. Baying and barking are simply part of how a coonhound works, and a Redbone left bored or on its own will make use of its voice, much to the annoyance of any neighbours within earshot. A scent on the ground can pull a Redbone away in seconds, so a secure garden and a trained recall matter more than most owners expect.

The Redbone Coonhound is simple to keep clean but demanding when it comes to activity. Its short coat needs little attention, while its body and mind need plenty.

Grooming

• Brush weekly with a rubber curry brush or hound mitt to lift loose hair and spread natural oils through the coat.
• Bathe only when needed, since the coat carries a natural hound smell that comes back not long after a wash.
• Check and clean the long drop ears regularly, as the shape traps moisture, which matters even more in Ireland's damp climate, and can lead to infection.
• Trim nails every few weeks and brush teeth several times a week.

Exercise

• Give at least 60 to 90 minutes of activity daily through walks, running, or fieldwork.
• Use scentwork, tracking, or trailing to satisfy the working drive.
• Keep the dog on a lead or inside a fenced area in open countryside, since a scent can override even good recall.
• Add short training sessions and puzzle feeders to tire the mind as well as the legs.

Environment

A Redbone does best in a home with a securely fenced garden and access to open space for running. It is not suited to apartment blocks or terraced housing with neighbours close enough to hear a bay through the wall. The breed manages Ireland's cool, damp climate well thanks to its working coat, but it should still have shelter and dry bedding in winter and shade and water on the rare hot day.

Feed a complete and balanced dog food suited to a large, active breed. A working hunting dog needs a good deal more in the way of calories than a pet kept mainly around the house, so adjust amounts to the individual dog and how much it is doing. Protein and fat levels should support muscle and stamina without piling on excess weight. Split the daily ration into two meals to lower the risk of bloat, a serious stomach condition that deep-chested breeds like this one can face.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to around 10 percent of daily calories so they do not throw the diet out of balance. Good options include small pieces of plain cooked meat or shop-bought training treats. Most Redbones on a complete diet need no extra supplements, though a vet may suggest joint support for an older or hard-working dog. Fresh water should always be on hand, especially around exercise and during any spell of warm weather.

The Redbone Coonhound is a hardy working breed and typically lives 12 to 15 years. Like many large dogs, it has a handful of conditions worth watching for, and responsible breeders screen their breeding stock to cut the risk of inherited problems. Routine veterinary care and a healthy weight go a long way toward a long, active life.

Preventive care

• Keep vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date, including flea, tick, and heartworm control.
• Book a yearly veterinary check-up, with more frequent visits once the dog reaches its senior years.
• Clean and dry the ears regularly to head off infection before it starts.
• Keep the dog at a healthy weight to protect the joints.
• Ask the breeder whether the parents' hips and eyes were screened.

The Redbone Coonhound is bright and willing, but it carries the independent streak common to scenthounds. A dog that catches an interesting scent may switch off from commands entirely, so training calls for patience and consistency rather than a heavy hand. Start early, keep sessions short and varied, and build a solid recall before trusting the dog off lead anywhere near open ground. Redbones respond poorly to harsh handling and do far better with food, praise, and play as rewards. That strong nose can be put to good use in tracking and scentwork, which also burns off energy and cuts down on nuisance baying.

Basics

1. Socialise the puppy early with people, places, dogs, and other animals.
2. Teach name response and a marker word, such as "yes", to mark the behaviour you want.
3. Build sit, down, and stay with short, frequent sessions.
4. Train a solid recall, starting in a fenced area and rewarding generously.
5. Work on loose-lead walking, since a Redbone will pull hard toward a scent.
6. Add scentwork or tracking games to give the working drive an outlet.

Breeding a Redbone Coonhound should be planned around health and temperament, not convenience. Dogs are best bred once they are physically mature and have passed health screening, usually from one to two years of age, rather than on the first season. Hip and eye screening of both parents helps cut inherited problems in the litter.

Pregnancy in dogs runs to about 63 days. Litters in this breed commonly fall between 6 and 10 puppies, though the number varies with the individual female. The pregnant dam needs good nutrition, calm surroundings, and veterinary care right through gestation and whelping.

Newborn puppies are blind and deaf at birth and rely entirely on the mother for warmth and feeding. Eyes open at around two weeks, and weaning usually begins near four weeks. Early handling and gentle socialisation from a few weeks of age help puppies grow into steady, friendly adults. Puppies generally go to new homes at about eight weeks old.

How to register a Redbone Coonhound in Ireland

A dog warden with a scanner can only follow the record, and a Redbone Coonhound whose record is current is home the same day. Register your dog free with United Pet Club: your contact details, his photo, and his chip number together on one profile that never lapses and never bills you.

Lodge your Redbone Coonhound's fifteen digit number with United Pet Club and the chip finally earns its keep: free registration for life, every brand accepted, and a record the ISPCA or any warden can turn into a phone call. Microchip registration takes minutes, and the free account covers the profile while you're at it.