Coonhound

Introducing the Coonhound, a breed renowned for its amiable disposition and exceptional hunting abilities. Coming from the United States, this dog is an excellent companion for outdoor enthusiasts as it was bred to track and play in trees.

Coonhounds have a friendly and loving side in addition to their hunting prowess. They are excellent family pets and get along well with kids because of their devoted personality and lively spirit. They stand out for their determination and keen sense of smell, but what really captures people’s hearts is their kind nature.

We’ll look at what makes the Coonhound a special and adored breed in this article. Get a deeper look at why this breed might be the ideal addition to your family, from their background and traits to their care requirements and personality.

Breed	Coonhound
Size	Medium to large
Coat	Short and smooth
Color	Black and tan, red, blue ticked, and more
Temperament	Friendly, intelligent, and energetic
Exercise Needs	High
Good With Kids	Yes
Trainability	Moderate to high

Origin of the breed

During the colonization of the United States, individuals of this breed arrived on American soil. A legend holds that the foxhounds George Washington brought and the hounds the Marquis de Lafayette brought from France are the ancestors of the coonhound.

However, there is proof that at the start of the 18th century, raccoon hounds’ progenitors were already in the New World. Furthermore, coonhounds were partially bred from bloodhounds. Their primary objective was to hunt raccoons, but due to the dogs’ excellent working abilities, they were also able to hunt other animals.

Large kennels that produce these hunting dogs are concentrated in the Southeast of the United States, which is where coonhounds are particularly well-liked.

Coonhound character

A coonhound is an incredibly strong, resilient, and industrious dog. Representatives of this breed were fearless and courageous, making them dangerous and nimble hunters, even for large animals like deer, bears, and pumas.

They are loving, loyal pets that enjoy interacting with their owner and other family members and are eager to spend time with them.

A well-trained and well-mannered coonhound is always willing to obey its owner’s instructions. Considering that these dogs stand out for their independence, training is crucial. They can be trained well and are fairly balanced under normal circumstances.

Children get along well with raccoon hounds, who can play, run, jump, and run nonstop for hours on end. However, given this animal’s size, it is important to remember that the dog could unintentionally hurt the infant.

Coonhounds are great guard dogs because they are very suspicious of strangers and do not extend a warm welcome to them. These breed’s representatives are very gregarious and available for work whenever you need them. Just give them a call.

It’s unlikely that they will be able to communicate with animals other than those of their own kind, though. All hounds have highly developed instincts and are fundamentally hunters, including raccoon hounds. Any animal will only be seen as prey by a dog.

Description of the Coonhound breed

There are now five varieties of coonhounds:

• American black and tan;
• red (redbone);
• English speckled red;
• speckled blue;
• Walker coonhound.

The other varieties of this breed remained unofficially recognized, with the exception of the black and tan coonhound.

Every coonhound is a powerful, muscular, well-built dog. They can function in practically any environment. Males can only be as tall as 70 cm, while females can only be as tall as 63 cm. Errors of 1.5–2 cm are permitted, but not more. Dogs range in weight from 32 to 50 kg.

Raccoon hounds have a unique grace and lightness in their movements. Their front paws are strongly extended forward, and their hind legs are used to propel themselves off. The breed representatives are described as follows in the standard:

