How to Exercise a Redbone Coonhound: Tips and Activities
The Redbone Coonhound is a high-energy hunting breed that needs vigorous daily exercise to stay fit and happy. Without adequate activity, these tenacious hounds are likely to get restless and destructive. Providing proper exercise challenges their bodies and minds in positive ways. This article explores fun and effective methods to exercise your active Redbone Coonhound.
Redbone Coonhound Exercise Needs
Redbone Coonhounds were developed to tirelessly hunt raccoons and other small game through rugged Southern terrain. Key facts about their exercise requirements:
- Require 60-90 minutes of vigorous activity daily. This athletic breed has incredible stamina.
- Love to run and chase. Need regular opportunities to sprint and romp off leash in secure areas.
- Excel at endurance activities like long hikes, jogging, backpacking, and swimming.
- Bored easily with repetitive exercise like walking the same route. Need variety.
- Prone to nuisance barking and destructive chewing if under-exercised. Exercise reduces negative behaviors.
- Scent-driven. Nose work and tracking activities provide mental stimulation.
Redbone Coonhounds demand an active family committed to providing at least an hour of intense exercise daily. Their needs are not for the faint of heart!
Everyday Exercise Tips
Make exercise an enjoyable daily bonding experience with your Redbone:
Walks - Brisk paced 45-60 minute walks are a good foundational workout. Vary the route to prevent boredom.
Fetch - These playful hounds love chasing balls and toys. Play fetch in a fenced area or use a Chuckit to really let them sprint all-out.
Jogging/running - Older Redbones can make great running companions. Start with short distances and build up gradually.
Hikes - Let your hound lead the way on nature hikes following intriguing scents. Redbones enjoy exploring new outdoor environments.
Swimming - Many Redbones love swimming! Let them splash and fetch toys from ponds or pools for a full body workout.
Dog sports - Agility, flyball, dock diving, and nosework are fun outlets for your Redbone's energy and enthusiasm.
Food puzzles - Make your Redbone work for kibble using puzzle toys and snuffle mats. This stimulates their mind.
Doggy daycare – Quality daycares provide playtime and socialization for dogs while owners are away. Redbones get lots of activity with other canine playmates.
Fun Dog Sports for Redbone Coonhounds
The active, intelligent Redbone Coonhound thrives when given a “job” to do. Try out these stimulating canine sports with your hound:
Nosework
Nosework takes advantage of the Redbone's phenomenal sense of smell. Dogs are taught to find various scented articles hidden in containers, vehicles, and large outdoor areas. Redbones will eagerly put their nose to work searching!
Barn Hunt
Barn Hunt is an exciting mock hunt where dogs navigate a course searching for hidden "rats" (safe tubes filled with scented materials). This combines mental stimulation from scent work with physical activity.
Field Trials
Redbones excel at field trials that mimic small game hunting skills like following scents over varied terrain and treeing prey once located. Field trials provide an outlet for their natural hunting abilities.
Obedience and Rally Trials
While independent thinkers, Redbones can do surprisingly well at dog sports requiring attention and teamwork with their handler like obedience and rally trials. This strengthens your bond with your hound.
Agility
With early training, Redbones can make great agility dogs! Running an obstacle course gives them an athletic physical and mental workout as they navigate tunnels, jumps, and ramps with guidance from their handler.
Dock Diving
In dock diving, dogs enthusiastically jump from an elevated dock into water after their favorite toy. Redbones get to channel all their athleticism and exuberance as they spring as far as possible!
Best Toys for Redbone Coonhounds
Provide plenty of durable, interactive toys to keep your Redbone Coonhound entertained and exercised when at home. Rotate toys to prevent boredom setting in. Recommended choices include:
- Rope toys - Great for tug of war. Opt for larger sizes rated for aggressive chewers.
- Frisbees and other fetch toys - Any toy they can carry and chase engages their retrieval instincts.
- Chew toys like Kongs or Nylabones - Exercises jaws and eases boredom. Choose tough "power chewer" options.
- Squeaky toys - Many hounds love toys that squeak or make noises. Supervise play to prevent swallowing risks.
- Food puzzle toys - Keeps their mind engaged as they move and manipulate the toy to access hidden kibble inside. Try puzzle balls, snuffle mats, and interactive feeders.
- Plush toys - While these don't last long with heavy chewers, some Redbones like to shake and "kill" stuffed toys. Remove toys once destroyed to prevent eating fillings.
Rotate favorites frequently to keep your Redbone entertained and prevent certain toys from getting "stale". Provide plenty of choices appropriate for tough chewers.
Enrichment Ideas
In additional to physical exercise, be sure to enrich your Redbone's environment daily to give their intelligent mind a workout. Useful ideas include:
- New walking routes - Explore different parks or trails to provide mental stimulation through new sights and smells. Let them follow their nose.
- Training sessions - Practice basic cues, tricks, or commands daily. Teaching dogs new things is very tiring for their brain!
- Food puzzles - As mentioned above, making dogs work for their meals by using puzzle toys or snuffle mats gives great mental exercise.
- New toys - Rotate novel toys to prevent boredom and make existing toys more interesting by stuffing food inside.
- Social visits - If friendly towards other dogs, arranging playdates with neighbor dogs gives them social enrichment with canine pals.
- Car rides - Many dogs find car trips very stimulating as they get to watch the world go by. Bring your hound on errands.
- Hide and seek - Have family members take turns hiding around the house, then send your Redbone to track you down using scent and search skills.
Redbone Coonhounds thrive when you devise fun ways to challenge their body and mind daily. A bored hound will find their own (often undesirable) entertainment!
Exercising a Redbone Puppy
Redbone puppies under 18 months old have special exercise needs:
- 5 minutes of structured exercise per day, per month of age up to twice daily. For example, a 4 month old puppy should have 20 minutes maximum split into 2 sessions.
- Focus on free play and socialization rather than leash walks, jogging, or excessive stair use which can stress developing joints.
- Provide toys and chews to meet their needs to chew and tug. This avoids inappropriate biting and destruction.
- Practice basic training in short bursts. Make it fun! Young puppies have very short attention spans.
- Exposure to new environments and stimuli makes for important mental exercise and socialization.
Avoid rigorous, high-impact exercise until your Redbone puppy matures or you risk joint damage. But do provide ample outlets for energy and curiosity!
Are You Ready for an Active Redbone Coonhound?
Before committing to a Redbone Coonhound, consider if you can realistically provide:
- At least an hour of strenuous exercise every single day, rain or shine
- Opportunities for regular intense running and chasing - a yard is ideal
- Commitment to training, play, and enrichment activities
- Ability to bring your dog along for hikes, jogs, swims, and other outdoor adventures
- Financial means for quality food, toys, vet care, training classes, and more
Redbone Coonhounds make fabulous companions for active homes able to fully engage their minds and bodies. When exercised properly, they will reward you with years of energy, affection, and loyal companionship!