Coonhound Training: How to Start a Coonhound Puppy

A coonhound that strikes hard, runs a track clean and stays locked on the tree is a joy to hunt behind. Good coonhound training starts early, with games that build excitement for raccoon scent and the tree, long before the pup ever hunts at night.

Popular coonhound breeds

Treeing Walkers, Redbones, Bluetick Coonhounds, Black and Tan Coonhounds, English Coonhounds and Plotts are the most common. All of them can make great coon dogs; what matters most is the hunting ability of the parents.

8 to 16 weeks: scent and confidence

• Let the pup play with a coon hide or tail. Many hunters tie one to a rope and drag it around the yard.
• Drag the hide a short distance and then hang it in a low tree so the pup finds it “treed.” Praise lots when the pup looks up and barks.
• Take short walks in the woods and across creeks to build confidence.

4 to 8 months: longer drags and tree drive

• Lay longer drags with turns and creek crossings.
• End each drag at a tree. Encourage the pup to stay at the tree and bark. Tree drive is the heart of a coon dog.
• Start some sessions at dusk and after dark so the pup gets comfortable in the woods at night.

Learning from an older dog

Running a pup with one honest, finished coonhound is one of the fastest ways to learn. The pup follows the older dog to the tree and picks up the idea. Once the pup is treeing with the older dog, start turning it loose on its own so it learns to strike and run its own track instead of following.

Keeping your hound off off-game

Deer, fox and coyote can pull a young hound off raccoons. Correct off-game early and consistently. Many hunters use an e-collar for this once the dog understands it. See our e-collar training guide.

Night hunting and safety

• A GPS tracking collar lets you find your dog at the tree and away from roads: GPS and tracking collars.
• A good headlamp and a reflective collar for the dog.
• Keep the dog’s vaccinations current, especially rabies.

Know the rules

Coon hunting seasons, chase seasons and rules on training with live raccoons vary from state to state. Check with your state wildlife agency before you train or hunt.

Find your next coonhound

Browse coonhound puppies for sale, or save time with a started coonhound that is already treeing.