Coonhound

Lore & Background

In the colonial period, hounds were imported into North America for fox hunting. Foxhounds were found inadequate for hunting American animals that climbed trees, such as raccoons, opossums, bobcats, cougars, and bears. This led to the development of treeing hounds, with foundation dogs chosen for keen scent, independent tracking, and the ability to follow prey both on the ground and when it treed. Bloodhounds were added to many coonhound lines to enhance tracking ability. Coonhounds can hunt individually or as a pack. Hunters often wait and listen to the distinctive baying to determine if the prey has been treed. The Plott Hound is the only one not descending from foxhounds, tracing instead to German boar-hunting dogs.

Reader's Guide

Coonhounds represent a uniquely American adaptation of European hound traditions, developed to meet the challenges of hunting tree-climbing game in North America. Their significance lies in their specialized treeing instinct, which solved the problem of foxhounds losing scent when prey climbed. The six distinct breeds, all first recognized by the United Kennel Club, show a range of colors and lineages, with the Plott Hound standing apart as the only breed not derived from foxhounds. Coonhounds are also notable for their role in a specific hunting culture where hunters listen for baying rather than chasing alongside the dogs. Their legacy includes a dedicated memorial graveyard in Alabama, reflecting their cultural importance. Health concerns specific to the type include susceptibility to acute canine idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis (often called coonhound paralysis) from raccoon saliva, and a predisposition to atopic dermatitis. The breeds' gradual recognition by the American Kennel Club in the 2000s underscores their historical status as working dogs valued more for function than formal registration.

Did You Know?

• The Plott Hound is the only coonhound breed that does not descend from foxhounds; its ancestry traces back to German boar-hunting dogs.
• Coonhounds are susceptible to acute canine idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis, often caused by contact with raccoon saliva.

Origins & Breeding History

The story of the Redbone Coonhound begins in the early nineteenth century, when Scottish settlers carried red-coated foxhounds into the American South, specifically Georgia. These dogs formed the genetic backbone of what would eventually become a distinct breed. The breed's name traces back to an early Tennessee breeder named Peter Redbone, though the bulk of the formative work actually took place in Georgia, where a man named George F.L. Birdsong received foundation dogs from Dr. Thomas Henry during the 1840s. In the breed's earliest days, many of these dogs carried a distinctive black saddle-shaped marking across their backs and were simply called Saddlebacks. By the turn of the twentieth century, selective breeding had produced a uniform, uninterrupted red coat, and the name Redbone Coonhound was formally adopted.

Hunting Role & Trail Strategy

The Redbone Coonhound occupies a very specific niche in the world of American hunting dogs. Rather than chasing down and subduing prey in the traditional sense, the Redbone's primary job is to locate wild game—raccoons, opossums, and squirrels—and drive them up into a tree where a waiting hunter can take the shot. This treeing strategy is the breed's defining purpose. What sets the Redbone apart from many of its coonhound cousins is its remarkable cold nose, a term describing its ability to follow a game trail for a significantly longer period than other breeds can manage. Despite being designed with small-game treeing in mind, the breed's courage and physical capability extend well beyond that. Redbones have proven themselves capable of confronting and working larger, more dangerous animals such as bears and cougars. Their selective breeding also produced a dog agile enough to navigate mountainous terrain or wade through marshland, and one that can swim when the situation demands it. On the trail, the Redbone communicates its findings with a loud, resonant bay that enthusiasts describe as having a notably sweet quality.

Physical Characteristics & Breed Standard

Visually, the Redbone Coonhound is one of the most consistent-looking members of the coonhound family. The breed presents a lean, muscular, and well-proportioned frame with long, straight legs and a deep chest. When actively working or being shown, the dog carries its head and tail high and proud. The coat is the breed's signature feature: always a rich, solid red, short and smooth against the body yet coarse enough to shield the skin from dense underbrush. A small amount of white on the chest, between the legs, or on the feet is occasionally seen but is not the norm. The face often carries what observers call a pleading expression, framed by brown eyes that range from dark brown to hazel, with the darker shade being preferred. A prominent black nose and black masking around the muzzle and eyes are common. The ears are long and floppy, stretching nearly to the tip of the nose. The paws are notably compact and well-padded, often described as cat-like, giving the dog sure footing across varied terrain. Males stand between 22 and 27 inches at the shoulder, females slightly shorter at 21 to 26 inches, with weights typically falling between 45 and 70 pounds.

Recognition & Cultural Legacy

Unlike many of its coonhound relatives, which are bred almost exclusively for working ability, the Redbone Coonhound is distinguished by the combination of its striking red appearance and its superior tracking endurance. This dual identity has shaped how the breed has been perceived and recognized over more than a century. That single book has introduced the breed to generations of readers who may never set foot on a hunting trail, cementing the Redbone's place in the American literary and cultural landscape well beyond the fields and forests of the South where the breed was originally developed.