Registered: Jul 2012
Location: S Fla
Posts: 15

I've read that coonhounds are rarely dysplastic and on the other hand I've read that 16% of the X-rays that weren't immediately obvious and had to be sent in were positive. I figured I'd just ask the people who have the most experience and have nothing to gain from telling me one thing or the other.
I've found some pups that are 1/4 Plott, 1/4 Treeing Walker, and 1/2 Redbone. (In theory) They are nearby and cheap. Both parents are on site. I can't decide whether to take the chance and get one, or wait for a pup whose parents have their certificates such as OFA. Do breeders generally do that with coonhounds? I see them going for $150 to $250 in the classified sections here and other places, but they are always too far away so I don't bother the people to ask about it. I'm not looking for an expensive dog. She'll be mostly a pet for my kids, who also gets me and my kids out in the woods from time to time. I won't be doing any competitions or anything. Would that caliber of dog (no laundry list of champions in the pedigree) be likely to have these certifications? Hips, eyes, health guarantee, dna guaranteed to match pedigree? Sorry if I'm asking ridiculous questions, I just really don't know much about buying a dog. All I know is I don't want huge medical bill later, and I don't want to explain to my kids why the dog couldn't come home from the vet.
Thanks, Don.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 6544

Hello Don,

CHD in coon hounds does occur, but not to the degree that it appears in some other breeds.

The major reason may be that coon hounds are still very much an active working breed (hunting dog), and with the demands of hunting hounds CHD could be easily weeded out of the breeding pool.

CHD really isn't common enough that many coon hound breeders OFA certify the parents. By contrast, many other breeds are more expensive. Typically a $150-$300.00 coon hound puppy does not produce much of a profit to begin with. Adding an OFA certification would in many cases cause more of a monetary loss.

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Larry Atherton

Aim small miss small

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Registered: Jul 2012
Location: S Fla
Posts: 15

Thanks, Larry. I had a feeling that might be the case, but wanted to cover the bases. I guess now I have to decide whether to get the mix pups or wait for a Redbone or Treeing Walker.

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