Whippet Coonhound Mix: Full Guide

A whippet coonhound mix is a crossbreed dog produced by breeding a purebred whippet and coonhound. While there’s only one type of whippet breed, the coonhound dog breed comes in many strains and breeds, each with distinctive traits and appearance.

With the many coonhound breeds available today, getting the right whippet coonhound mix for your family isn’t a challenging task.

You only need to know the exact type of coonhound breed you prefer to avoid procuring the wrong coonhound mix.

Generally, coonhounds are highly athletic, easy-going, good-natured, and energetic medium to large dogs. They are naturally hunting canines that enjoy outdoor activities.

Mixing the swift, lean, and gentle whippet with a coonhound produces a highly agile, dynamic, muscular dog with a calm, friendly, and affectionate personality.

Suppose you’re wondering if the whippet coonhound mix is a fitting addition to your home. Or simply curious how this crossbreed canine looks or behaves, then you’re just at the perfect place.

This post extensively goes through on the history, temperament, health, life expectancy, and care of this unique mixed breed, plus other essential details to help you decide if the whippet coonhound mix is a good choice for you.

Table of Contents

What Is A Whippet Coonhound Mix?

A whippet coonhound mix results from crossing a purebred whippet and any coonhound dog breed.

Generally, there are six known coonhound breeds: The Black and Tan, Redbone, English, Bluetick, Treeing Walking, and Plott coonhound.

The appearance, traits, needs, and size of your whippet coonhound mix will vary with the type of coonhound crossed with the purebred whippet.

Therefore, it’s best to know the specific coonhound you like to get a whippet coonhound mix that meets your requirements and expectations.

Whippet Coonhound Mix History

Usually, it’s hard to find many details about hybrid/designer dogs due to their shallow histories.

To know more about the whippet coonhound mixes, you’ll have to look into their parents’ histories. Below is a brief detail about the origin of the whippet and the coonhounds.

Whippet History

Whippets were hunters’ best companions, quickly running after small games like rabbits and rats.

Besides hunting, whippet owners also raced them for entertainment and to earn a living and social status. This sighthound breed originated in England during the 1800s, where they were bred from greyhounds and terriers.

Today, Whippets compete in numerous dog games, including agility, flyball, obedience, rally, and lure coursing. They’re also considered excellent therapy canines due to their calm, gentle, loving, and friendly nature.

Their elegant look and unique personality make them ideal family companions and show dogs. They’re good apartment pets. However, they need sufficient daily exercise to lower their high energy levels and they don’t enjoy staying alone for long hours.

Whippets may not be the best guard dogs since they hardly bark, even at strangers. But they’re highly affectionate companions to all household members.

The Coonhound’s Origins

Coonhounds have varying origins and traits. For instance, the Black and Tan Coonhounds originated from the US and were bred from a bloodhound and a Tan Virginia Foxhound.

They’re friendly, easy-going, gentle, and intelligent and relate well with kids, people, and other pets.

Redbone Coonhounds came from the southern US and were created purposefully to hunt boar, raccoons, deer, cougar, and bear. They’re loving, loyal, energetic, friendly, and independent thinkers. They’re ancestors of the red foxhound.

The origin of English Coonhounds is also the southern US. These coonhounds are laid back, social, affectionate, friendly, loyal, and sometimes stubborn.

The Bluetick Coonhound originated from Louisiana, and it’s a descendant of the Bleu de Gascogne hound. This coonhound was also crossed with the English foxhound, the Cur, the American foxhound, and the Black and Tan Virginia foxhound.

The Bluetick Coonhounds were bred for tracking at night and hunting. They’re playful, loyal, social, and friendly. Even so, they’re the most stubborn coonhounds among the six breeds.

The dawn of the Treeing Walking Coonhounds was in the 19th century in the US, where they were developed by crossing the Walker hound and the Tennessee Lead dog breeds.

They were mainly produced to hunt both small and large games like bears and lions. They’re intelligent, loving, loyal, confident, and affectionate.

Lastly, the Plott coonhounds originated in Germany and are descendants of the boarhounds.

They’re the only coons without the foxhound bloodline. They’re sturdy, fierce, and hunting coonhounds with an affectionate, submissive, and docile nature, hence great family and hunting companions

The Size And Appearance Of A Whippet Coonhound Mix

The size and appearance of your whippet coonhound mix will depend on the specific Coonhound breed crossed with the whippet. Some coonhounds are medium-sized, while others are slightly larger than others.

