Redbone Coonhound

Overview

The Redbone Coonhound is an American scenthound bred to tree raccoons across the southern United States. It stands 21 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs 45 to 70 pounds. The rich mahogany-red coat, from which the breed takes its name, is unmistakable. The Redbone is built for stamina and voice: a working hound that can trail across rough country, tree its quarry, and bawl to the hunters until they arrive.

The breed is friendly, exuberant, and endlessly enthusiastic about its people. It's less common than the Coonhound cousins with wider fame but has a devoted following in the American South. In a household that appreciates a big, vocal, affectionate hound, the Redbone is a delight. In a household expecting a quiet, low-maintenance companion, it's a poor fit.

History & origin

The Redbone descends from red foxhounds brought to the American colonies by Scottish immigrants in the late eighteenth century. These were crossed with the Bloodhound and, later, the Irish Foxhound to produce a hound with strong scent, deep voice, and enough courage to tree game. Development took place across the American South, especially Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Peter Redbone of Tennessee is often credited with early nineteenth-century breed development, though the name most likely refers to the coat color rather than a founder. By the mid-nineteenth century the type was stable and recognized across coon-hunting country. The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1902 as one of the first American coonhounds registered.

The AKC granted full recognition in 2009 after decades of Foundation Stock Service status. The breed today divides between working hunt lines, focused on stamina and treeing instinct, and show lines, focused on conformation. Both populations remain active and Redbones continue to hunt raccoon, opossum, cougar, and bear across the American South and West.

Appearance

The Redbone Coonhound stands 21 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs 45 to 70 pounds, with males distinctly larger than females. Build is athletic, deep-chested, and lean, with sturdy bone. The head is broad but not heavy, with a moderately long muzzle and a slight stop. Long drop ears hang against the head and reach near the tip of the nose.

Coat is short, hard, and dense with a rich mahogany-red color that gave the breed its name. A small amount of white on the chest and feet is permissible but not preferred. The eyes are dark brown or hazel, large, and set well apart, giving a pleading hound expression. Movement is smooth, elastic, and covers ground with ease.

Temperament

The Redbone is friendly, affectionate, and exuberant. It bonds hard with its family and greets strangers with enthusiasm. This isn't a watchdog breed. It's a working hound that thrives on companionship and gets on well with almost everyone.

Prey drive is very high and focused on scent. Cats and small pets are usually not safe unless the Redbone is raised alongside them from puppyhood. Even then, prey drive may reassert itself in adulthood. The breed's default response to squirrels, rabbits, and cats in the yard is to tree them, and it will happily bay for hours at a treed cat.

Living with one

The Redbone needs a household that respects its energy and vocal habits. It suits rural or suburban homes with a securely fenced yard. Apartments are unworkable unless the owner is genuinely committed to two hours or more of daily exercise. The breed does best with another dog for company.

Climate tolerance is broad. The short coat handles heat and cold reasonably well, though extreme heat requires shade and morning-evening exercise. The Redbone was built for southern American summers and works in wet, muddy, and cold conditions without trouble.

Exercise needs are high. A young adult Redbone wants two hours of daily activity plus mental work. The breed enjoys hiking, tracking, nose work, and, in appropriate settings, hunting. Puppies should build stamina gradually. Adults from two to seven are at peak fitness. Older Redbones scale back but stay active well into their teens.

Alone-time tolerance is poor. Redbones are social and often develop separation-related noise and destruction when left alone. A second dog helps enormously. Multi-dog households usually suit the breed well because of its pack orientation. Cats and small pets are usually unsafe unless the Redbone is raised alongside them.

Noise level is high. Redbones bay, howl, and produce a rich musical hound voice that carries for miles. This is a working feature. Owners in close-neighbor situations should think carefully. Trained recall on scent is famously unreliable, and vocalization when treed is the breed's job description.

Training & exercise

The Redbone is intelligent, food-motivated, and independent. It's more biddable than some scenthounds but still follows its nose over its handler's voice when a trail is fresh. Basic obedience is achievable. High-level compliance under distraction is a lifelong project.

Socialization is usually easy. The breed's inherent friendliness makes puppy classes and dog-park introductions straightforward. Exposure to varied environments through the first four months sets the foundation for confidence. The Redbone meets the world tail-up and cheerful.

The classic training mistake is expecting a herding-breed level of off-leash reliability. Redbones treat scent as the priority signal and interpret handler cues accordingly. What works is a consistent daily rhythm, high-value reinforcement, secure fencing, and long lines during exercise. The breed excels at tracking, nose work, and hunting.

Grooming & care

Grooming is minimal. A weekly rub with a rubber mitt or hound glove clears loose hair and spreads skin oils. Baths every eight to twelve weeks are typical, more often for hunt dogs that come home muddy. Shedding is moderate year-round with two mild seasonal peaks.

The long drop ears trap moisture and need weekly checking. Ear infections are common in the breed. Nails grow fast and need trimming every two to three weeks. Dental care is standard. Overall grooming demand is low, one of the breed's appealing features.

Health & lifespan

Lifespan is typically 11 to 14 years, good for a large working hound. The breed benefits from centuries of selection for stamina and soundness rather than exaggerated conformation.

Hip dysplasia occurs at rates typical for the size. Ear infections are common and preventive care matters. Bloat and gastric torsion appear at rates typical for deep-chested breeds. Eye issues including cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy appear occasionally.

Because Redbones are still bred primarily as working dogs, health screening standards differ from those in show breeds. Reputable breeders test hips, elbows, and eyes and share results. Prospective owners should ask about the sire and dam's working record as well as hereditary issues in the pedigree.

With kids & pets

Redbones raised around children are famously patient and affectionate, and the breed's cheerful temperament suits family life well. The size and exuberance mean supervision matters with toddlers, but the Redbone is one of the more child-friendly hounds.

First-time owner note

A workable first breed for a rural or suburban household ready to commit to serious exercise, secure fencing, and tolerance for hound voice. Best matched with owners who want a big, cheerful working dog and don't need one that lounges quietly indoors.

Fun facts

• The Redbone is the breed featured in Wilson Rawls's 1961 novel 'Where the Red Fern Grows,' one of the most widely read American children's books.
• Coon hunting with Redbones is a competitive sport in the American South, with the United Kennel Club sanctioning night hunts and treeing trials.
• The breed's rich red color is produced by a recessive gene; two red parents always produce red pups, but a single Redbone gene in a mix rarely shows.
• Redbones are among the oldest of the six recognized American coonhound breeds, alongside the Black and Tan, Bluetick, Treeing Walker, English, and Plott.

Famous & in culture

• Old Dan and Little Ann, the fictional Redbones in Wilson Rawls's novel 'Where the Red Fern Grows,' introduced generations of American readers to the breed.
• Copper, the Redbone in Disney's 'The Fox and the Hound' (1981), depicts a young coonhound trained by his owner to hunt fox.