Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound is an American hunting dog from the southern United States. Like other coonhounds it mainly hunts animals that take to the trees, such as raccoons, opossums and squirrels, but it can also handle bear and cougar. It does not catch the quarry itself: it drives the animal up a tree and holds it there until the hunter arrives.

History

The breed goes back to before the Civil War. In the early nineteenth century Scottish immigrants brought red foxhounds to Georgia, and these became the foundation of the modern Redbone. Around 1840 Irish-bred Foxhound and Bloodhound lines were added. The Irish Foxhound in particular may account for the white that sometimes shows on the chest and feet of Redbones today.

The name comes from an early breeder, Peter Redbone of Tennessee, though much of the work was done in Georgia. The foundation stock belonged to George F. L. Birdsong of that state, who received it from Dr. Thomas Henry in the 1840s.

Some early dogs were called “Saddlebacks” because they had a black saddle over the red coat. By the start of the twentieth century breeders had replaced this with unbroken red, and the name Redbone Coonhound was adopted. Selective breeding produced a hound that trees game well, stands up to larger animals, is agile enough for mountains and marsh, and will swim when it has to. Most coonhounds are bred for hunting skill with little regard for looks; the Redbone is known both for its rich color and for a “cold nose”, the ability to follow an older trail than other breeds can.

The United Kennel Club recognized it in 1902, the second coonhound breed after the Black and Tan, and the American Kennel Club in 2010. Many people know the breed from Wilson Rawls’s 1961 children’s novel Where the Red Fern Grows.

Appearance

The Redbone is lean, muscular and well proportioned, with the long straight legs and deep chest typical of coonhounds, and it carries its head and tail high. It is one of the most uniform coonhounds in size and looks. Males stand about 56 to 69 cm at the shoulder and females 53 to 66 cm. Weight runs from 20 to 32 kg and should suit the dog’s frame, with lean working condition preferred.

The coat is short and smooth but coarse enough to protect the skin in thick brush. It is always a rich red, sometimes with a little white on the chest, between the legs or on the feet. Dark shading on the muzzle and around the eyes is not unusual. The eyes are brown to hazel, darker being preferred, and give the face what is often called a pleading look. The ears hang long, reaching almost to the tip of the nose when drawn forward. The paws are large, compact and well padded, like a cat’s.

Temperament

Redbones are courageous hunters. Because they work by treeing, they have a loud bay, a voice that admirers describe as sweet.

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