The history of the origin of the Coonhound breed, external criteria, behavior, health, care: feeding, walking, training. Purchase and price of a raccoon dog puppy. Most US presidents have been dog owners, but the coonhound is recognized as the most American dog ever. It is known that George Washington had such pets. They were popular with settlers for their ability to track down predators. It is arguably the most popularized dog breed in America today.
They are not told to anyone about them, but they can be seen on every porch outside the city and on farms, in police stations. They have something to brag about. Dogs are stubborn and hardy. Trained to chase raccoons into trees, these dogs became famous for their hunting of deer, bears, and even mountain lions.
The history of the origin of the Coonhound breed
When the sun goes down and the sounds and smells of the evening begin to fly in the air, it is then that the feelings of the kunhound are heightened. When a few hours remain until dusk, then the coonhounds and their owners begin their favorite pastime. There is a hint in the name of the breed. Who can these dogs hunt? On creatures that love the night - raccoons.
They have a beautiful voice and each dog barks in its own way. Some have guttural and lingering barking, others take high notes. Without a doubt, when the hunt begins, owners can tell their pets from others by their voice. Surprising - but true. The barking rhythm of each dog is unique.
Nothing has changed since the days of the travelers David Crockett and Daniel Boone. As the first settlers in the United States, they were looking for a way to rid their farms of annoying raccoons. People noticed these dogs as soon as they emigrated to America. Over the course of several centuries, hunters have developed six different breeds.
The first was the black and tan coonhound. It was created in the South of America at the end of the 19th century by mixing local Foxhounds with Bloodhounds. In the past, English Coonhounds are closely related to English Hounds. The speckled blue coonhound owes its appearance not only to the English, but also to the French hounds. Plothound is from Bavaria. The Plot family brought wild Bavarian hounds to America in 1750. They used their dogs to breed the breed necessary for a large hunt - this is how this species turned out. The Red Coonhound is a cross between a variety of hounds, including Foxhounds, Bloodhounds and even Irish Pointers. The Walker tree raccoon hound is the rarest and most popular breed. It got its name in honor of its creator Thomas Walker from Kentucky.
Many cynologists are engaged in the genealogical tree of these species. Each of them has their own fans. As the evening draws nearer, the united kennel club prepares for the competition. This is not a real hunt. Dogs must hunt down a wild raccoon and then leave him alone in a tree. No animal will be harmed. A flock of coonhounds will run into the forest, they will find a raccoon, call the hunters, and then leave.
As soon as the dog smells the raccoon, it gives a voice and gets points for it. Each owner knows the barking of his pet and reports that it is his dog. After the dogs take the trail, they must find the "striped" in the tree where he took refuge. When this happens, the barking of the dogs increases. If the dog successfully finds the animal, it remains under the tree until the hunters arrive. Raccoons are great at climbing trees. Sometimes they climb very high and even jump from tree to tree to fool their pursuers.
The purpose of such an event is to allow these dogs to demonstrate their natural abilities. Otherwise, the working qualities of the breed will be lost over time. Such competitions are very popular, which is not surprising given the number of coonhounds. More than one hundred seventy thousand owners of this variety join the club every year. Hence, it can be said that it is the most popular dog species in America. But in urban areas, you are unlikely to see a coonhound. These are residents of country houses and farms. By nature, they are hunting dogs, they can take a bear, lynx, deer, fox.
Dogs not only run around the area, they are very fond of water. During water competitions, they easily take prizes. The goal of the competition is to test each dog's sense of smell on the water. In nature, coonhounds have to overcome such difficulties in order not to lose track of the raccoon. Some competitions include tricky obstacles. For example, an islet of land in the center of a lake. Many dogs, having sniffed the ground, understand that the raccoon is not here and follow their goal. Each such dog barks in two ways. To the first, he informs the owner that he has attacked the trail, and to the second, he conveys information that the target has been found.
Tracking is part of the job of the police and the US authorities have decided to use the ability of these dogs to help humans. From a young age, they are trained to search for escaped criminals and missing people. Coonhound has a cold nose. This means that dogs can smell an old footprint or footprint on frozen ground. The dog is able to retain the smell in memory for several hours. The pores in the nose prevent the inhaled air from mixing with the smell.
