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Hound Handbook
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Breed profile

Redbone Coonhound

A solid red American scent hound bred to tree raccoons. Easygoing at home, nose-led and loud outdoors.

A solid red Redbone Coonhound stands side-on in a grassy field, looking up and to the right
The Redbone's deep red coat is its trademark.Photo: Dmdir84 / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Weight
20–32 kg44–71 lb
Height
53–69 cm21–27 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Group
Hound
Origin
United States
Popularity
#146 USNot ranked in UK · 2025

Known for: Family dogsLow groomingGood with other dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Easygoing, Friendly, Determined, Vocal.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Ear infections (long, floppy ears)

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour or more of exercise daily on lead or in a secure area; scent games help. Weekly brushing and weekly ear checks. Redbones are sociable and cope poorly with long hours alone.

A good fit for

Active families, rural homes, hunters, people who enjoy a sociable hound.

Probably not ideal for

Close neighbours (they bay), homes with cats or small pets, owners wanting off-lead reliability.

Sources

  1. VCA Animal Hospitals: Redbone Coonhound
  2. WebMD: What to know about Redbone Coonhounds
  3. Wikipedia: Redbone Coonhound

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
Black and Tan Coonhound with long ears standing on a clover lawn

Black and Tan Coonhound

A big, mellow American scent hound bred to tree raccoons at night. Easygoing indoors, single-minded on a trail, and loud when it finds one.

Head of a Treeing Walker Coonhound with a white blaze against a green park background

Treeing Walker Coonhound

A fast, tricolour American coonhound descended from foxhounds. Friendly and mellow at home, tireless on a scent, with a ringing bay.

Head-and-shoulders portrait of a Bluetick Coonhound with black-ticked white coat, tan eyebrows and long black ears, against a brown backdrop

Bluetick Coonhound

Ticked American coonhound with a big bawling voice and a nose that runs its life. Sweet at home, single-minded on a scent.

A white American Foxhound with a single dark patch and light ear markings stands side-on, head raised

American Foxhound

George Washington's hound: rangier and lighter than the English Foxhound. Gentle with people, built to run all day.

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