they get to full size around 1 year old and if your lookin for a broke dog look for a granded out dog most competition hunters sell their dogs after they grand em out or if you want find a dog that is started on coons but just needs woods time that would be the best bet cause that way you can see the dog get better each time you go into the woods but it depends on who you talk to when it comes to the best breed now the red bones i have seen some good ones and some bad ones now its the same with any other breed i just hunted with a bluetick not to long ago a very tuff dog but i think finding guys around your area that breed like any breed your lookin for
if bluetick aint your thing then try a walker or an english but its all preference on what type of dog your lookin for but if its your first dog get a female they are the easiest to handle and they respond better than the males but no matter what type of dog you get they all will be different no matter the breed its just the luxuery of havin a coonhound