Coonhound Companions
Coonhounds and foxhounds are dying in disproportionate numbers in shelters because many people don’t think of these working breeds as pets. They have a reputation for being noisy, untrainable, stubborn and unfriendly. But they are actually gentle with kids, comfortable with strangers, sociable with other dogs, and adapt well to an indoor lifestyle when appropriate exercise is provided.
Coonhound Companions is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to reach out to future adopters who are looking for a family pet and educate them on the positive aspects of the coonhound and foxhound breeds. Let’s spread the word!
Act Now!
- Visit Coonhound Companions’ websiteto learn more about these breeds.
- Become a fan of Coonhound Companions on Facebook.
- Share these links with your local shelter or rescue group to help spread the message.
Why It’s Important
The coonhound and its near-cousin the foxhound are American bred dogs, true American treasures, deserving of respect, admiration, and devotion.
Shelters struggle to place these dogs, but the public’s misperception of the breed as “just a hunting dog” causes them to be overlooked and eventually destroyed by the shelter. Ironically, many of the dogs end up in shelters because they don’t have the hunter instinct.
In 2010, a Yahoo group of coonhound lovers and rescuers started to talk about the plight of the coonhound. They lamented the difficulty of finding good adoptive homes for these huggable long-eared hounds. This group resolved to start a multi-media campaign about coonhounds and foxhounds entitled “Long Ears.”
By educating the public on the loving nature of these dogs, Coonhound Companions hopes to shatter the misconception that coonhounds and foxhounds don’t make good pets and to help move more dogs out of shelters before they are euthanized.
Coonhound Companions just wants these dogs to get the same chance that other dogs in shelters have – the adoption option. We can help make that happen.
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17 Responses to Coonhound Companions
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Hi Y’all!
Great info on the Coonhounds and Foxhounds. They are very beautiful dogs. Like all dogs which aren’t lap dogs, using their natural instincts makes them better family members. There are lots of tracking classes and competitions that would be great fun for a family.
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Their FB page is really nice. I’ve never known one, but they look like sweet dogs.
Featuring two Coonhounds in my Sunday adoptables post this week.
Great! Have you gone to http://www.coonhoundcompanions.com and downloaded any of the posters to help groups like yours adopt out coonhounds? If not, please do!
Thank you for highlighting the plight of coonhounds in shelters and the idea that they are just for hunting. They are not!! Our rescue girl, Wanda, is the sweetest and most gentle dog. The website coonhoundcompanions.com and the Facebook page Coonhound Companions are wonderful in advocating these often overlooked dogs.
It just happened again. I asked an Indiana rescuer about a sick hound pup I had seen while dropping off crates at her home. I wanted to know when the now-recovered pup might be coming to Minnesota on a weekly transport of rescue dogs and cats. She replied back that her regular Minnesota rescues don’t take coonhounds. I’ve transported pit bulls from that region, Beagles, German Shepherds, big black dogs, all going to Minnesota. But not coonhounds, the most loving of dogs. They tie up foster homes for too long.
And last week I was volunteering at my county shelter assisting a prosperous middle-aged customer. She said she wanted to look at calm, loving dogs and breed didn’t matter. I said, “You’ll like Julius. He’s calm and sweet. He’s perfect!” She said in loud, stern tones as soon as we neared his kennel: “I do NOT want a coonhound!”
Hawk, LOL….my coonhound spends a lot of time curled up in my lap! They are very affectionate and sweet and are gentle. They make me laugh and laugh. Spent time away from home today, when I came home, my coonhound stomped his feet and wiggled and was so goofy all I could do was laugh. After a rousing play session…that never got out of control or too rough, he’s now resting quietly in his corner on a dog bed. He’s the perfect pet! Clean, short haired, always friendly, stable and sweet. Great with any other dog.
I love my hounds!
I adopted my treeing walker coonhound a year and a half ago. She came from a shelter in Kentucky…a shelter that I’m familar with because I help drive rescued dogs from the south to new homes in the northeast. I didn’t meet her in person before adopting her, I only saw pictures. She was on the urgent list, and the word in her description that popped out at me was “sweet.” And my Piper certainly lives up to her description….she is the sweetest. Piper had never been in a home before and everything was new. She didn’t know what toys were or treats and she still eats like she doesn’t know when her next meal is coming. I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She’s smart, she’s funny…she’s my love. I never had a coonhound before and I couldn’t be happier!