1. Head of noble position, elongated, dry, with a narrow, rounded forehead. The occipital region is well defined, cheekbones flattened, moderately prominent arches above the eyebrows.
2. The muzzle is rectangular in shape, with drooping lips and folds in the corners of the mouth, they are black or dark brown. The transition from the forehead to the bridge of the nose is noticeable, but not clearly defined. The bridge of the nose is smooth, with a slight convexity.
3. The jaws are strong, with powerful, white teeth that create a scissor bite. The nose is black or brown, clearly visible, the nostrils are wide open.
4. Eyes small, round, shallowly set and dry, tightly fitting eyelids. The look is friendly, but a certain alertness slips through.
5. Auricles elongated, thin, hanging down, located closer to the back of the head. Located on soft cartilage, form graceful folds, giving the head a festive, elegant look.
6. The neck of dogs is of medium length, has a beautiful curve, covered with dry muscles. The withers are not prominent.
7. Body almost square, strong, well muscled, with a straight, even back. Ribs are oval, with a bend. The chest is voluminous, moderately long, which ensures the animal"s endurance during movement.
8. The croup has a slight slope, the line of the lower abdomen in the groin area is tucked up.
9. Limbs. Forequarters – are parallel to each other, dry, even, with slanting shoulder blades and muscular shoulders. Hinds – slightly set back, standing straight, strong, with muscular thighs, elongated shins, harmonious hocks and steep metatarsus. Paws, like those of cats, are gathered into a lump with well-pressed toes and voluminous, compacted pads.
10. Tail of good length, thickish at the base, but tapering towards the tip. Set below the spinal column. When moving, it rises up, when the dog is calm, the tail hangs down.

Colors and type of coat

All coonhound breeds are similar in that their short hair is shiny, smooth, and uniform; the primary distinction is in color:

1. Black and tan coonhound – there is only one color – the hair is black, tan marks above the eyes, stripes may be located on the sides of the muzzle, on the chest and limbs.
2. Red coonhound – the main color of the coat is red, but the presence of white spots is allowed.
3. English, speckled red raccoon hound – on a white background there are spots of a reddish-reddish tone and densely applied speckles, but there are individuals with bluish speckles, tricolor, reddish, black, lemon-white or motley.
4. Blue-speckled Coonhound – a unique tricolor, in which the main color is white, on it there are multiple inclusions and black spots, giving the color a bluish tint. Red markings are in the area of ​​the muzzle, eyebrows and limbs.
5. Walker Coonhound – there are individuals with a tricolor and two-color color, strict requirements for shades are not imposed, but the background must be light, and the spots – dark tones.

Where dogs of this breed are used?

Raccoon hounds are specifically trained to hunt opossums, wild boars, and raccoons. Bear and deer hunting are also done with them. Dogs need a hot trail to track because they use their lower sense of smell for work.

Canines possessing such an exceptional sense of smell were highly valued in operational-search and search and rescue tasks. They can pick up the required program, but during training, their unique qualities must be taken into consideration.

Coonhounds make great service dogs. However, only if the owner has a strong character, self-confidence, and spare time to spend with a four-legged friend do they make excellent companions.

Coonhounds are a distinctive breed renowned for their amiable disposition and exceptional hunting abilities. These dogs are great companions for active families because they are devoted, energetic, and incredibly trainable. Coonhounds are excellent at tracking and fieldwork because of their keen sense of smell and tenacity. Their playful nature makes them a pleasure to be around, and they thrive in settings where they can remain active and engaged.

Features of training

Although coonhounds are submissive and docile, their natural hunting instincts can be detrimental to them in daily life. The dog, strutting calmly down the street, can change into a different animal in the blink of an eye if it spots suitable game. Regretfully, this breed of dog gets hurt and lost quite frequently.

Since this addiction is untreatable, the dog’s owner must walk it on a leash at all times; independent walks are not even an option. It’s also crucial to impart to him the "rules of good manners." The dog needs to complete a general training course in order to do this. However, hounds also pick up specialized abilities needed for the workplace.

A puppy must be trained from the moment it first appears in the home, and above all else, it must be taught to respond to its owner’s call. To achieve these goals, you must call the baby to the bowl, blow the horn, use it, and wait to feed him until he shows up.

The dog’s ability to locate the owner is another crucial hunting skill. Since the dog can run quite a distance during the rut, it should be trained to use scent or a trail to find the hunter. These kinds of scenarios are first acted out in the field and repeatedly repeated until the dog learns what is expected of it.

Learning to move along a single trail is another aspect of training. When a dog is first learning to follow a trail, it should not change to another one while traveling along it. The owner uses prohibiting commands to do this.

