Adopting a Hound
Curious about adding a coonhound or foxhound to your household? Or maybe you're ready to adopt and are unsure about what age (puppy, adult, senior) is the best fit for your lifestyle. Read on to learn more and why we believe a Coonie, Foxy or hound-mix could be your new best friend.
Temperament and Appearance
Sweet, sensitive and loyal
Hounds are companions that crave human companionship.
Unique mannerisms
Their “Coonie curl”, “hound song”, and silly personalities will melt your heart.
Soulful brown eyes and long, silky ears
The kind only a lifelong friend has.
Colors and patterns galore!
Stripes and speckles, spots and solids, reds, blues, tan, black, and white … no two hounds look alike.
Great social skills
Bred to hunt in packs, hounds are known to be very kid- and dog-friendly.
Age Considerations
Most hounds over two years old have a great on/off switch.
Full of energy and ready to sniff when out and about, they are content to snooze on their dog bed (or more often - the couch) for hours when it's quiet time.
Hound puppies are adorable!
But they do require a lot of work! Constant monitoring; lots of exercise; a consistent daily routine, regular directed activity (e.g. sniff walks, hide and seek, etc.), and basic training that reinforces good manners. Whew! Too many folks don’t fully understand the commitment inherent with puppies, so please … do your homework!
Adult dogs are not a 24/7 job.
They provide a great deal more predictability, and are easier to train given their longer attention span. Right from the start, you’ll know their size, energy level, loudness of voice, and personality making it much easier to select the right hound for your household.
Don’t overlook senior hounds!
Dogs aged 8+ years are an ideal choice for someone who has never had a hound. They enjoy easy living; require much less exercise, and are often the last to be adopted; although, they have so much love to give.
Health and Grooming
Bred and selected to be workers
They have few congenital issues or problems that show up in dogs bred for a particular “look.”
Grooming doesn’t get much easier
A quick swipe over their short, slick coats along with nail trim and ear clean will put the polish to a hound.
Speaking of ears
Hound ears are pre-disposed to infection, so regular maintenance with a veterinary-approved ear cleaner is highly recommended.
And Finally . . . Adopt, Don’t Shop!
Given the unprecedented number of dogs (let alone hounds) that are currently being euthanized, we strongly encourage adoption from a rescue group, local shelter/pound or one of the below re-homing sites as opposed to purchasing from a breeder.
Also, please follow our Coonhound Rescue Network Page (CRN) on Facebook. With new posts daily, CRN features hundreds of hounds in need of forever homes. Many are available from rescues that can coordinate transportation throughout the U.S. and southern Canada.
You cannot ensure that your home confinement is adequate.
Hounds are well-known escape artists with excellent fence climbing and jumping skills. And, some hounds will run through invisible fences if there’s game to chase. Accordingly, we highly recommend the use of a GPS tracker for hounds that like to push the limits of home boundaries.
You won’t want a "coonie" if …
You have neighbors that like to hear a pin drop.
All scenthounds were bred to announce the finding of game in a loud, musical voice ranging from a soft "woo woo woo" to a blaring operatic aria. Hound song can be one of the most beautiful sounds you’ll ever enjoy, but it can lead to neighborhood discord unless you’re prepared to teach your hound when and where its appropriate to sing.
You can’t think outside the box.
It takes a kind hand and creative approach to train a coonhound or foxhound, especially one who has experienced past trauma and/or who has been kept in an outdoor environment for most (if not all) of its life.
You aren’t prepared to take care of their needs for a warm resting spot.
That smooth, short coat won’t offer much protection when rain, snow and bitter winds come rolling in.