I adopted my treeing walker coonhound a year and a half ago. She came from a shelter in Kentucky…a shelter that I’m familar with because I help drive rescued dogs from the south to new homes in the northeast. I didn’t meet her in person before adopting her, I only saw pictures. She was on the urgent list, and the word in her description that popped out at me was “sweet.” And my Piper certainly lives up to her description….she is the sweetest. Piper had never been in a home before and everything was new. She didn’t know what toys were or treats and she still eats like she doesn’t know when her next meal is coming. I wouldn’t trade her for the world. She’s smart, she’s funny…she’s my love. I never had a coonhound before and I couldn’t be happier!
I am a Coonhound rescuerer in Houston Texas and I am always full. Sadly it takes many months to find a good home for these sweet hounds. I watch so many hounds euthanized in shelters because I lack the space to help. They are all such beautiful loving dogs and get along so wonderfully with other dogs. I try to push them as the perfect second dog for any family. I have introduced hounds to all kinds of other dogs and have never had a bad introduction. I would also add they are VERY trainable. My personal Blueticks (and my Basset/Lab mix girl) compete in Flyball, and Rally Obedience.
Our Black and Tan Coonhound Olivia Rose, came to us as a stray from Austin Texas. She’s a sweet sensitive and extremely smart little girl. She passed her Canine Good Citizen test with flying ears (I mean colors), while a nice, but rowdy German Shepard had to go back to learn his manners.
She hikes, and participates in our Southern Maine AKC Tracking Club. Please give Coonhounds and Foxhounds the second chance they all deserve!
We adopted our Georgia, a Treeing Walker Coonhound, 3 years ago, from a rescue in Ontario. She is such a loving, sweet, calm and smart dog. I never even knew what a coonhound was until I saw one walking in our neighbourhood. Coonhounds truly do make the ideal addition to any family. Georgia came from a horrible situation but despite past abuse and neglect, she never held a grudge, absolutely loves people, excellent with children, loves ALL other animals and adapted very well to being an indoor, spoiled diva
Everyone who meets her falls in love with her kind and gentle nature. I would not hesitate to recommend a coonie to anyone looking for a wonderful family companion, they are truly great dogs.
We rescued Jazzy our coonhound 2 years ago. She was brought to NJ from a shelter that rescued coonhounds from death row. These beautiful, loving animals are treated so unjustly in south; often left to die tied to a tree if they are unable to hunt and many of them live outside in unbearable conditions. Many times, they are found wandering the streets starving. Why? Because they are not valued as pets in the south. They are only thought of as “hunting dogs.” Believe me when I tell you, this couldn’t be further from the truth! These pets are the most loving dogs you will ever find! Our coonhound Jazzy is AMAZING. She is the most gentle, sweetest dog you have ever met. Despite her horrendous past, she loves everyone!! She loves to go for walks and car rides and when she is really excited, she will howl. It is the cutest thing. Our veterinarian told us that Jazzy was the happiest dog she has ever seen. I said to her, “How can you say that?” She responded,” I saw her when you first got her and how she is now.” It’s unbelievable what love can do.
Having a coonhound requires three things: patience, love, and exercise. If you can handle those three things, I promise you that a coonhound will change your life!
Our Walker hound Tucker could not be sweeter, more handsome, smarter, or easier to have as a pet. We’re crazy about him, and find it amazing that hounds would be considered hard to adopt out. He’s originally from South Carolina and we found him at Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury, Mass. He’s inspired a blog, http://dreamsdudog.blogspot.com –check out my post on the Long Ears Blog about how he changed our lives at http://www.coonhoundcompanions.com
Please give these endearing pups a chance!
Our Irie is part Coonhound and I can say firsthand they are wonderful companions. She’s smart, gentle, very trainable, affectionate, and very neat (she bathes her arms much like a cat!) She sleeps right beside me and, for as much as she enjoys long, long walks outdoors, she loves hanging out on the couch as well! Coonhounds are very special dogs that love their people!
I just came across this site. My wife and I fostered a Treeing Walker Coonhound for a month. She was 8 months old and a kick in the pants. I’ve had lots of dogs (have 3 of our own) but never a coonhound. She was very energetic (still a puppy) but trainable, smart, and so loving. Her new owner lives near us and we still see her. He’s an experienced owner with 2 other dogs and said he’s never had a dog like this.
We work with a shelter in San Diego called http://www.thebarkinglot.net This Walker was the only coonhound they’ve had. Coonhounds seem to be pretty rare in California, compared to how many I see in Midwest or Eastern shelters. I’m sure we could adopt more of these dogs out if they were available. Once people in San Diego see this dog they think it’s some exotic breed. I will say that in the shelter, this dog was not being looked at often. Even I didn’t look at this dog, but my wife did. How do we get some of these eastern dogs out west to get them adopted out?
Mark – you could try contact Coonhound Companions directly. Their email address is info@coonhoundcompanions.com.