It follows a person's body odor. If someone crossed the river, then the smell remains in the air above the surface of the water. Also, tall grass keeps it and even if the smell disappears, the coonhounds can easily restore the trail. Such data helps to solve even the most complex crimes. But the opening hours are not very suitable for dogs, they would prefer night time. When there is no work during the day, they usually sleep, but they are ready to "serve" at any time of the day. The oath of these dogs sounds like this: "Search and save."
Description of the external coonhound standard
Sturdy, strong, muscular dogs. They are used for hunting a variety of game, but their main occupation is tracking raccoons. They are energetic and hardy. They can work in different terrain and conditions. They have a friendly disposition and a balanced nervous organization. Based on generally accepted norms, the height at the withers in males is from 63 cm to 70 cm, in bitches from 57 cm to 63 cm. With an error of a couple of centimeters. Weigh from 32 kg to 50 kg. The dog's movements are light and graceful. The front legs are strongly thrown forward, and the hind legs are clearly pushing off the ground.
- Head dry, elongated, noble. The forehead is not wide, rounded. The occipital part is well developed, the cheekbones are flat, the superciliary arches are moderate. The lines of the head and muzzle should be in parallel.
- Muzzle rectangular, volumetric, the same length as the skull. The lips are saggy, form a characteristic fold near the corners of the mouth, pigmented in black or dark brown. The stop is not pronounced, but visible. The bridge of the nose is wide, flat or slightly arched. The teeth are powerful, white, large, and the incisors are even. Scissor bite.
- Nose eye-catching, nostrils open. The color of the lobe is black or brown, depending on the color of the coonhound's coat.
- Eyes medium in size, rounded, shallow. The eyelids are dry and fit quite tightly. Their color range is dark brown black-brown or hazel. The look is smart, kind, a little wary.
- Ears located closer to the back of the head, long, hanging down. Their cartilage is soft, forming beautiful folds, which gives the head an elegant, intelligent look.
- Neck medium, beautiful, well muscled. The withers are not pronounced.
- Frame almost square, powerful, muscular. The back is quite straight and strong. The ribs have an oval bend. The chest is voluminous, of sufficient length for good endurance of the Coonhound while running. The croup is slightly sloping. The lower abdomen is tucked up in the groin area.
- Tail long, tapering towards the end. Has a fit below the line of the spine. When the dog moves, lifts it up above the back. At rest, it hangs down.
- Front limbs - parallel to each other, muscularly dry, strong, even. The shoulder blades are oblique, the shoulders are well muscled. The hind ones are set back a little, strong, erect, the structure is strong. The thighs are muscular, the legs are long. The hocks are harmonious. Metatarsus placed vertically.
- Paws - like a cat, in a ball. Pointed forward. Fingers are pressed together. The pads are voluminous, dense. The nails are hard.
- Coat short, shiny, straight, dense.
- Skin tight fitting.
- Color depends on the type of coonhound. There are charcoal tan, red, spotted, brown, with a tiger's head.
Raccoon dog behavior
Coonhound lovers in America excel in loyalty to one breed. For decades they have given birth to only these dogs, and traditions are inherited. They are very friendly dogs. Great pets for the whole family if you start them from puppyhood. They follow on the heels of literally every family member. They are not very attached to the house, since they are slaves to their nose. Make sure you have a strong fence that can hold them back. The energy of these pets supports their strength.
Coonhound dog health
Coonhounds, in their general mass, are quite strong animals with an excellent immune system. The most common blemishes in raccoon dogs are hip dislocations and some eye problems. Dysplasia can be either hereditary or acquired. Genetic problems in the general mass are solved only by culling. Psam do an X-ray examination and are not allowed to breed sick individuals. Affected dogs are prescribed therapy based on the severity of the disease. Many have to undergo surgery. To raise a healthy dog, it must be properly maintained.
Coonhound care
- Wool can be brushed once a week as it is short. But when a change of coat occurs in dogs, it is better to do the manipulation every day. It is advisable to do this on the street, as wool sticks into furniture, carpets, and then it is difficult to remove it from there. The manipulation is carried out using special rubber brushes for short-haired dogs. Combs from this material perfectly remove dead hairs. Shampoo for bathing dogs with short hair, it is necessary to buy a gentle one with a PH-balance. Before washing, the concentrate must be diluted with water in a ratio of one to three. Try to rinse your dog well to avoid skin irritation and dandruff. A wet dog should be thoroughly blotted with a terry towel. Next, place it in a warm, draft-free room and wait until it dries completely.
