The Raccoon Hound has excellent abilities in capturing raccoons, squirrels, etc. It is naturally born for gun hunting. It mainly relies on its sense of smell when hunting, making it a scent hound. Its appearance inherits the characteristics of its ancestor, the English Foxhound. The Shrub Raccoon Hound also uses its climbing skills when capturing prey. It has a high talent for learning skills and is very easy to train. While assisting hunters in hunting, it can learn to use its unique barking to notify the hunter that the prey has been trapped and to come and capture it.
The Shrub Raccoon Hound originated in 19th century England. At that time, their main job was to help people hunt raccoons. Now, in addition to hunting raccoons and squirrels, they have also become companion dogs in families, accompanying and guarding their loved ones.
This dog is suitable for families with children. It is friendly towards children and can play and have fun with them. It is an excellent companion for children. However, because of its nature, it requires a larger amount of activity, so it is not suitable for busy and crowded cities, nor for busy working people to raise.
1. Heart Disease
Dogs with heart disease are often associated with obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, it mainly shows symptoms such as easy fatigue and difficulty breathing. The onset of heart disease in dogs is difficult to detect, and often the dog is already seriously ill when the owner realizes it.
2. Infectious Diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common and highly fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in time are prone to these two infectious diseases, and once infected, they may exhibit symptoms such as listlessness, decreased appetite, increased body temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney Disease
Speaking of common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease must be mentioned. The terrible thing about kidney disease in dogs is that the onset process is imperceptible. By the time the owner realizes it, the dog's renal cells have been damaged by more than 75%. When a dog's kidneys have problems, the symptoms generally include blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms, as well as heartworm, are common parasites that infect dogs. When a dog is infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms include emaciation, lethargy, diarrhea, presence of worms in the feces, and pale gums. Heartworm is a parasite that lives in a dog's heart. After a dog is infected, it may exhibit symptoms such as decreased vitality, coughing, anemia, panting, and abdominal fluid.
5. Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is often a complication of other diseases. It commonly occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral influenza, impaired lung function, and heartworm infection. Coughing, nasal discharge, and elevated body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
1. The Shrub Raccoon Hound has excellent learning abilities and can be trained from a young age. Some habits are not easy to change when it becomes an adult. It has a high demand for exercise, so it is advisable to take it for exercise every day to retain its natural instincts as a hunting dog.
2. Although the fur of the Shrub Raccoon Hound is short, regular grooming can promote blood circulation in the skin, making it less prone to skin diseases and making the fur more soft and glossy.
3. The ears of the Shrub Raccoon Hound are not only large but also droopy, making it prone to dirt and wax buildup. Owners must remember to regularly check and clean its ears to prevent ear diseases. In addition, their large ears are easily injured during play and exercise, so extra caution is necessary.
4. For active dogs like the Shrub Raccoon Hound, it is important to prevent heatstroke and keep them cool during summer. In hot weather, dogs may have a poor appetite. At this time, you can prepare some refreshing and tasty dog food, such as yogurt, cheese, and fresh meat. Store them in the refrigerator in advance and mix them with dog food during mealtime.
1. Do not bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, it should not be done too frequently. The frequency of bathing depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, bathe the dog one or two times more, and in winter, it can be reduced by one or two times, but in general, it should not exceed five times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush the coat regularly
Dogs shed hair almost every day, especially in spring and autumn when seasonal shedding is more severe. To maintain good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use a pet-specific brush to help the dog clean naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, the pet owner can let the dog exercise, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is also closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving the dog of nutrition, so deworming is essential. It is recommended to deworm internally and externally at the same time. Deworming medication can cause significant harm to the dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to feed probiotics to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
To have a beautiful coat, it is necessary to lay a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutrient-rich dog food to meet the dog's needs; on the other hand, the dog can be fed with lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and plant oil in moderation.