Please tell me anything and everything about Coonhounds.
Are they normally a social dog? I'm guessing yes, but i've never had one.
What health issues are prevalent?
Easily housetrained?
Would it be hard to transition an outdoor Coonhound to be an indoor dog?
Would you say they are an easy dog to adopt out? Or mostly experienced people look for these hounds for the most part?
There is a reason for all these questions
For the most part they're pretty social, Plotts can be less so. They're good in a pack for hunting, but they can get kinda snippy when left to their own devices. Some of the other breeds aren't as "serious" or easily offended, but it's really up to the individual dog.
Genetically, they're pretty healthy. I'd say your biggest issues would probably be surrounding hips or elbows, but health testing isn't terribly prominent in this group, so...
Mine have resisted housetraining with a vengeance, but I think that's just me. I know other people have had fabulous luck... mine are fine as long as I'm home, so I just crate when I'm not.
ALL my hounds came from outdoor homes to my home, so I can honestly say NO it is NOT difficult for them to transition to indoor life as long as they are being EXERCISED!
Ease of adoption depends where you're from - here in Pennsylvania, we've had relatively good luck with most of ours, but we did have an older one for like a year. It goes easier if you're willing to educate people as to what wonderful companions they really make (and they do! Liz has gone through obedience with flying colors and through intermediate agility as well) AND POSSIBLY BE EDUCATED - if I was looking for a rescue dog, and the rescue flat out told me "don't ever use this dog for hunting or it violates the contract & we'll take him back" I would go elsewhere. Liz doesn't hunt, but loves to walk along - so the value of the hound to me isn't tied up in it's hunting abilities, but I'd certainly give it the chance. With GPS tracking, I've never lost a dog.
Also, depending upon your breed choice, you can teach them off-leash reliability. I hate when people act like "OMGIFYOULETITGOYOU'LLNEVERSEEITAGAIN!!!!" Ummm... if I had to drive down the road to head off my dog every time I was ready to call it a night, I'm pretty sure I'd quit hunting
Liz can be offleash in my tiny yard and the tiny PATCH of grass in town where I work (can't remember the last time she WORE a leash....) Rage will generally go exploring so she doesn't have the same freedoms. Bear is pretty reliable around the house, Eer can be - but Liz has been worked with the most.