- Claws pruned regularly, using claws. Sometimes this is not required, since active pets move a lot and grind them down themselves. Watch only for the dewclaws, as the claws that have grown over them can catch on everything, and this is traumatic.
- Earsthat are drooping require more frequent grooming than other dogs. They can accumulate excess sulfur and dirt, and because of this, they are not ventilated as they should. Therefore, to avoid chronic otitis media and inflammation, they are regularly cleaned. This can be done with sulfur softeners. The concentrate is injected into the auricle, massaged and released for a while, and then simply blotted with a napkin.
- Eyes after the hunt you need to see it. If dust or other foreign particles get in, wipe them off. When a more significant problem arises, take your pet to the veterinary clinic.
- Teeth teach kunhound to cleanse from childhood several times a week. In zoological shops you will find everything you need, specialized brushes and pastes. From time to time, you can brush your pet's teeth with activated charcoal. It is moistened with water and the dog's teeth are rubbed, and then all excess is wiped off with a soft cloth.
- Feeding for raccoon dogs, increased and strictly dosed. This means that the composition of the food must be complete, include the required amount: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals. The portions should not exceed the norm. Feed the dog at the same time after walking or hunting. If you cannot carefully choose a natural diet for your Coonhound, ready-made foods will help you. They were carefully created by competent professionals, so your four-legged friend will be in excellent condition.
- Walking Coonhound hounds that need to be constantly on the move must be long lasting. An apartment is a prison for them. They love spacious backyards and fenced-in areas where they can run and frolic. And they simply adore walks in the woods, especially in the moonlight. Perhaps for some, their barking will seem like music, but not for the neighbors - another proof that they cannot be kept in the apartment.
Raccoon dog training
Coonhounds take time and patience to train because they are very easily distracted by new smells. The best place to start is when you are puppy. Practice is key. These canines have a better sense of smell than sight. They start with the fact that a piece of bacon tied to a rope is dragged along the ground so that the dogs take the trail, and hang it on a tree. Dogs must find him and give a voice. Not always everything works out the first time, but the coonhound's instincts allow you to finish the job. Every year, about three hundred dogs of this breed are registered in the dog breeders club. All such species are registered in the united club of dog breeders.
Interesting facts about the coonhound
Thanks to their data, the red coonhounds starred in the remake of the children's movie classic "Where the fern grows." Just like in life, in the film they win fame and children's hearts. Since 1953, a speckled blue kunhound named "Smokki" has been the mascot of the University of Tennessee.
The key to success for coonhounds is not only the nose, but also their ears. When the dogs run, the ears dangle in different directions, thereby pushing the smell to the nose. In puppies, ears grow faster than legs and only by three months do they fully grow.
Purchase and price of a Coonhound puppy
If you are ready to get a loud dog that loves long walks and generally healthy, does not require long-term care, you are an active person and live in a country house, then the coonhound is for you. Choose the color of wool that you like, the rest of the qualities are the same for all six varieties. Next, find a kennel for the breed, which is registered in the kenel club.
Representatives of the breed that live in it have documents corresponding to the norms. Breeders exhibit them at exhibitions and sporting events. Coonhounds undergo a strict selection selection according to the criteria of health, psyche and external data. Their offspring are timely vaccinated and antihelminthic procedures. Each puppy is raised with love and care. They all have documents and their numbers, which are tattooed on the ear or the inner side of the thigh. The animals are included in a single cynological database.
The cost of each raccoon dog puppy is individual. It all depends on the sex of the animal, its exterior and working inclinations. Bitches and individuals with excellent external and working data will always cost more. Sometimes puppies are born that do not fully meet the criteria of the standard. Such dogs are given away much cheaper, but with the condition not to participate in exhibitions and in breeding. Having received such a dog as a beloved friend, it is better to sterilize it. So her reproductive instinct will subside, the psyche will become balanced, and the hormones will be normal. This will protect you from various diseases, such as breast cancer. The price of puppies ranges from $ 600 to $ 1100.
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