In order to hunt, the four-legged hunter must be able to alert his owner by barking when he finds a new trail. As a matter of fact, "silence" is a vice in hounds, and this trait is heritable. Rejected dogs are prohibited from breeding. When a dog possesses this attribute in full, there is no need for effort on their part as they will instinctively react appropriately.

Experts in dog hunting are certain that an owner will find it easier to communicate with his dog during a hunt if he invests more time and energy in training.

Breed diseases

Although their health is amazing, hounds can still become ill. The following conditions are among the common ones that affect coonhounds:

• dysplasia of large joints – hip, elbow;
• obesity;
• diseases of the visual image;
• dirofilariasis of the heart muscle (infection with a nematode);
• demodicosis;
• animal plague;
• flea infestation.

Compared to other dogs, hunting dogs encounter wild animals more frequently, and these animals are frequently carriers of harmful diseases. As a result, the owner is responsible for the pet’s prompt vaccinations, routine dewormings, and examination for external parasites. This will considerably lower the chance of infection.

Care and health

The short coat of a coonhound doesn’t need much maintenance. Brushing it once a week with a brush meant for this kind of coat is sufficient. Raccoon hounds shed a lot, which can be an issue if the pet is kept at home, but owners should be aware of this.

The majority of hunting dogs, such as raccoon hounds, have a distinct, sharp scent. If the owner chooses to wash the dog a lot in an attempt to get rid of it, it will be in vain. The dog won’t gain anything from such procedures, and the scent will get monotonous over time. Bathing hounds is done sparingly and only when required.

Other than that, the care is routine: fur is clipped every few days, teeth are washed every two to three days, and ears are cleaned as they become unclean.

The ideal breed for aviary keeping is a hound. Dogs in these circumstances have strong bones, a robust immune system, and a lower risk of developing musculoskeletal diseases than other dogs. They also do not contract rickets.

Furthermore, a dog that exercises more outside of walks needs less physical exertion, and the dog benefits from fresh air. However, it still requires interaction with the owner and family members as well as frequent walks.

The raccoon hound requires a warm booth because of its short hair, so its walls are lined with insulating materials and have a thin felt canopy.

In extreme circumstances, the dog may be able to live in an apartment, but it cannot be claimed that experts would advise such living arrangements. It’s important to remember that runhounds can’t stay alone for very long; if they do, they’ll howl nonstop and loudly.

Feeding the hound

Pet owners are always free to feed their animals natural food or premade rations. The food should be full and well-balanced in both situations. Hounds require a lot of fresh water to drink as well.

Meat, an animal protein source, should be the main food in a natural feeding regimen. Large bones are fed to dogs in their raw form; they keep their teeth healthy and supply the body with essential vitamins and minerals. Bones are very beneficial to animals.

Raw egg white is something that shouldn’t be fed to hounds. Additionally, fish, vegetables, fruits, cereals, cheeses, and fermented milk products are served to pets. It is not advised to feed sweets, pastries, or legumes to dogs of this breed.

You should consider the breed characteristics, level of physical activity, and age of your pet when selecting ready-made diets. Premium and super-premium category feeds are the best choice. These products are of excellent quality and contain all the required mineral components. Thus, additional vitamin supplements are not required.

Photo of a coonhound

Video about a coonhound

A remarkable breed renowned for its hunting skills and amiable disposition is the coonhound. For people who love being outside and need a committed companion, this dog is an excellent choice because of its remarkable tracking abilities and devoted personality. The Coonhound’s excitement and energy will keep you going whether you’re going on a hunt or just taking a stroll.

In addition to being skilled hunters, coonhounds make wonderful family companions. They are a good fit for homes with kids and other pets because of their kind nature and desire to please. With the right training and socialization, they should blend in perfectly with the family and bring their owners happiness and loyalty.

All things considered, the Coonhound is a unique, affectionate breed. They are an excellent addition to any home because of their special combination of strength, intelligence, and companionship. For those seeking a devoted and energetic companion, the Coonhound may be the ideal breed.

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