Do Redbone Coonhounds Shed?

The Redbone Coonhound is a southern United States-based dog that used to hunt large creatures such as cougars, boar, bears, deer, and raccoons. With such an impressive hunting acumen, the Redbone Coonhound is certainly brave, but what about their shedding habits?

The Redbone Coonhound is a low-shedding dog due to its coarse-textured fur and single coat. Keeping this Coonhound variety groomed should be exceptionally simple as well, requiring weekly brushing with a grooming mitt to control loose hair.

Keep reading for more information on shedding, grooming, and personality so you can decide if a Redbone Coonhound is the breed you’ve been looking for!

Redbone Coonhound Shedding

The Coonhound in the hound group includes the Redbone Coonhound among a variety of other breeds such as the Black and Tan Coonhound and the English Coonhound.

If you read my article on Coonhound shedding, then you’ll recall how it’s a mixed bag when it comes to shedding among these hounds. Some Coonhounds shed moderately and others very little. But fortunately, the Redbone Coonhound is one that sheds minimally.

Why is that? Well, for starters, this red-coated dog has rather coarse fur.

Coarse-textured dog breeds don’t shed as much as breeds with smoother coats, at least not most of the time.

As proof of that, you needn’t look any further than the Spanish Water Dog or the Toy Poodle.

These dogs couldn’t be any more disparate in regard to their size. They both share coarse coats, though, and that contributes to the low shedding, just like the Redbone Coonhound.

The next factor that makes the Redbone Coonhound so shed so little is that its short, coarse coat is single-layered.

A double-coated dog is one with an insulating underlayer and a dirt-repelling outer layer. Every summer and winter, a double-coated dog will blow its coat, which means it will shed rather profusely.

These weeks-long periods of shedding can be stressful for dog owners who have to increase their rate of brushing and house cleanup.

But not if you own a Redbone Coonhound because you won’t have to contend with seasonal shedding in the slightest.

The bright coat of the appropriately-named Redbone Coonhound is short. This makes it easier to witness the impressive musculature of this dog.

When I say the fur is short, I mean it’s incredibly close-cropped. It’s not going to shed in tufts because that’s simply not what the Redbone Coonhound’s fur is like.

Usually, dogs with short fur shed more than breeds with long fur due to how dog hair grows across four stages. And the four stages of the hair growth cycle can progress more rapidly in a short-haired dog, which means the fur can come out more often.

However, the aforementioned qualities of the Redbone Coonhound’s coat tend to keep the short hairs mostly intact. All dogs shed, and the Redbone Coonhound is no exception, but the loose fur is minimal with this breed, and the short coat is a win because it’s easy to maintain.

Grooming Your Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound’s short coat is very advantageous when it comes time to groom this dog.

Maintaining their coat couldn’t be easier!

Let’s start by talking about the brushing requirements of the Redbone Coonhound.

I’d recommend a grooming mitt for the job. You put the mitt on your hand and run it over your dog’s fur from top to bottom.

A grooming mitt, just like any other dog brush, will sufficiently dislodge the loose fur in your Redbone Coonhound’s coat before it can fall from its body.

You’re also making this red-colored dog’s already smooth and shiny coat look even smoother and shinier!

On top of all that, when you brush your dog, you distribute skin oils across the body that keep their skin moisturized. Dry skin is itchy skin that could exacerbate shedding.

How often should you brush a Redbone Coonhound? Since this dog is single-coated and short-furred, you can get away with brushing once per week.

The Redbone Coonhound is prone to accumulating earwax. This is common in floppy-eared dogs.

Every week, after brushing your pup, give his ears a check. If you see a lot of wax in there, it’s best to remove it. Avoid grabbing a cotton swab, though. Rather, take your dog’s ear flap and rub it, gently massaging the area.

After 20 or 30 seconds of rubbing, stop and check your dog’s ear again. The massaging should have broken up the debris and clumpy wax in the ear. Then, with a cotton ball, rub the debris and wax away, but please never insert anything inside your dog’s ear!

What about bathing your Redbone Coonhound?

Although he’s not double-coated, the Redbone Coonhound still has a protective, glossy outer coat that sort of acts like the outer layer of a double-coated dog’s fur.

In other words, the outer coat can repel dirt and grime. You’ll still have to bathe your dog, though.

Maybe every three months or so, it will be time to plunk your Redbone Coonhound in the bath. Brush your dog first and then wash.

Use dog-friendly shampoo when washing the Redbone Coonhound. People shampoo can be too harsh on your dog and potentially leave them with skin irritation that can increase their rate of shedding.

When bathing, use lukewarm water. You shouldn’t have to fill a tub or basin all the way; about four inches of water will suffice.

Wash your dog’s body first and then the head. Be sure to rinse all the shampoo residue thoroughly from the Redbone Coonhound’s head and body. The residue could cause itching.

When you’re finished, blot your dog’s fur dry with a towel. The Redbone Coonhound’s fur can’t get tangled or knotted, so you can use a towel in this instance.

Be sure not to bathe your Redbone Coonhound more frequently than every three months. Washing a dog too often can also make their skin itchy, which will ramp up shedding.

Another monthly habit is trimming your dog’s nails. If you’re feeling trepidation about this part of the Redbone Coonhound’s grooming routine, you can always take your dog to a groomer.

You don’t have to trim this Coonhound’s short coat save for two areas. Longer fur can grow around the dog’s ears and between the footpads from time to time, so cut this fur a little.

About the Redbone Coonhound

You’re now well-informed on the rate of shedding and the grooming requirements of the Redbone Coonhound, but perhaps you have some questions still. Well, this section should answer them and help you decide if you should adopt this bright, cheery dog.

The Redbone Coonhound is a hunting dog from the southern US (which explains why he’s single-coated). The breed shares a lineage with Scottish Foxhounds and is an excellent hunter, especially of large animals such as cougars, bears, raccoons, boar, and deer.

The American Kennel Club calls the Redbone Coonhound eager to please, friendly, and even-tempered.

The breed has also been featured in dog shows before, which you can watch below.

The Redbone Coonhound is not exactly a tiny dog. He stands 27 inches tall and weighs up to 70 pounds. Not to mention, the breed has a lot of energy and needs plenty of mental stimulation.

It’s for these reasons that the Redbone Coonhound is probably not the best dog for apartment-dwellers. The dog needs a lot of space and room to run and roam.

But if you have a park nearby and you can get your Coonhound outside often enough, then he could be happy in an apartment.

A fenced-in yard will obviously make this dog very contented indeed.

Although the Redbone Coonhound hunts large animals, they’re very friendly with dogs. Smaller pets such as cats can pose a problem, as the Coonhound could view your feline friend as prey.

How does this breed interact with children? Affectionate to the point of being lovey-dovey, the Redbone Coonhound is exceptionally great with children.

That said, the dog does require socialization with the kids so they can get used to one another. You must also socialize the Redbone Coonhound with other dogs in the family.

Bottom Line

The Redbone Coonhound is a big hunting dog that hails from the US. With its imposing musculature, this Coonhound could hunt bears and cougars with no problem!

Despite his size, the Redbone Coonhound has a single-layered, coarse coat that doesn’t shed much. This dog is also very easy to groom, requiring infrequent bathing, weekly brushing, and earwax cleaning.

With his big love for people and sweet, bold personality, the Redbone Coonhound could be just the dog for you!