Redbone Coonhound

Thanks to their short coats, a Redbone Coonhound’s grooming needs are a snap compared to other breeds. However, they do have a double coat and shed frequently, and you’ll need to brush them once a week with a shedding blade and a bristle brush. These are best for their slick, short coats—not wire brushes—and will help maintain a lovely shine. They have a musty smell and a lot of oils on their back, which can transfer to other surfaces and leave stains. Regular brushing (and bathing) can help redistribute the oils. While you’re brushing your dog, check their ears for signs of infection, like redness or swelling, and contact your vet if you see anything unusual. Your vet may recommend you clean your dog’s ears.

If your red-colored dog is extremely active with outdoor activity, they may need a bath every week. Otherwise, plan on bathing your pup once every four to six weeks. Always keep their ears dry since their heavy ears aren’t well ventilated and can be a breeding ground for nasty germs.

Redbones need their teeth brushed daily. Work up to daily brushing, if possible. It’s best to start when your Redbone Coonhound’s a puppy, so they’ll get used to it. Poor dental hygiene can cause tooth loss and a host of other medical problems. They also need an annual professional teeth cleaning by your vet (not a groomer).

Nails should be trimmed every four to six weeks. You’ll know they’re ready for a trim when you can hear them clacking on your kitchen floors.

The Redbone breed is an intelligent dog who is eager to please you. But they’re just as eager to find whatever interesting scent crosses their nose. It’s important to start training your Redbone Coonhound puppy while they’re young to help direct those instincts in proper directions.

Basic obedience training teaches your puppy commands like sit, stay and come and how to walk nicely on a leash. Leash training is important to the health of your shoulder—once fully grown, these dogs are strong, and they’ll take you for a walk (really, a run) if they take off after a squirrel.

To help get the most out of your dog’s intelligence and keep you both from getting frustrated during training, keep your sessions short, like 10 minutes at a time, and reward your pup with treats, praise and playtimes with special toys when they do a good job. A Redbone Coonhound puppy needs a confident and calm leader who understands that patience is the key to successful training. They will be distracted by what’s happening around them, and this can be frustrating to first-time pup parents.

The Redbone Coonhound dog typically does well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Be sure to factor in your dog’s age and choose a formula that fits their stage in life (puppy, adult, senior) that’s suitable for large-breed dogs. Look for the statement on the packaging that says it meets the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Your veterinarian can help you nail down a feeding chart to guide you on how much and how often to feed your dog based on their specific diet.

Treats can be handy rewards for training your Redbone, but give them in moderation, so they don’t pack on the pounds. Obesity can lead to other health problems like diabetes and joint conditions. If you notice your pup gaining weight, chat with your vet. They can help you put together a diet and exercise plan to help your dog lose the extra weight and still get the nutrition they need.

To say that Redbone Coonhounds need tons of exercise is pretty much an understatement. They have to be able to run a lot. It’s in their DNA as hunting dogs, and they can get very frustrated and destructive if they don’t have an avenue to really speed around the yard. They need at least an hour or two of exercise every day. Too much idle time means they’ll create their own activities, and that might mean you come home to find your flower beds in disarray or a new hole in a bedroom door.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make sure they get to expend all their energy. If you enjoy running, lace up your sneakers and take your Redbone with you. Take them on a couple of long walks every day and hit the nature trails on the weekends. These dogs are great at dog sports, so if you enjoy some friendly competition, get involved in agility or tracking. Create opportunities to track at home by hiding treats under old Chewy boxes or play hide-and-seek with your pup.

Because these dogs are born to hunt with their nose, never let them off-leash outside of an enclosed area, like a fenced backyard. This pup will catch a scent, and they’re off to the races. They’re focused and fast and won’t look both ways before crossing a street. For your sanity and their safety, always keep your pup on a leash.

A Redbone Coonhound is a great fit for active and experienced pet parents who enjoy activities like running and hiking. They need a spacious, fenced-in yard (a physical fence, not an underground electronic one), so they can be off-leash and run to release their energy. They were bred to run, not walk, so it’s something they really need to do every day.

This breed loves children, but if you have small kids, you’ll want to supervise their playtime together; Redbones are bouncy and can knock small children and toddlers down easily without even realizing it. They love being with their people, and they don’t like being left alone for long. Ideally, someone should be with them for most of the day. These dogs are also very vocal; this, coupled with their large size and need for space, makes living in small spaces like apartments or condos a challenge.

If they’ve been socialized with other pets from a young age, they’ll likely get along and not see them as something to be chased. They love being the life of the party and getting tons of attention, so jealous types be warned: Redbones are equal-opportunity lovers when it comes to scritches from guests in the home. This makes them lousy guard dogs, but their loud, baying bark will make them quite effective watchdogs.