The Rebarkable Dogs: A Coonhound Called Lucy, aka Lucy-fer

Lucy is a coonhound.

How else do you describe a coonhound without saying “She’s a coonhound” (my coonhound parents out there will get that – truthfully, they’re a really unique breed).

She’s got a redtick coat despite being (like her sister, Shelby) a redbone x redtick coonhound. She’s fiercely determined and I’m pretty sure she’s part goat? In all honesty, I’m gutted I didn’t have this hound as a puppy, because my instinct is that she would make a phenomenal agility dog. and I mean that! I’ve never seen a coonhound do agility? But Lucy is unbelievably confident in her body and how she moves? She’s fast and agile and she would work a course! Ugh… gutted haha.

Like most of her breed she is enormously prey driven. She helps keep all sorts of squirrels and mices out of the yard and makes a good effort with everything else too. I’ve never know dogs like her (and I’ve worked with a LOT!).

Occasionally she forgets herself, it’s very much a coonhound thing that they don’t feel feelings, they FEEL FEELINGS>!1!!!!!11 They’re either at a 2 or an 11, with very little grey area, and Lucy is a prime example of that. She is either OVER THE MOON!! or asleep. She’s really ANGRYYYY or she’s Running around like a lunatic. She dials everything up 20%. Which means that sometimes? She really struggles to remember manners. It’s something we’re working on though!

The Name…

Lucy, like her sister Shelby, was named by her breeder. My husband always says he’s not creative, but I think this one maybe took the biscuit! haha, Lucy gets called, Luce, Lucy-loo, Lucy-goosy, Lucifer and Lulu (the last one is by me, I don’t thing Mr Rebarkable likes it so much!).

Age

Lucy is around 5 years, my husband doesn’t remember her birthday exactly, but we checked her chip and we know it was registered shortly before she came home here, so we have a good guess as it stands!

At this age? She’s in great health (and still ranking amongst some of the highest active coonhounds and dogs in the state, according to Fi — not that we’re proud of that at all hehe), active as can be and enjoys a wonderful life of running, sniffing and chasing the occasional thing.

Diet

Shelby was always fed a split kibble and raw diet, and her stomach is happy on the blue buffalo she’s fed mixed with a little raw in the evenings. She’s getting some bone broth too, but Lucy loves nothing more than a marrow bone to lay down and gnaw away at, or try and hide (oh so sneakily!) from her brother and sister.

About Lucy

Lucy’s my pickle.

I struggle to understand little Luce, whilst she’s a lovely dog, her mind and my mind are not aligned sometimes and it takes a bit for us to work together.

I put that down to the fact that I wouldn’t have ever picked a coonhound as a breed? And actually, I’m a strong believer that 90% of coonhound owners are not appropriate homes, luckily, we are if we were on a checklist, but just the way lucy’s mind works, I struggle to line up with her.

Like her sister, she is more nose than dog, and I find it really funny to see how her and her sister differ? Despite being full sisters, the variance between them is huge. For example Shelby? Will lift her nose to the air and follow the smell directly to the source.

Lucy? Nose to the floor and follow every step that the thing she’s following has taken.

Lucy is also smarter with her smells, I think, she is more atuned to when something is no longer there than Shelby. Which I find quite funny. We tease the coonhounds a lot and say Lucy’s telling us that Shelby’s gone noseblind, and that she’s the smarter coonhound… Ahh little jokes.

Lucy is the more driven of the pair, Lucy is easier to motivate, I would also say that she’s the more intelligent one too. She picks up new cues and actions really quickly, and she loves to please. She loves to make you happy. Which I love too. But, she does struggle to relax.

Equipment Preferences

Lots Of On Leash – Julius Longwalk Harness
Collar – Reg & Bob (Jade)
Tracker – Fi Series 2 Tracker

Shelby’s got a really deep chest, but quite a narrow frame, which is why we opted for the front range harness as opposed to the perfect fit. I find the front clasp on the perfect fit can be a little much for dogs with a narrower chest? So, I find the ruffwear front range works really well. That said? We tried the large front range and shelby almost slipped out of it! Lesson learned and she’s now in a medium. 

The tracker though is the biggest, most critical part of Lucy’s attire as far as I’m concerned. She’s smart, and she tests the fence and is aware of any weakness that may appear (like a lot of coonhounds – I consulted for this piece for chewy by the way!) so the tracker gives me phenomenal peace of mind for me and her Dad. 

Tricks Lucy Knows

Sit, paw, Other paw, lay down, side, spin, heel, recall (7/10), hup, truck,

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Author, Ali Smith

Ali Smith is a professional, qualified, and multi-award winning trainer is the founder of rebarkable. She has always believed animals deserve kindness and champions force free methods. Believing that dog guardians will all choose the kindest options if proper information is provided, she aims to help all dog guardians who need it and make dog training as accessible as possible

Ali lives win Maryland, US with her husband and her three dogs.