About Coonhounds

The coonhound is an intelligent, loyal, and hard-working breed. They're best for someone who wants an active dog, can spend time training the dog and can exercise the dog on a regular basis. They're not the ideal apartment pet, because they need room to run and play. If you have a large backyard and love to run, bike or swim with your dog, the coonhound is a great companion.

Coonhound Breeds and History

The American Leopard Hounds are thought to have descended from dogs that were brought to the new world by Spanish conquistadors. This dog is an all-purpose tree dog that can withstand brutal temperatures. The Black and Tan Coonhound was developed in the South of the United States. It tends to be larger than the other breeds. The Bluetick Coonhound descended from the foxhounds of England and the French hounds. The English Coonhound also descended from the foxhounds of England and was the first coonhound registered by the U.K.C. The Plott coonhound originated from wild boar hounds and are known for its courage and stamina. The Redbone Coonhound began with the foxhounds and has a treeing instinct that was bred into it. The Treeing Walker Coonhound originated from the English Walker Foxhounds.

Characteristics

Coonhounds are medium to large dogs, usually weighing between 50 and 75 pounds, and are extremely athletic. Their coats are short and easy to maintain. There are not a lot of grooming needs with the coonhounds. This breed loves to work and hunt outdoors. Coonhounds can get along with other dogs and people if socialized.

Training

These dogs should be trained at an early age. Most coonhounds are independent and do not care about pleasing their owners.You must be very consistent with your training and teach your puppy to respect you. Owners of coonhounds should socialize their dogs early on.

Concerns and Needs

This breed needs a lot of exercise. If you're not active and can't spend time each day with your dog, this is probably not the dog for you. If the coonhound is not exercised enough, he will become bored and may become destructive. This breed is known for its stubbornness.

If you have young children or elderly people living with you, a young coonhound is probably not the dog for you. They become extremely excited and are known to bounce and jump around. The coonhound has basic instincts to chase animals that flee, so a coonhound must be trained early to get along with other animals. If you have a cat or other small animals, this breed could seriously hurt or kill them.

A coonhound needs a high fence with wire barriers in the ground to discourage digging. This breed does not do well off a leash unless trained extremely well. You should not leave this breed out in the yard unsupervised due to the loud baying sounds they make. Don't be tricked by the coonhound's short hair; they do shed.

Interesting Facts

There is a coonhound memorial grave located in northeast Alabama which is solely dedicated to coonhounds. It was established in 1937 by Key Underwood after he lost his coonhound companion of 15 years. Coonhounds usually live between 10 and 12 years and the average litter size is seven to eight puppies.

Resources

• Training Coonhounds