Like the whippet, the coonhounds come in varying coat colours and patterns their mixes can inherit.

Your whippet coonhound can look more like the whippet or the coonhound, depending on the parent with the most dominant genes.

Usually, a whippet coonhound mix will inherit the whippet’s narrow sweet face, deer-like limbs, lean body with the coonhound’s floppy velvety ears, broad chest, expressive eyes, and sweet disposition.

It will have a muscular and robust body frame that’s highly powerful and enduring enough to pass through tough terrains easily.

A standard whippet coonhound mix weights around 40-75 pounds, standing at the height of about 22-28 inches, with the female pups being slightly smaller than the male ones.

The Temperament Of A Whippet Coonhound Mix

Since both whippets and coonhounds are hunting dogs, the whippet coonhound mixes are highly energetic, muscular, and active canines. They’re also very predacious and can chase after anything that looks like prey or food.

Whippet coonhound mixes are super-fast and resilient with a light gait. The mixture of the gentle and calm whippet temperament and the coonhound’s physical qualities make these crossbreeds ideal working and family companions.

They can be an excellent choice for avid hunters or out-and-about owners who can give them the stimulation and exercise they crave.

As pure hounds, these dogs can be somewhat stubborn and independent, but you can always train them to be the coonhound version you admire.

However, they’re super intelligent, making them hard to train. Therefore, consistency, patience, and the use of positive reinforcements will be critical elements when training your whippet coonhound mix.

Generally, whippet coonhound mixes are loving, extra friendly, affectionate, loyal, robust, and dynamic dogs. With proper training and early socialisation, this whippet mix is a great family companion, even for homes with kids.

The Health Of A Whippet Coonhound Mix

Whippets and coonhounds are generally healthy canine breeds, but they can be exposed to certain hereditary traits that can affect their mixes too.

Whippets are usually vulnerable to arthritis, deafness, kidney issues, Addison’s disease, vaccination/drug sensitivity, hypothyroidism, heart murmurs, and von Willebrand’s disease.

On the other hand, the coonhounds are susceptible to health issues like ear infections, hip and elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion, eye problems, patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, entropion, and ectropion.

For a healthier and quality whippet coonhound puppy, it’s best to get one from a reputable breeder and avoid puppy mills.

Regular vet checks and timely vaccination also go a long way in ensuring your pup is always healthy. With proper care, this mixed dog breed can live for around 11-15 years.

Caring For A Whippet Coonhound Mix

Like humans, dogs need proper care and maintenance to live comfortably, stay healthy, and be happy. Your whippet coonhound mix needs enough exercise, adequate training, enough sleep, food, healthcare, and grooming to be contented and serve you well.

As a short-haired breed, grooming this whippet mix is relatively easy. Brushing it once a week with 1-2 baths a month will ensure its skin remain combed and glowing. However, you may need to invest in a good vacuum cleaner as coonhounds are high shedders.

Your whippet coonhound mix will also need to exercise for about 60-90 minutes a day to lower its high energy.

Early training and socialisation will also be essential if you want an obedient and well-behaved dog.

Sufficient food and a balanced are critical for all dogs. If you’re unsure of your furry friend’s best food quality and quantity, it’s best to seek vet advice.

Pros And Cons Of A Whippet Coonhound Mix

As you may expect, there are some pros and cons of owning a whippet coonhound mix, I’ve listed some of them below.

Pros

High intelligence and endurance, hence suitable for more tasks.
It’s faster, gentler, and smaller than the purebred coonhounds.
The athletic and dynamic nature encourages an active lifestyle.
It’s easy to care for and maintain.
A laid back and easy going indoor personality when well exercised and trained.
It’s good with other dogs and people.

Cons

It requires vigorous exercise.
Exuberant jumping and rowdiness, particularly when young.
Stubbornness.
Destructiveness when not exercised or bored.
High shedding and strong hound smell.

Final Thoughts

Whippet coonhound mixes are loyal, friendly, loving, brave, easy-going, and brilliant dogs with incredibly robust bodies and playful energy. They’re excellent choices for active owners and families who can exercise and train them adequately.

They may not be the right option for novice dog owners due to their stubborn nature. Busy and docile individuals can also find this dog over-demanding due to its dynamic nature and tremendous energy.

For a happier and healthier whippet coonhound mix, it would be best to train, exercise, and care for your pup correctly. Early socialisation, timely healthcare, grooming, and mental stimulation are also essential needs for your dog.