Breed library

Redbone Coonhound

Redbone Coonhound photograph.
Redbone-coonhound-detail.jpg - 127177p. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Redbone-coonhound-detail.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Breed overview

The Redbone Coonhound is an American breed of hunting dog. As a coonhound, the Redbone is primarily a hunter of small game that hide in trees, such as raccoons, opossums, and squirrels, but is also capable of handling big game like bears and cougars. Its hunting strategy is to tree wild game where hunters can then shoot the target, rather than directly hunting and subduing the prey. The breed dates back to pre-Civil War from the Southern United States, and its foundation stock derives from bloodhounds and foxhounds brought by immigrants from Scotland.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: United StatesBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • In the early 19th century, Scottish immigrants brought red-colored foxhounds to Georgia, which would later become the foundation stock of today's modern-day Redbone.
  • Around 1840, Irish-bred Foxhound and Bloodhound lines were added.
  • While the Redbone name comes from an early breeder, Peter Redbone of Tennessee, much of the work to create the breed was done in Georgia.
  • Some of the earliest Redbones were referred to as "Saddlebacks" due to having a black saddle-like marking on the back on top of the all red coat.
  • By the beginning of the 20th century, it was replaced by an uninterrupted red tone, and the name "Redbone Coonhound" was adopted.

Size and appearance

The Redbone Coonhound has a lean, muscular, well proportioned build. The body type is typical to the coonhounds subgroup, with long straight legs, a deep chest, and a head and tail that are held high and proud when hunting or showing. The breed is one of the most uniform coonhounds in terms of size and appearance. The Redbone Coonhound has brown eyes and a face that is often described as having a pleading expression. The dog's eyes may be dark brown to hazel, but a darker color is preferred. The coat is short and smooth against the body, but coarse enough to provide protection to the skin while hunting through dense underbrush. The coat color is always a rich red, though a small amount of white on the chest, between the legs, or on the feet is sometimes seen. The nose is often black and prominent, with black on the muzzle and around the eyes, called "masking," not uncommon. The ears are floppy and will most likely extend to nearly the end of the nose if stretched out. Their large paws are described as cat-like, being compact and well-padded to adapt to different terrains. Dewclaws are common, but are considered a fault for breed standard.

  • Body mass reference: 20.412 - 29.484 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 45 - 65 lb. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 22.68 - 31.751 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 50 - 70 lb. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 53.34 - 66.04 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 21 - 26 in. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 55.88 - 68.58 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 22 - 27 in. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Height category: tall
  • Height category: medium
  • Weight category: medium
  • Weight category: large

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 1.91 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.39 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.81 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.62 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.11 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.20 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.81 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 1.18 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.39 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.74 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.53 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.81 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 1.07 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.16 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Redbone Coonhound.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: smooth

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

In the early 19th century, Scottish immigrants brought red-colored foxhounds to Georgia, which would later become the foundation stock of today's modern-day Redbone. Around 1840, Irish-bred Foxhound and Bloodhound lines were added. These additional lines, particularly the Irish Foxhound, may be the origin for the white markings occasionally found on the chest and feet of modern Redbones. While the Redbone name comes from an early breeder, Peter Redbone of Tennessee, much of the work to create the breed was done in Georgia. The foundation stock belonged to George F.L. Birdsong of Georgia, given to him by Dr. Thomas Henry in the 1840s.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Redbone Coonhound - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Redbone Coonhound, revision 1379441948. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Redbone_Coonhound&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Redbone-coonhound-detail.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Redbone-coonhound-detail.jpg - 127177p. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Redbone-coonhound-detail.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.